This is President Obama as we have never seen him before - caught unawares as he walks out of the Oval Office by none other than Spider-Man - or at least a very mini version of Spider-Man. 

The intimate photograph taken by White House photographer Pete Souza shows the President joking around with one of this staffer's children, who - dressed up as the super hero - pretends to shoot a spider web at Obama - who in turn reacts by pretending he is caught up in the imaginary trap.

It is just one of the many behind-the-scenes pictures Mr Souza takes every year which show a more down-to-earth and touching side of the man who has just been named as TIME's Person of the Year for 2012. It is the second time he has had the honor in four years.