The picture was released by The Carter Center after the Bidens visited Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter at their residence.
President Joe Biden and First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden went to visit former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn at their residence on April 29th as they couldn't make it to Biden's swearing-in in Washington due to the pandemic, reports USA Today. The Bidens' visit to Plains, Georgia also made history as it was the first time the Carters were visited by a president since they left office.
The president was in Georiga to promote his infrastructure plans and addressed a rally in Duluth after visiting the Carters. While he has been quite outspoken under previous administrations, Carter has mostly been absent from public life after a series of health conditions in 2019.
Jimmy Carter and Joe Biden's camaraderie go way back! In 1976, when Carter announced he was running for President, Biden was one of the first national lawmakers to pitch his support. "Joe Biden was my first and most effective supporter in the Senate. For decades, he's been my loyal and dedicated friend," Carter said in a recorded statement during the Democratic National Convention in 2020, endorsing Biden.
Days after the meeting, the Carter Center released a photo of the Bidens with the Carters, with the caption: "We’re pleased to share this wonderful photo from the @POTUS and @FLOTUS visit to see the Carters in Plains, Ga.! Thank you, President and Mrs. Biden!" However, the photo proved to be the source of amusement for people everywhere as they couldn't help but notice how it seemed like the Bidens' were giants compared to Jimmy and his wife.
We’re pleased to share this wonderful photo from the @POTUS and @FLOTUS visit to see the Carters in Plains, Ga.!
— The Carter Center (@CarterCenter) May 4, 2021
Thank you President and Mrs. Biden! pic.twitter.com/QcA33iUev4
However, Guardian's resident photography expert is here to shed some light on why the photo seems so disproportionate. "The image is possibly distorted by using a wide-angle lens. When taking photos in a smaller space you often don’t have room to move far enough back to get everyone in the frame, so you use a lens that can take it all in. Unfortunately, if you use a lens that is really wide, while also standing very close to the subjects, it will distort the photo, making those close to the camera appear giant while shrinking those further away."
It's a rather simple trick, says Carly. "You don’t need special gear to create this optical trickery. If you have an iPhone 11 or 12 you actually can use the wide-angle setting in the camera on the phone to capture a wider field of view. So just ask whatever former president you encounter to step back slightly, then get yourself in front, and snap." There you have it, it's just a camera trick.
Here are some of the best reactions to the image:
We voted for Biden because he's a decent human being with sound policies but also because he and Jill are giants who will crush you if you make them angry.
— Sister Celluloid (@sistercelluloid) May 4, 2021
This is a scene from the movie Honey I Shrunk the Carters -coming to a theater near you summer 2021
— Proud Recusant (@james_bert_mill) May 4, 2021
So funny! It looks like the Bidens crawled into a doll house. The ratios between just Jill and the chair are off and then you look POTUS and he looks ginormous. 😳
— Do Something 2 Help Dems Win 🇺🇸 (@mkoates) May 4, 2021
Four of my favorite people...in a photo with BAFFLING perspective issues...unless this is an outtake from the first act of Lord Of The Rings. https://t.co/ycVj0IjFyC
— Jeffrey Lieber (@JeffLieber) May 4, 2021
Have the Carters been miniature people this whole time and we never knew?? pic.twitter.com/lH9ShFljkM
— Sara Gonzales (@SaraGonzalesTX) May 4, 2021
i can’t stop laughing at big bidens and baby carters pic.twitter.com/WIJxcqThra
— Vincent Martella (@VinMan17) May 4, 2021
absolutely transfixed and perplexed by this photo. how are the carters so tiny. why does the room look like a doll house. how is this real. blog tk https://t.co/XxhZGEhzLC
— Abigail Weinberg (@abigailweinberg) May 4, 2021
Why doesn’t Biden, the largest president, simply eat the Carters.
— Louis Peitzman (@LouisPeitzman) May 4, 2021
Cover Image Source: Twitter/The Carter Center