The Campaign Released Its Official Portrait. It’s Mostly Leaves.

Every campaign needs an official portrait. It’s the one that goes on the yard signs, with the confident half-smile and the flag in the background.

We hired forty-one photographers. Forty came back with pictures of trees. One came back with a picture of his own thumb.

We went with the trees.

What’s in it

We showed it to a few people who look at photos for a living. Their notes: “Top left, a Douglas fir, nicely lit. The middle is a blur. Bottom right is either his hand or a fern with a lot of confidence.”

The campaign is happy with it. “Other candidates have hundreds of sharp, flattering photos,” a spokesperson said. “What are they trying to prove?”

Your turn

We’ve opened the job up to everyone. In Photo Op you get thirty seconds and three shots to take his picture. It will come out badly. Share it anyway, and tag it #SquatchTheVote.

Want to know more about him first? Here’s his story, and here’s what he stands for.