February 12, 2009

Obama's Inauguration: Find the Apostles

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, and M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles attended the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama January 20, 2009.1

During Obama's inaugural address, photographer David Bergman created a "Gigapan image" from the north press platform. It is composed of 220 images, the final image size being 1,474 megapixels.

So the challenge is to find the apostles. I'll provide one bit of advice. It may not do to rely on the Deseret News article which stated "They were seated front and center some four-dozen rows from the presidential stage for Tuesday's inauguration and then just a couple of yards away from Obama and his contingent for Wednesday's prayer service."2 I just wasted too much time down that strange road.

The full screen version of the image is here.

Happy hunting!




FOOTNOTES
[1]
LDS Public Affairs, "Church Leaders Attend President Obama’s Inauguration," newsroom.lds.org, Jan. 20, 2009.

[2]
Scott Taylor, "LDS leaders feel deep emotion at inauguration," Deseret News, Jan. 22, 2009.

[3]

SPOILER: Click here for a possible answer.(Matthew Carlson believes he has located them first.)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great image - and amazing how close you can get in. This is cool.

However, I think the proposed answer to your question is incorrect. Sorry, but the two gentlemen identified by the arrow just don't look like President Uchtdorf or Elder Ballard to me. Last, I seriously doubt that they were up on the dais for the inauguration.

BHodges said...

Well, I think he's right, but I'll change it to say it may be them. (I think they may have been so close, being participants in the National Prayer Service the next day.)

cinepro said...

Wow. That's cool. I couldn't find the apostles, but I found Mr. Potter from "It's a Wonderful Life" sitting right next to President Bush.

Jeremy said...

It looks like Justice Thomas is asleep. And if you look 4-5 rows behind him, I swear that's either Obi Wan Kenobi or someone I would think John the Revelator would look like.

Cool stuff.

BHodges said...

Bonus points to whomever spots the 3 Nephites and Moroni.

Anonymous said...

I think the Deseret News would probably have some reliable info on where they were. There aren't even 4 dozen rows behind Obama, so they must have been in front of him. Plus the guys pointed out with the arrow aren't "front and center". That's what I think. If Al Gore was 6 rows back there's no way two Mormon Apostles were also 6 rows back. Just my opinion.

Steve M. said...

Chief Justice Roberts looks like he's still a bit perturbed about botching the oath of office.

Steve M. said...

Oh, and Dick Cheney looks like a Bond villain.

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