History in the Making - by Christy Bowe (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Dive in to this insider view of the White House and the men and women who fill it with life, love, and controversy.

Christy Bowe is not only a veteran White House press photographer. She's a chronicler of the real people behind the gravitas of the presidential facade. In History in the Making: Focus On Five US Presidents, Bowe not only takes us through a pictorial journey of five US presidencies but depicts the shifting human experience of each president, all of whom responds differently as both the US and the world send challenges, triumphs, and disaster their way. When photographing at the White House there is no choice but to react quickly and respond spontaneously, and Bowe captures each moment perfectly. Throughout the journey, Bowe grants us an inside look into the steps she took and the people who inspired her to make her way into the storied halls of the White House-and what it takes to make it in the press corps.

Review Quotes

"Most Americans have probably relied on Christy Bowe's photography throughout their lives as she's worked to document the first draft of history as a photojournalist in the White House press corps. Through her beautiful photographs and sharply rendered anecdotes in 'History in the Making, ' ... Christy provides a close-up of the most defining and intimate moments from the past five presidencies. A marvelous achievement."--Congressman Jamie Raskin (Eighth District of Maryland)

"The truly unique power of this book is the construct of Bowe's reflections of five different leaders who were in their own time the most powerful people in the world. She was never beholden to the role of an official White House photographer or personal presidential photographer. Christy is one of the fortunate few who has 'elbowed' her way and her images into the history books." --Mark Greenberg, Pulitzer Prize Nominee, Former Photo Editor for Associated Press, and Bestselling Author of Obama: The Historic Front Pages and Obama: The Historic Presidency of Barack Obama

"Americans grow up fascinated and awed by the office of the president of the United States, and the men who served in that role. Bowe's book is an enthralling "peek behind the curtain" into what goes on in the White House - a peek only accessible to someone with a camera, press credentials, and the talent to capture history in the making." --Congressman Andy Harris (First District of Maryland)

"Christy Bowe's photographs are sublime. With each moment captured in 'History in the Making, ' she shares her extraordinary talent and nearly thirty years of White House history for the benefit of generations of scholars to come."--Marcia Anderson, Chief Publishing Officer of the White House Historical Association and Editor of White House History Quarterly

"I've heard it said by another photographer, 'You can take a snap. Anyone can, but a photographer makes a picture.' Indubitably. Take a look at Christy's book, and you'll see. Christy is of a special breed-able to be omnipresent, but unobtrusive, a silent creator of the record." --Llewelyn King, Creator, Executive Producer and Host of "White House Chronicle" on PBS

"In an impressive collection of images and insights, Christy's pictures make me feel important moments, both happy and sad - those I was a bit player in, and those watched from the sidelines. An important contribution to history of recent American presidents." --Mary Catherine Andrews, Former President of the American News Women's Club and Special Assistant to George W. Bush for Global Communications

"Christy's images take us behind the velvet rope, revealing a unique and insightful look into both the history and the character of the presidency." --Eric Draper, Former Chief White House Photographer and Author of Front Row Seat: A Photographic Portrait of the Presidency of George W. Bush

"Christy Bowe's 'History in the Making' offers an intimate and refreshing perspective on the modern American presidency. Her brilliant photos capture the unique personalities of the men who occupied the office, document many of the key events of the past three decades, and offer a glimpse into the personal side of living in the White House, including first ladies and first dogs. Highly recommended!" --Steven M. Gillon, Senior Fellow, The Miller Center for the Study of the Presidency at the University of Virginia; New York Times Bestselling Author of America's Reluctant Prince: The Life of John F. Kennedy Jr. and The Pact: Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich, and The Rivalry that Defined a Generation

"Christy has brought a whole new perspective on capturing our presidents, their families and history in the making. Technology and the people in the White House have changed, but Christy shows us that the art of composing a picture that expresses feelings and emotions does not. As news photographers we have a unique skill set to be objective. Christy is totally professional at all times, and never misses a shot."--Melissa Young, Broadcast Photographer for ABC News

"Get to know the White House and the presidents through the experiences of a world-class photographer who is a member of the White House press corps. Christy Bowe does it again with her unique photographic talent that documents history. I love this book."--Barry Donadio, Former U.S. Secret Service

"'History in the Making' is a must-read for those curious about the day-to-day of the most important "office space" in the world: the White House! Getting it from a legendary firsthand observer is the real deal. This is also an important ode to women in the profession, finally! Thank you, Christy, for sharing your images and insights."--Scott Mc Kiernan, CEO and Founder of ZUMA Press

About the Author

Before she jumped out of an airplane at 15,000 feet and earned her first-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, Christy Bowe, a third-generation Washingtonian, was thrown out of Catholic school in the ninth grade for refusing to conform. She briefly attended Montgomery College of Rockville, Maryland, and the University of Missouri Photo Workshop in Carthage, Missouri. Most of her education has been "on the job."

In pursuit of her passion for photography, Christy earned her way into the small, elite circle of White House press photographers. With support from the late, widely celebrated White House reporter Sarah McClendon, Christy started ImageCatcher News Service. She is represented by Getty Images and Zuma Press. Her corporate clients have included Harley-Davidson, the National Science Foundation, the National Press Club, and the National Organization for Women and Hitachi Corporation.

Christy is currently a member of the White House Press Corps, the House and Senate Press Photographers' Gallery, the White House Correspondents' Association, and the White House News Photographers' Association. She has lectured at American University, Montgomery College, and George Mason University. Christy has ten images preserved in the George W. Bush Presidential Library. She resides in Bethesda, Maryland, and continues to work as a photojournalist, currently covering her fifth US president, Joseph R. Biden.