whnpa news

Inaugural Week events

Some great happenings with the WHNPA over the next few days:

***Tomorrow: Thursday, January 17th from 2-4 p.m. at Edison Place Gallery:

The White House News Photographers Association will debut an exhibit of photographs of American presidents dating back to the associations founding in1921 titled “Executive Functioning: Through the Eyes of History,” at Pepco’s Edison Place Gallery on Jan. 8, 2013.

The exhibit will be highlighted with a free and open to the public panel discussion on presidential press coverage Thursday, Jan. 17 from 2-4 p.m., led by Washington photojournalists Jason Reed of Reuters and former WHNPA president Dennis Brack.

The gallery in the lobby of the Pepco Building . The gallery is located at 702 Eighth Street between G and H Streets.

Since June 13, 1921, when the White House News Photographers Association was formed, and Warren Harding was president, members have covered every aspect of the presidency – from the campaign trail to the inauguration and the day-to-day moments that make an indelible mark on history. The images selected for this exhibit include seldom seen photographs of the nation’s presidents taken by members of The White House News Photographers Association.

Each image selected was entered in the annual ‘Eyes of History’ contest, exhibited for a brief time, and donated to the Library of Congress, many never to be seen again until now. Prior to the first inauguration of President Barack Obama, the WHNPA completed an exhaustive archiving project from images that had been donated to the library and then stored out of public view. Using high-resolution Nikon cameras, each original image was copied. In additional to the images from the archives, current photographs of presidents are contained in the exhibit that were prizewinners in the association’s annual competition.

Images include President John F. Kennedy having breakfast with his young daughter Caroline in the White House; President Dwight Eisenhower being lassoed by television cowboy and roping legend Montie Montana during the 1953 inaugural parade; President Harry Truman, dressed in a white T-shirt, exercising on a Navy ship; and a photograph of President Barack Obama waiting just inside the U.S. Capitol before taking the oath of office in 2009.

According to Heidi Elswick, executive director of the WHNPA, the association protects and promotes photographers’ interests as they pursue the mission of being ‘The Eyes of History.’ “Our membershave a daily front seat to history, and as an association, we owe it to future generations to help insure that our members have the access they need,” she said.

The WHNPA supports photographers in their work to chronicle images from the White House, Capitol Hill, embassies, and other governmental organizations. The association negotiates access to governmental events in order to maintain a visual record of history. “Photographers must be allowed to record historic moments if history is to be preserved with accuracy - this is especially important in a democracy. It’s our constitutional mandate for freedom of the press,” Elswick said. “Regardless of the medium – newspaper, television, magazine, or the Web – people from every continent rely on members of the association for interesting, accurate and responsible coverage of the White House.”

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** Saturday, January, 19th Inauguration party and reception — RSVP deadline, TODAY, midnight, space is limited…. FANTASTIC door prizes and giveaway’s courtesy of our generous sponsors and supporters. Don’t forget to bring your business cards to enter!! Casual, come as you are, relax and rest up before the longer days begin! WHNPA branded merchandise for sale, too!

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*****WHNPA work currently featured in Washington… Tell your visiting colleagues!

2012 WHNPA ‘Eyes of History’ Exhibit at the Newseum, through March.

Executive Functioning : Through the Eyes of History’ at Edison Place Gallery through Feb., 1st., free 2012 WHNPA’Eyes of History’ traveling exhibit at the National Press Gallery through January.

Thanks all for sending in your renewals! Nearly every member is caught up to date. Remember, the 2013 contest deadline is fast approaching! Please check the contest info page of the WHNPA web site, our facebook page, twitter, and this blog for the latest information, rules and eligibility requirements for the contests.

Save the date! The 2013 Awards gala will be held on Saturday, May 11th! Make your plans to attend now before we sell out.

Happy Inaugural coverage!