Originally published in the New York Times magazine, this series of photographs by Nadav Kander is a collection of 52 portraits of the members of Barack Obama’s White House staff. Those featured include behind-the-scenes personnel such as aides, speechwriters and special advisers, as well as leading politicians such as Vice-President Joe Biden and the White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel. Taken in December 2008 and January 2009, the selection gives a snapshot of the early Obama presidency with Kander capturing the variety of emotions Obama’s people were feeling at that point of momentous change: some show happy astonishment at what they have achieved, others, an enthusiasm to get on with the nation’s business. Each subject was photographed in democratic fashion, each in front of the same white background, and each subject was also asked to bring along an object that had some personal importance to them or that reflected their personality. Although Kander did not photograph Barack Obama for this series, he has photographed him at other times. He has also previously photographed Tony Blair and Desmond Tutu. Kander was recently shortlisted for the prestigious Prix Pictet prize. to 10th October