Stockland Martel

In January of this year, The New York Times Magazine published “Obama’s People,” Nadav Kander’s unforgettable 52-image series of portraits of the new administration’s top support staff. Kander talks about the making of these historic photos in a candid interview with lensulcuture.com, touching on everything from his influences in conceiving the project (Bernd and Hilla Becher, surprisingly enough), to collaborating with NYTM photography editor Kathy Ryan, to his desire to let his subjects be “the author of their own pictures.” Says Kander, “I didn’t want to fabricate anything for them.” You can hear the interview here. If you’d like to see the portraits in person and happen to be in England sometime this spring or summer, stop by the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. “Obama’s People” is on view there through August 31. For more information, go here.