Inspiration

By: Angel

Photographer whose picture on Iwo Jima ranks among the most famous of WWII dies at age 94.

His simple click captured a legacy of courage

Joe Rosenthal, the Associated Press photographer whose dramatic picture of servicemen raising a giant, wind-whipped American flag atop Iwo Jima’s Mount Suribachi during World War II became an indelible image of valor and fortitude, has died. He was 94.”

Many of the questions arose from the circumstances in which the photo was taken. Because, as Rosenthal and everyone else involved in the picture knew, the image he captured was not of the initial flag-raising in which one group of Marines were involved but of the second flag-raising with a different set of servicemen. For years, Rosenthal was forced to defuse accusations that he had set up the shot himself.

After several days on Iwo Jima photographing the gruesome assault, Rosenthal missed the raising of the first small flag commemorating the Americans’ taking of Mount Suribachi.

Disappointed at missing the photo opportunity, Rosenthal trekked across the battle-scared terrain anyway to see if he could get a shot of the flag flying over the island.

On his way up the 556-foot mountain he learned that a commander on the shore had ordered the original flag be taken down and a second, much larger flag raised so that it could be seen across the island and from the sea…

He quickly stepped downslope 25 or 35 feet to get a full perspective of the substitute flag going up. Rosenthal, who was under 5-foot-5, needed a pile of rocks and a Japanese sandbag to lift him high enough to get the angle he wanted. He set his lens at an f8 to f11 and the speed at 1/400ths of a second….

…Once AP moved the picture to client newspapers, however, it was clear that Rosenthal had gotten all that anyone ever could have hoped for and more.”

No doubt one of the most inspirational photographs in the history of the world.

There are times one can see an image that simply stops one in their tracks.

Some photographers prefer looking at their subjects at eye level; some are shot on the diagonal, and yet others from underneath or from above.

Do you prefer strange angles or photographic realism.
Do you prefer the subject looking straight at the camera, or away.

Is there a favorite form or content among the photographs you admire.

Do you even notice resolution,contrasting colors, or tones.
Can you observe the “lighting.”

Ansel Adams said:

A photograph is usually looked at – seldom looked into.

We are certain of one thing, particularly as of late.
Photographs can either serve or twist “the Truth.”

It is an honor to celebrate the individual spirit of Joe Rosenthal, a true patriot and photographer in every possible sense of the word.

Does not everyone have a favorite photograph?

As seen at: WomanHonorThyself