'Post' Gives Virtual White House Tours

By: Dorothy Ho (Photo District News) Security fears have shut down the traditional White House tours this holiday season. But the good folks at The Washington Post -- who have access to the White House -- have put together a virtual tour on their Web site, definitely worth a visit for political junkies or anyone wishing to scrutinize the Bushs' taste in holiday decorations.

There are panoramic shots of White House rooms decked in holiday regalia, and intimate looks at the First Lady posing with her decorations. Tom Kennedy, who heads the Post's Camera Works, says the site aimed "to give the public a view of what they were going to miss." The panoramas as well as closeups recreate the experience on the Web and give people a clear sense of the decorations, he adds.

The shoot was over in a couple of hours, recalls photographer Travis Fox. "The biggest challenge of doing White House events is always battling other photographers for a good position," Fox says.