Imagine being in the room for Bin Laden, Sandy Hook, and the Charleston church shooting—and still having to shut up and take the picture.
My colleague Rob Kelly ranks “The Way I see It” as the #2 “Great Documentaries About Photographers”.
Thanks to the crew at Kottke.org for putting this on my radar.
Trailer for “The Way I See It”
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Souza photographed a 5-year-old Black boy touching President Obama’s head in the Oval Office to see if their hair felt the same. The image became a cultural landmark.
- Unlike his predecessors, President Trump did not allow a White House photographer. No official daily visual record of his presidency exists.
- Souza went from apolitical to outspoken, using Instagram to post side-by-side comparisons of Obama and Trump during major events.
Watch “The Way I See It”
You can find the latest streaming options at JustWatch
Ratings:
- My Rating: 90/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 93/100 (Users); 85/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Dawn Porter directs this 102-minute film. She also made “Gideon’s Army” and “John Lewis: Good Trouble.”
Release Date: September 18, 2020 (U.S. theatrical release)
My Review of “The Way I See It”
The Setup
Pete Souza was the Chief Official White House Photographer for both Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. This doc explores how he used his lens to capture raw, human moments—and later, to fight misinformation in the Trump era.
More Highlights from the Doc
- Souza’s access was unprecedented—he estimates he spent more time with Obama than Michelle did.
- He shot over 1.9 million photos during the Obama years, capturing everything from bin Laden’s raid to Sasha and Malia’s bedtime hugs.
- Key moments include Obama tearing up after Sandy Hook and Reagan’s near-assassination aftermath.
- The film shows how visual storytelling shapes our understanding of leadership, empathy, and character.
Wrap Up
Whether you’re into politics or photography, this doc shows how images can hold power, truth, and accountability. Souza makes the case that what we see—or don’t—matters.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc