The Photo That Took the Internet by Storm: Can You Spot the Special Detail?

A photo taken at Tidal Basin has grabbed attention as something unexpected managed to sneak into the frame, leaving everyone astonished and delighted.

 

 

On the morning of April 1, siblings Belle (4 years old) and Preston (1 year old) were standing neatly, beaming with smiles in front of the camera. Everything was set for the perfect picture.

Suddenly, a tall man stepped into the frame. It turned out to be former U.S. President Barack Obama. In just a few seconds, the photoshoot was over, and the pictures no longer featured just the two siblings.

The whole family was both surprised and amused upon discovering this, according to The New York Times.

“What! Is Barack Obama in your photo?” little Belle excitedly exclaimed while reviewing the images with her parents, grandparents, and photographer Briana Inell.

In fact, photographer Briana had not noticed the former President’s presence in the shot at all. At that moment, she was solely focused on adjusting the composition to achieve harmony: with the Washington Monument on the left, cherry blossoms on the right, and the two children in the center.

“I’ve been shooting during cherry blossom season for the past 10 years, but I never realized that Obama had walked into the frame,” Briana shared.

It was 7:30 AM at the time—the moment when the sun was shining beautifully on the Tidal Basin, creating a breathtaking scene. And even President Obama was enjoying that moment.

On the same day, Obama also posted on Instagram while strolling by the lake with the caption: “Sometimes being a tourist is really fun. This morning, the cherry blossoms are absolutely stunning!”

Every year, over 1.5 million visitors flock to Tidal Basin to admire the blooming cherry blossoms at the end of March. These trees were a gift from the Mayor of Tokyo to the United States in 1912, symbolizing friendship.

When the photo was taken, the boys’ father, Damien Thomas, took a few seconds to realize who had just appeared in the frame. Obama was accompanied by Secret Service agents, but no one in the family spoke up, too shocked by the surprise.

Belle had just learned about Obama in February during Black History Month. She even memorized a famous quote from his 2008 speech.

The boys’ mother, Portia Moore, said that although the children may not fully understand the significance of having a photo with the former President, it will undoubtedly be a lifelong memory for them.