Chasing Light Read online

  “Michelle Obama, with dignity, grace, and respect, has taught and inspired all of us to chase what is good, right, and just. Through her life’s commitment and dedication, she is the embodiment of a powerful light.”

  — Congressman John Lewis

  “Chasing Light is a remarkable and intimate behind-the-scenes look at one of the most influential icons of our time. Michelle Obama is dedicated, gracious, and humble. She has touched so many lives and continues to profoundly affect our world in the most genuine and positive ways. This book is an outstanding tribute to our beloved First Lady, and my friend, Michelle Obama.”

  — Kerry Washington

  “As a member of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, I had the pleasure of seeing firsthand the wonderful effects of Michelle Obama’s work on behalf of underserved schoolchildren. Under her leadership, the classroom became an opportunity not just for learning, but also for innovation and creative expression.”

  — Yo-Yo Ma

  “Michelle Obama’s efforts redefined the role of First Lady and have left an imprint on the world like no other. As I turn through the pages of this beautiful book, I am reminded of the joy she shares with the world and the grace and humility she exudes. Her spirit and her legacy are captured in these photos.”

  — Lonnie G. Bunch III, founding director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution

  Copyright © 2017 by Amanda Lucidon.

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

  www.crownpublishing.com

  www.tenspeed.com

  Ten Speed Press and the Ten Speed Press colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

  All photographs are by Amanda Lucidon, with the exception of those appearing on this page, by Chuck Kennedy, and this page, by Lawrence Jackson.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the publisher.

  Hardcover ISBN 9780399581182

  Ebook ISBN 9780399581199

  v4.1

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  For my mother, Janice, and my daughter, Eden, and to every mother encouraging her children to dream a bigger dream.

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  INSIDE THE BUBBLE

  Chapter 2

  THE PEOPLE’S HOUSE

  Chapter 3

  REACH HIGHER

  Chapter 4

  A WORLD OF POSSIBILITY

  Conclusion

  CHASING LIGHT

  Afterword

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama share a moment on the North Portico as they await the arrival of Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Mrs. Agnese Landini for the State Dinner at the White House, October 18, 2016.

  INTRODUCTION

  January 20, 2009, is a day I will never forget.

  I had just moved from California to Washington, DC, after taking a buyout from my job as a newspaper photographer. The industry was suffering, and the writing was on the wall. Rather than wait to be laid off, I took a leap of faith and relocated to an area that I believed would offer unlimited possibilities for a freelance photographer. But there was one thing I hadn’t fully considered: DC was a very competitive market, and I had few connections on the East Coast. Working as a freelance photographer would prove to be a challenge.

  As a photojournalist, I really wanted to cover the inauguration of President Barack Obama, since it was such an exciting time for our country. But for the first time in seven years, I wasn’t affiliated with a newspaper, which meant I didn’t have any press credentials. If I wanted to document the inauguration, I’d have to wake up early and get on a bus like everyone else. I’d have to brave the cold to hold a spot on the lawn among the masses.

  So that’s exactly what I did.

  There was an energy and a kindness in the city that day, even as hundreds of thousands of people descended upon the National Mall. It was like nothing I had ever experienced. We were all tucked in tight without much space to move, but people were sharing snacks, hand warmers, and small talk with complete strangers. It was below 30°F, but there was a warmth about that special day.

  I thought back to the conversation I’d had with my father the night before. We didn’t typically talk about politics, but he brought it up because he was especially optimistic about the state of our country. He told me that Barack Obama reminded him of his own father—a kind man with a solid ethical core. And most important, he was a man of integrity. I felt the same way. Before moving to DC, I didn’t spend much time following politics. But there was something different about Barack and Michelle Obama. They seemed grounded and optimistic. Their message was about hope rather than despair. Their authenticity inspired me. It was the first time in my life that I felt like I could truly relate to our President and First Lady.

  The night of the inauguration, my father stayed up late watching coverage of all ten inaugural balls. While the rest of America was watching our new President and First Lady dance and celebrate, my father was scanning the background of each event, looking for me in the crowd. He thought I might be there taking pictures with the press. But I wasn’t. Instead, I was at home, editing the images I’d shot earlier that day from the crowd’s perspective. He didn’t know how far I still had to go to make it as a photographer in this city.

  My father died of a heart attack the next morning.

  Four years later, I got an unexpected phone call. The Chief White House Photographer, Pete Souza, called to ask if I’d be interested in applying for a job as an official White House photographer covering the First Lady. At first, I wondered if I was the right person for the job because I wasn’t a seasoned political photographer. I had spent most of my career focusing on social issues, especially stories about equality. It took me a few days to connect the dots. But I got the position, along with the honor to document our nation’s first African American First Family.

  I couldn’t help but think maybe my dad knew something all along.

  Mrs. Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and staff share a moment in the Green Room before the last Joining Forces event at the White House, November 14, 2016.

  Chapter 1

  INSIDE THE BUBBLE

  I imagine that my first encounter with First Lady Michelle Obama was similar to many other people’s experience—it was quick, I have no idea what I said, and I could hardly see because I was smiling so big. I imagine Mrs. Obama said something like “Welcome to the team. We are glad to have you.” But I can’t be certain, because it was all a blur. In my head I was thinking, Wow! She’s so tall…and pretty…and nice! When she walked away, I immediately started thinking, Geez, I hope I didn’t look or sound foolish. It was hard to imagine that I would spend the next four years in her company.

  I would come to learn that I wasn’t alone in my shell shock. For my first few weeks at the White House, I shadowed the other photographers before I started taking pictures on my own. On the first assignment with Mrs. Obama, I was shadowing my colleague Lawrence Jackson as he shot a very long photo line in the Blue Room. About three hundred people were lined up to meet the First Lady and have their photo taken with her before an event. I watched each of them have their own reaction to meeting her. Some covered their mouths in awe, while others fanned themselves or had trouble catching their breath. Some laughed, some cried, some couldn’t speak. Others just stood there with a big goofy grin as they smiled and nodded (while I kicked myself for doing the same thing!). During my time as a White House photographer, I would see this time and time again. The First Lady was accus
tomed to meeting a lot of people. But they were not used to meeting the First Lady. I realized that if I was going to do my job effectively, I’d have to find a way to get comfortable being in Mrs. Obama’s presence.

  . . .

  What’s a typical day for a White House photographer? I’ve been asked that many times. The truth is, there wasn’t a typical day. Every day was different, and I loved that. It could be busy and exciting or slow and routine. But we always had to be ready, because slow days could turn into busy ones quickly and unexpectedly. Our team of five White House photographers documented the day-to-day duties and the official events of the President, First Lady, and Vice President. Pete Souza, the Chief White House Photographer, documented the President, while David Lienemann covered the Vice President. I primarily covered the First Lady. But Chuck Kennedy, Lawrence Jackson, and I often found ourselves photographing both the President and First Lady, especially for big events where two or three photographers were needed to cover multiple angles. Our job was to document the presidency for the historical record. It was a responsibility that we took very seriously.

  I felt like I had the best of both worlds: I was fortunate to be able to assist with coverage of President Obama, while spending most of my time with the First Lady. I covered meetings, formal remarks, official events, photo lines, tapings, performances, and state visits as well as domestic and international travel. Mrs. Obama enjoyed adding some fun to the mix. She loved to drop by and surprise people, in and out of the White House, which always made for great photos. I really admired the way the First Lady maintained such a serious role, yet she loved to laugh. Mrs. Obama’s interactions with kids and animals, skits with comedians and celebrities, and light-hearted moments with staff members brought a refreshing levity to this high-pressure environment.

  I learned that arriving early was essential. It was not only important to stay inside “the bubble”; being early also meant I could assess the setting, capture some interesting behind-the-scenes moments, and be prepared for any last-minute changes. A certain phrase became ingrained in my mind: “The motorcade only waits for one person…and it’s not you.” I had heard stories from White House staffers of current and past administrations who warned, “Don’t get left behind.” I heard about a photographer who missed the motorcade after trying to get a unique angle, and about a staff member sleeping through an alarm on an exhausting overseas trip. Missing the motorcade (or worse yet, the plane) was by far my biggest fear. For a White House photographer responsible for documenting history, missing the motorcade or plane would mean there would be no official photos taken of the event. This anxiety never really went away throughout my time at the White House.

  But it was a thrilling job that afforded me amazing opportunities. I was able to witness and document history, while learning from and being inspired by the President and First Lady. There were so many things that never stopped being exciting, like flying on Air Force One. The first time I boarded the President’s plane, I was overwhelmed. I had no idea how I’d find my seat on this enormous, beautiful plane. I just followed the seasoned White House staffers, who led me past the President’s cabin, doctor’s office, and conference room back to the roomy staff cabin. There were two pods of four chairs around two tables, plus another two chairs on the far side of the plane by the window.

  “Ms. Lucidon, you’re seated over there,” said the Air Force One attendant.

  I walked over to the window seat and saw the place card that read “Welcome to Air Force One, Ms. Lucidon.” I remember feeling so proud to see my family name on that card. My great-grandfather changed our last name from Lucidonio to Lucidon because he found it was too difficult to get a good job with an Italian last name. I looked at our modified family name and thought about the generations of immigrants that came before me and the struggles they endured as manual laborers. Now the Lucidons (and the Lucidonios!) had a seat on Air Force One.

  I looked around at the cabin of staff members and recognized that we came from many different backgrounds. We each had a place card with our family name represented, and everyone was welcome.

  Moments like those constantly reminded me how special it was to work in the White House.

  Mrs. Obama surprises students from Orchard Gardens of Boston, Massachusetts, in the Map Room of the White House, February 24, 2014.

  It would have been easy to make Mrs. Obama central to every photo. But I’ve always found that some of the most interesting moments are the ones happening at the edges of the frame.

  At one time, Orchard Gardens was one of the lowest-performing schools in Massachusetts and among the lowest-ranked 5 percent of schools in the country. In 2010, Orchard Gardens was named a “Turnaround Arts” school, one of several arts and humanities pilot schools supported by the Obama Administration. After three years of integrating the arts into school programming, Orchard Gardens became one of the most improved Massachusetts schools.

  When Orchard Gardens students performed during a White House luncheon for Mrs. Obama and the National Governors Association spouses, they rapped about not letting circumstances define them. They challenged the audience not to judge a book by its cover. And they recited a beautiful and humorous poem about the First Lady. Mrs. Obama was very moved by the students and the performance. After the luncheon, she stopped into the Map Room to surprise them. The whole room burst with excitement when Mrs. Obama walked in.

  The First Lady greets counselors in the Blue Room prior to the Reach Higher Counselor of the Year event, January 28, 2016.

  Mrs. Obama receives travel advice from girls during a taping for Cosmopolitan, in the Diplomatic Reception Room, June 22, 2016.

  Mrs. Obama welcomes Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif before a poetry recital in the Blue Room of the White House, October 23, 2013.

  The First Lady often hosted spouses of foreign dignitaries at the White House. To make her guests feel welcome, Mrs. Obama would hold a special event in honor of their visit.

  In this case, Mrs. Obama learned that her guest, Kalsoom Nawaz Sharif, wife of Pakistan’s Prime Minister, enjoyed poetry, so she held a poetry recital in the Blue Room. She invited several American poets to participate, including former Poet Laureate Billy Collins. The room was filled with laughter as he recited “The Lanyard,” a humorous poem about the gift he made for his mother at summer camp.

  Mrs. Obama sings and dances along with Soul Children of Chicago as they perform during a symposium on advancement for women and girls in Africa at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, August 6, 2014.

  This photo and following photo: Mrs. Obama greets Mathtastic girls and joins Oprah Winfrey for a conversation about “Trailblazing the Path for the Next Generation of Women” during the United State of Women Summit at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC, June 14, 2016.

  Mrs. Obama greets students following keynote remarks at Fortune magazine’s annual Most Powerful Women Summit dinner at the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, October 13, 2013.

  Mrs. Obama demonstrates her boxing skills during a Let’s Move taping in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building Gymnasium of the White House, May 12, 2015.

  Students react to seeing the First Lady during a ceremony to unveil the name of the baby panda at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in Washington, DC, September 25, 2015.

  Several times a year, Mrs. Obama made surprise visits to children’s hospitals. The rooms were often very small and the staff stayed out so Mrs. Obama could have candid discussions with the patients and families.

  I usually trailed behind the First Lady, making my presence known quietly and only taking photos when I got the nod of approval from the parents. Even though I had my camera on quiet mode, I made a few frames to avoid interfering with the intimacy of the conversation.

  Mrs. Obama talked to them about school, favorite hobbies, and their treatment. She adapted to each situation: being the nurturing mother, a sympathetic listener, or a sill
y friend.

  We brought cookies made by the White House pastry chef to leave with the kids. They were shaped and frosted to look like Bo and Sunny, the Obamas’ dogs. Since it was only me and Mrs. Obama in the room, I put the cookies in my suit pocket and waited for the cue to hand them to her. It was nice to see the kids light up when Mrs. Obama presented them with the Bo and Sunny cookies.

  Mrs. Obama visits with Camron Stevens in his room at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, September 17, 2014.

  The First Lady gets comfortable after a long day of official events, while answering questions from White House spring interns in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, April 2, 2014.

  Every fall, spring, and summer, the White House welcomed a new class of interns. One of the perks of the internship program was the opportunity to hear from prominent leaders in the Obama Administration through the speaker series. Interns were always especially excited to hear from the President, Vice President, and First Lady.

  Instead of giving formal remarks, Mrs. Obama preferred to create a relaxed environment. She made the students laugh and feel comfortable, and she encouraged them to take advantage of the time by asking questions.

  I really enjoyed shooting these events because I learned so much from the answers to students’ questions. The First Lady gave great advice and offered inspiring words that benefited everyone in the room, including me.

  President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk from Marine One on the White House South Lawn, September 29, 2015.