US President Barack Obama: the year 2012 in pictures Pete Souza, the official White House photographer, comments on some of 2012's most memorable photos of the US President. January 1, 2012: "A nice way to celebrate the New Year for the President was to jump in the ocean in his native state of Hawaii. He was on his annual Christmas holiday with family and friends, and went swimming at Pyramid Rock Beach in Kaneohe Bay. Picture: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza