Blog by Sean McManus

Obama inauguration photos

27 January 2009

I was working from the Boston (US) office on the day of Obama's inauguration this week and we watched it streamed over the web. From his opening line ("My fellow citizens" - reaching out to everyone living in America, not just the born or naturalised Americans), it was clear that this was the start of an era of change. There was a great spirit of optimism in everyone I met. At a concert in a local bar on Friday, the biggest applause was not for the band, nor the singer, but for Obama namechecked at the end.

When I returned home, the Amnesty International magazine in my post tray was calling on Obama to close down Guantanamo. He'd already started. It remains to be seen how much he can achieve how quickly, but he promises a return to values-led politics, something which has been lacking in the US (and the UK) for too long.

Obama's face carved in snow on Widdener Library

Obama's face carved in snow on a pillar of the Widdener Library, Harvard University, on the morning of the inauguration.

Obama merchandise

Obama merchandise in Borders includes a jigsaw puzzle of the Boston Globe front page on the day he won the election, t-shirts, and numerous books, including two written by Obama himself. Whether you want to read Obama's own take on politics, or just wear the icon on your chest, Obama is there for you.

Grocery shop window decorated for Obama

This deli and grocery store was decorated for the occasion. A small crowd was gathered around this shop window watching the news again as I walked home in the evening. The inauguration took place the day after Martin Luther King Day and the shop's other window had a picture of Martin Luther King alongside a picture of Obama.

Labels: photography, politics