Pete Souza, the White House photographer for the past 8 years, published a personal selection of photos from this past year. The collection contains many wonderful and touching photographs. He’s a talented photographer and story teller.

Pete’s technical prowess lends his photos a sense of precision you don’t often see. His eye for composition engages the viewer while making them a fly on the wall. Many photographers must be jealous of his instinct for sniffing out interesting, decisive moments.

Pete’s photography early in the Obama administration is what inspired me to buy a DSLR in 2009. I took that camera everywhere hoping I’d be able to make photographs half as interesting as his.

Thank you, Mr. Souza for being a source of inspiration to me and for your diligent work—my life has been enriched because of it.