Clinton On Shocked Expression In Bin Laden Sit Room Photo: May Have Been ‘Preventing A Cough’

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the shocked expression she had in a White House photo taken during the rain on Osama bin Laden’s compound–complete with a hand covering her mouth as if gasping–may actually have been the face of someone trying not to cough. “I am somewhat sheepishly concerned that it was my preventing one of my early spring allergic coughs,” she told reporters in Rome on Thursday. “So, it may have no great meaning whatsoever.”

According to CBS News, the cough explanation may not go over well with photography experts, who found Clinton’s expression the perfect focal point for a dramatic picture:

In a series of interviews about the image conducted by Women’s Wear Daily, a number of top photo editors cited Clinton’s expression as the most powerful element of the photograph.

“The Hillary Clinton expression is the one that holds the photograph fully,” said Kira Pollack, Time’s director of photography. “The reaction of her hand over her face. Her eyes. Clearly, she’s reacting to something she’s watching.”

“To me, the whole image is about Hillary,” Pollack added. “In some ways, she holds the image. You look at her first, and then you look at everyone else.”

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!