November 6, 2012 4:00 AM EST
A fter months of nearly non-stop campaigning, President Obama and his team have spent the last two weeks crisscrossing the country to make their final appeals to voters. Veteran political photographer Brooks Kraft has been there to document the campaign’s final days.
This was the eighth presidential campaign that Kraft has photographed, and his sixth for TIME. Over the years, he has honed his approach to shooting some of the most photographed men and women in the United States. Kraft rarely takes his pictures from the press platforms, preferring to move around, searching out unique angles and small details.
“I attempt to work around all the messaging and clutter surrounding the candidate, to take photographs that reflect the character of the campaign,” he told TIME.
These photographs, many shot in so-called ‘battleground’ states, capture the energy and exhaustion of a campaign winding down. Kraft captures both the quiet details—from Secret Service agents on a distant roof to a close-up of a pink breast cancer awareness bracelet on the President’s wrist — and the dramatic moments — ecstatic crowds pressing toward the stage and the President silhouetted against spotlights as he speaks.
Shooting politics for so many years has allowed Kraft to make iconic pictures that transcend the obvious. “Shooting campaigns requires patience and persistence,” he said. “It can take many days of long travel to find images that can last beyond the daily news cycle.”
Brooks Kraft is a Washington D.C.-based photographer.
Nov. 6, 2012. First Lady Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden at the President's election night victory party in Chicago. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama smiles through a storm of confetti at his election night victory party in Chicago. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 6, 2012. Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama celebrate his victory at his election night rally in Chicago. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama speaks to his supporters at his election night victory party in Chicago. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama points to someone in the crowd at his election night victory party in Chicago. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by their families, at the President's election night victory party in Chicago. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 6, 2012. President Barack Obama walks toward the podium with First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters to meet Vice President Joe Biden and Jill Biden, at the President's election night victory party in Chicago. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 6, 2012. A large group of media wait for Obama before his election night rally in Chicago. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 5, 2012. Obama hugs the first lady at a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 5, 2012. President Barack Obama stands on stage with rapper Jay-Z and musician Bruce Springsteen at an election campaign rally in Columbus, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 5, 2012. Musician Bruce Springsteen greets the First Lady after performing in Des Moines, Iowa. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 5, 2012. Secret Service agents hold the doors to Obama's limousine as he arrives in Des Moines, Iowa. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 3, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally at the Mentor High School in Mentor, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 3, 2012. Members of the audience make an "O" during a campaign rally with President Obama in Mentor, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 4, 2012. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton greets President Obama after introducing him at a campaign rally in Concord, N.H. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 4, 2012. Secret Service snipers watch on a rooftop as President Obama speaks at a campaign rally in Concord, N.H. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 2, 2012. A supporter shows off his tee-shirt at a campaign event with President Obama in Hilliard, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 25, 2012. A member holds a curtain backstage before the arrival of U.S. President at a campaign rally in Tampa. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 2, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign event in Hilliard, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Nov. 2, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign event in Hilliard, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 25, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Tampa. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 25, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Richmond, Va. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 25, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Tampa. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 25, 2012. Supporters cheer on President Obama at a campaign rally in Cleveland. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 25, 2012. The podium, microphone and teleprompters of President Obama at a campaign rally in Cleveland. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 25, 2012. President Obama arrives at a campaign rally in Cleveland. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 25, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Tampa. He is wearing a pink bracelet in support of breast cancer awareness, an important issue with women voters. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 25, 2012. U.S. President Barack Obama attends a campaign rally in Richmond, Va. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 24, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Denver. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 24, 2012. Supporters are shadowed on a wall as President Obama attends a campaign rally in Davenport, Iowa. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 24, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Denver. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 24, 2012. President Obama attends a campaign rally in Denver. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 23, 2012. Vice President Joe Biden during a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME Oct. 23, 2012. President Obama is greeted by supporters during a campaign rally in Dayton, Ohio. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME More Must-Reads from TIME Why Trump’s Message Worked on Latino Men What Trump’s Win Could Mean for Housing The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024 Sleep Doctors Share the 1 Tip That’s Changed Their Lives Column: Let’s Bring Back Romance What It’s Like to Have Long COVID As a Kid FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024 Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision