# \#1 photograph? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466 "2004-12-12T18:08:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/21 "2004-12-12T20:46:30Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > It’s a street in Paris, IIRC - it’s literally the **first** photo - or daguerrotype. > …or so they say. and of course, I’d be wrong - it’s Saint-Loup-de-Varennes, apparently. But I still vote for Che. ---
**Author:** ![Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9dc877/32.png) [@Nightwatch\_Trailer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightwatch_Trailer)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/22 "2004-12-12T21:09:03Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > **NightwatchTrailer** > I don’t know exactly what that picture is. Did you get the correct link ? > > And you are correct that there is a photo of the first flag raising at Iwo Jima but (I think) it is nowhere near as dramatic as the more famous photo, which I believe is the most reproduced photograph of all time. Sorry - my two statements weren’t connected. I meant that the picture I linked to was the first photograph ever _made_, not the first Iwo Jima picture. There’s a bit of info on the photo about a fourth of the way down in this Wikipedia [article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography). Considering the reaction, though, I’m guessing this _isn’t_ the most famous photograph. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/23 "2004-12-12T21:20:12Z")
In a few years it’s gonna be goatse. ---
**Author:** ![Kid\_A\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Kid\_A\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kid_A_1)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/24 "2004-12-12T21:36:07Z")
[Paul Henderson 1972](http://www.lesitedeschampions.ca/1972seriedusiecle.html) It’s the picture at the bottom. Though it’s definately showing a major Canadian bias. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/25 "2004-12-12T21:45:18Z")
In the category of portraits, [Winston Churchill](http://www.jacobsonbest.com/yousuf_karsh_churchill.htm) by Yousef Karsh would have to be up there. ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/26 "2004-12-12T21:56:20Z")
The [parent page](http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/abbey/an/an26/an26-3/an26-307.html) of the “first photo” that **Nightwatch Trailer** linked has a pretty good description. Unfortunately, it’s probably only famous among photo-geeks. The “Victory Kiss” photo sprang to mind as soon as I read the OP, then I thought of Karsh’s Churchill, which wasn’t there when I hit the Reply button. Oh, well. I’m sure I’ll think of six more candidates as soon as I post this. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/27 "2004-12-12T22:14:48Z")
Definately vote against the Kent State photo, not really all that familiar. **cheddarsnax** said mine, the Vietnamese execution “head shot” photo. ---
**Author:** ![Threadkiller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@Threadkiller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Threadkiller)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/28 "2004-12-12T22:15:04Z")
An [earlier thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=104580) ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/29 "2004-12-12T22:19:38Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > I think [this](http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Che.jpeg) photo is perhaps the most reproduced Che and the Afghani woman are the first two I thought of. If neither are number 1, they are both at least in the top 10, with Che almost surely being in the top 3. ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/30 "2004-12-12T22:24:56Z")
> [@Sam Stone](#): > > In the category of portraits, [Winston Churchill](http://www.jacobsonbest.com/yousuf_karsh_churchill.htm) by Yousef Karsh would have to be up there. Never saw that before [that doesn’t say much, mind you]. Striking portrait. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/31 "2004-12-12T23:45:44Z")
I’ve found a great many websites that say the Iwo Jima flag-raising photo is the most reproduced photograph. Go here: > **[Penguin Random House](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/)** > > Committed to publishing great books, connecting readers and authors globally, and spreading the love of reading. and look at paragraph 16. Despite what you may have heard, even though this is a photo taken of the _second_ flag-raising it was _not_ posed. And for those of you wondering about the _first_ flag-raising at Iwo Jima, here’s a link: [http://collectinghistory.net/iwojima/](http://collectinghistory.net/iwojima/) You’ll probably agree that none of those photos have the impact of the more famous second flag-raising photo. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/32 "2004-12-12T23:57:29Z")
The OP asks two distinct questions… _best_ or _most famous_ photo. For most famous, I would have thought either the classic ‘Earth rise’ photo taken from the moon, or the full-length photo Buzz took of Neil Armstrong in astronaut gear standing on the moon. Just off the top of my head, I can’t think of photographic images I’ve seen reproduced and recycled and reused more than those. But _best_? I can’t even think of what to nominate, or any criterion by which one might judge. I’ve always thought the famous Frank Powolny portrait of Marilyn was particularly brilliant - it just captures so much of the real woman, _and_ the image she was trying to present, plus it’s a great, truly attractive image to look at. (The Yousef Karsh ‘Churchill’ linked to above is great, but he’s not exactly pretty to look at.) Sorry, but I’ve got limited time and I couldn’t find a link to the particular Powolny MM pic I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/33 "2004-12-13T00:14:37Z")
> [@Fuji Kitakyusho](#): > > I immediately thought of that National Geographic cover photo of the Afghani woman with the green eyes. It is one of my favorites too. You probably know that they recently located the girl (now grown woman) in the picture…for years her name was unknown. [http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/afghangirl/](http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/afghangirl/) ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/34 "2004-12-13T00:44:43Z")
> [@ianzin](#): > > or the full-length photo Buzz took of Neil Armstrong in astronaut gear standing on the moon. If [this](http://spaceplace.jpl.nasa.gov/en/educators/images/moon/Aldrin_L.jpg) is the one you mean, that’s a photo of Buzz Aldrin taken by Neil Armstrong. I recall reading that Armstrong was the one taking most of the pictures; it didn’t occur to either of them that it might be good to get more pictures of Armstrong, since he was the “first man on the moon.” ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/35 "2004-12-13T00:54:14Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > There’s a photo of a young firefighter going up the stairs of the WTC while everyone else is going down. > > I believe he got out alive, but who the hell would think to snap a picture during that time? I would, for one. I hope you don’t think it is “wrong” to make a photo in that sort of situation. If no one thought to make photos like that then no one else would get to see them. It is quite a compelling photo. ---
**Author:** ![kka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@kka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kka)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/36 "2004-12-13T01:01:17Z")
I immediately thought of **Raising the Flag at Iwo Jima** and [Migrant Mother](http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/i?pp/fsaall:@filreq(@field(NUMBER+@band(cph+3b41800))+@field(COLLID+fsa)):displayType=1:m856sd=cph:m856sf) by Dorothea Lange ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/37 "2004-12-13T01:19:13Z")
Enola Straight writes: \> Citizen Kane is also considered the best motion picture ever filmed. For what it’s worth, I suspect that these days _The Godfather_ tends to be at the top of more great film lists than _Citizen Kane_. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/38 "2004-12-13T02:11:47Z")
I see the flag rasing at the WTC all over the place but then again I live in NYC. There is that pretty famous photo of ‘Nessie’ raising her head out of the water. Are you only going for still photos? Other wise the Zapruder film would be pretty darn famous. That image of Bobby staring up as he was dying is pretty famous. The photo taken right after MLK was shot. The sixties seem to be a big time for famous photos. The Marilyn photo that was in the first Playboy magazine launched that magazine and create that brand. So there are some contenders to kick around a bit. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/39 "2004-12-13T02:18:52Z")
From what’s already here; I’ll third (?) the Victory Kiss because that’s what I immediately thought of too. A close second would be the poor nude young girl running that **SiXSwordS** and **chatelaine** were discussing. After that, and my own personal belief, would be that of the still of Kennedy shot with Jackie climbing out and over the trunk of the moving convertible. Haunts me every single time I see. Which seems really often. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/40 "2004-12-13T02:19:58Z")
> [@Wendell Wagner](#): > > For what it’s worth, I suspect that these days _The Godfather_ tends to be at the top of more great film lists than _Citizen Kane_. Among the general population maybe (imdb), but I’ve never known a film scholar that thought it was really worth mentioning. That’s not to say that the Godfather is _bad_, it just doesn’t take my breath away like CK does. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466.md?page=3)