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From Presidential Portraits in Washington to Heartbreaking Images from South Africa

Time Magazine White House Photographer Diana Walker
Redefines “Portrait”—Capturing 30 Years of
Every Day Moments, Emotions and History

White House photographer Diana Walker has spent the last 30 years making iconic images of presidents, politicians, entrepreneurs, entertainers, royalty and everyday men and women around the world.

In THE BIGGER PICTURE: 30 Years of Portraits,a National Geographic book in bookstores Nov. 6, 2007, Walker redefines “portrait” — capturing reality, rather than stylized and posed subjects. Through her camera, she captures the personalities and emotions of some of the most extraordinary and enduring luminaries of this last century, while also chronicling the quiet heroism and everyday joys of people who would otherwise remain anonymous, their stories untold.

In addition to its 200 portraits divided into themes of “The Press,” “Politics,” “Presidents” and “All in a Day’s Work,” THE BIGGER PICTURE features exclusive interviews with Madeleine Albright, Steve Jobs, Karenna Gore Schiff (about her father), Jamie Lee Curtis and Hillary Clinton. Walker sharpens the focus on everyday moments rarely seen by the public, thus offering a bigger picture, beyond the extraordinary careers led by these individuals.

Though the portraits in THE BIGGER PICTURE are accompanied by captions, the images form a narrative all their own, validating the maxim “a picture is worth a thousand words.” They evoke sadness and happiness, success and despair, and small moments that are easily missed but often treasured.

• At a White House holiday party, Nancy Reagan sits on “Santa” Mr. T’s lap and tells him what she wants for Christmas.
• Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton enjoy some camaraderie.
• Princess Diana gives Prince Charles a knowing slantwise glance.
• Steve Jobs’ success is tracked from his almost bare home in 1982 to his elegant house and cluttered office 25 years later.
• A young boy, once held by rebels in Uganda, stares into the camera with haunted eyes.
• Presidential families share wonderfully candid moments, while world leaders are caught in the course of momentous, historical events.

Through Walker’s lens, we see the small gestures, the “human moments” that breathe life into otherwise frozen moments in time.

“My hope is that I have managed to tell you something about the people I have photographed, perhaps shedding light on aspects of their character you might not have noticed, or reinforcing opinions you already had,” writes Walker in her introduction.

Coupled with narration from Walker and the individuals in her portraits, THE BIGGER PICTURE offers first-person commentary that provides background for the moment or event. The result is a delightfully layered story, both visual and verbal, told from multiple points of view. The book will have wide appeal to readers who are interested in great photography, famous figures and the political and cultural life of our times.