Welcome to the latest installment of SnapDap, a series of posts where we give props to a single image, story or project and the photographers behind them. If there’s something inspiring your eye and you;d like to see it featured in a future installment, please let us know in the comments below!

A couple weeks ago Drew Angerer’s image of President Bill Clinton visiting President Obama spread across the web like wildfire, ending up on the front page of Reddit and into impact font infested meme-land. In the following weeks it is finding a second life as it makes the rounds of Tumblr.

I have never actually met Drew, he interned at the Midland Daily News in Michigan right after I left, but I’ve watched his growth from afar and over the years my former co-workers have raved about him. I find it kind of odd actually that we’ve never spoken before, but we’re going to fix that today.

It doesn’t suprise me that Drew was behind the instantly inconic image but it was odd that the instant part wasn’t recognized until two years after the image was made.

Photographed in 2010, he web gave it another life and with the recent copyright questions around social media sites like Pintrest, Instagram, TwitPic and I thought perhaps Drew might bring an interesting perspective to what it’s like to be a working photographer in the social age.

SD: Thanks for speaking with us Drew, so let’s start at the beginning. What’s the story behind how this image came about, did you know you had captured a unique moment when you clicked the shutter?

Drew: I was interning at the NYTimes in DC at the time. I was on the White House shift that day. Former President Clinton came to the White House for a private Oval Office meeting with President Obama to discuss the recent (Dec. 2010) compromise the president had made with Congressional Republicans on taxes. They weren’t supposed to make a public appearance together, but a press conference was called hastily at the end of the day. President Obama came out first and Clinton followed, gesturing with his arms wide open and a big grin on his face as he took to the podium. I guess I really wasn’t aware of the moment I had shot until I went through my take after the press conference. That stuff happens so quickly  and you don’t have a whole lot of time to chimp because these things are over fast.

SD: Set the record straight, the internet has its assumptions that President Obama is reacting to former President Clinton, what really happened?
Drew: It’s hard to say. President Obama kinda had a sheepish grin on his face and was sort of playing along with Bill as they made their grand entrance. It happened very fast and freezing it may look like he reacted much longer than he did.
SD: Do you feel this raises any issues in showing prominent figures in unflattering light from an in-between moment?

Drew: Not in this case, I don’t think. I don’t think either figure looks unflattering here. Perhaps it looks exaggerated when frozen, but Clinton was clearly hamming it up and stealing the spotlight here.

SD: Some like to look down on pool photographers that follow The White House or other politicians, but as a shooter working in DC, why do you think it is important to be there for these events? What do you say to folks who argue it’s a carefully orchestrated manipulation of the media and we shouldn’t play along?

Drew: I’m not in the White House press pool any longer. The wires cover everything the president does and they are always there, and that is important in case something happens. Everything is very staged and orchestrated, but there are photos to be had on the fringes and before and after the events that can be telling. There is a huge need for photos of politics and newsmakers and it can be done in a creative way. The job can certainly be a grind and it’s probably not for everyone, but there are important photos to be made and the news media certainly has a demand for political photos.

SD: In the last weeks, your photograph captured the attention of the internet, seen my millions on Reddit, as a meme and now it’s making the rounds on Tumblr, how did this translate for you? Has it brought you any attention, jobs or unexpected surprises?

Drew: It was very strange. The photo was nearly two years old and I’m not sure why it just now took flight like this. I’m glad more people are seeing it I suppose. I did get a lot of extra hits on my website, but that’s about it.

SD: Going viral doesn’t always translate into getting credit for your work or any direct payment, how has this worked out for you? Are you glad it went viral?

Drew: Yeah, it’s kinda frustrating that it mostly appears without any credit line. The internet seems to be one big gray area for artists and copyright issues. It’s nice to have it displayed to a wider audience, but at the same time, it’s a little frustration it spread around so much without even a byline where most places it appeared.

SD: What do you think this means for the future of media, copyright and how users think of pictures in an era of memes, Pinterest and Instagram? Is it heading toward a good place?
Drew: The internet just seems to be kind of a big lawless gray area. We are definitely a visual culture and people enjoy photos and like to share them. I think the average person out there has no idea how copyright and credit is important to photographers.
SD: Do you feel stolen from?

Drew: The NYTimes owns the photo, and I’ve already been compensated by them. Sort of out of my hands at this point.

SD:Do you have a personal favorite meme incarnation of your picture? And how do you feel about the Impact font that everyone is plastering on your photograph?

Drew: The Colombian prostitutes one made me laugh. A lot of them were just kinda crude and not that funny.

SD: Lastly, here’s something I like to ask everyone; what’s inspiring you these days?

Drew: Sticking with the political theme, Stephen Crowley of the NYT does some pretty unique work – http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/stephen-crowleys-aquarela-do-brasil/

Thanks to Drew for sharing his thoughts with us, be sure to check out more of his work here.

Questions for Drew can also be posted in the comments below and at some point we may follow it up with another round with Drew.

If you enjoyed this new series and have suggestions for candidates for future installments please let us know in the comments or on Facebook. Thanks!