# \#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:** 3
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/41 "2004-12-13T02:33:30Z")
> [@cheddarsnax](#): > > [This](http://www.newseum.org/pulitzer/html/5/main.jpg) came immediately to mind. Same here. Although almost all of these pictures are easily recognizable. I was going to suggest the photo of the busboys gathered round in prayer after Robert Kennedy’s assassination (you know what I mean), but I guess not, since I can’t freaking find it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/42 "2004-12-13T02:39:35Z")
Great question. Photos that immediately come to mind: 1. Steve McCurry’s Afghan girl 2. Joe Rosenthal’s Iwo Jima flag raising (not posed, from what I understand.) 3. Robert Capa’s Death of a Loyalist Militiaman (Spanish Civil War) 4. Che Guevara by Alberto Korda 5. Eddie Adams’s execution of a Viet-Kong Of the bunch, I would think the Che Guevara photo would probably be the most internationally recognized. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/43 "2004-12-13T03:16:30Z")
There is only one possible to both questions. And a third unasked question. The best, most famous, and most important photograph ever is… [**Earthrise**](http://www.counterbalance.net/cqmedia/earthrise-body.html) ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/44 "2004-12-13T03:20:25Z")
If there’s any correlation between popularity and most requested, then it’s the picture of Nixon meeting Elvis. > [@](#): > > Of all the requests made each year to the National Archives for reproductions of photographs and documents, one item has been requested more than any other. That item, more requested than the Bill of Rights or even the Constitution of the United States, is the photograph of Elvis Presley and Richard M. Nixon shaking hands on the occasion of Presley’s visit to the White House. [http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/elvis/elnix.html](http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/elvis/elnix.html) (For the curious, [here’s](http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/when_nixon_met_elvis/part_1.html) more detail on the meeting from the official U.S. Archive site.) If we’re talking about quality of images, my nomination for greatest portrait is Philippe Halsman’s image of [Albert Einstein](http://posters.seindal.dk/p916782_Albert_Einstein.html), which is pretty famous, too, and hasn’t been mentioned above. ---
**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, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/45 "2004-12-13T04:11:29Z")
Cisco writes: \> Among the general population maybe (imdb), but I’ve never known a film \> scholar that thought it was really worth mentioning. Oh, come on, that’s wildly overstated. For instance, look at the Sight and Sound 1992 poll of film critics: [http://listsofbests.com/list/83/](http://listsofbests.com/list/83/) Yes, _Citizen Kane_ comes out on top, but _The Godfather_ is fourth. Or look at _The Village Voice_’s poll of film critics: [http://listsofbests.com/list/44/](http://listsofbests.com/list/44/) Again, _Citizen Kane_ does come out on top, but _The Godfather_ comes out twelfth. If you’d merely said that critics tend to rate _Citizen Kane_ higher than _The Godfather_, that’s a reasonable statement, but “I’ve never known a film scholar that thought it was really worth mentioning” is hopelessly over the top. ---
**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, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/46 "2004-12-13T04:15:28Z")
Excuse me, I meant to say the 2002 poll. ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/47 "2004-12-13T04:17:59Z")
While there are many historical photos that could be contenders, (one I didn’t notice mentioned was [MLK, Jr.'s assassination](http://scribblguy.50megs.com/balcony.jpg)), I honestly don’t think any of them are _THE most famous_. My pick for most famous photo? The cover of [Abbey Road](http://www.cnn.com/interactive/entertainment/0111/album.gallery/abbey.road.jpg). Everyone recognizes it, and it’s probably been spoofed as much as _American Gothic_. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/48 "2004-12-13T04:22:42Z")
> [@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. I’ve seen this one before but it doesn’t really stand out as iconic like the other ones mentioned here do. [This](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Big3Yalta.jpg), I think, is the most famous pic of Churchill (and others). Also, for reasons I’ve never understood, [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ap17recon.jpg) picture from the Apollo 17 mission(rather then Earthrise) is probably the pic of the Earth from space that I see recreated the most. It has always struck me as odd that with all the Apollo missions, this one pic is reproduced so much more then any other Earth pic. Is this pic (“city hall kiss”) not as famous as I thought. It hasn’t come up yet but is probably one of my favorites. [here](http://www.postershop.com/Doisneau-Robert/Doisneau-Robert-Le-Baiser-De-lHotel-De-Ville-Paris-1950-7800031.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/49 "2004-12-13T07:37:35Z")
Any number of pictures from the Japanese surrender on the Missouri. Though I’ve heard the [POW returning from Vietnam](http://www.trumanlibrary.org/museum/flash/vietnampowreturns.jpg) photo highly recommended. ---
**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, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/50 "2004-12-13T08:01:54Z")
> [@Wendell Wagner](#): > > “I’ve never known a film scholar that thought it was really worth mentioning” is hopelessly over the top. Well, I happen to think that The Godfather is a hopelessly overrated, mediocre movie, and it is true that _I have never known_ a film scholar that thought it was worth mentioning (and I’ve known several, so I’m not playing with semantics here.) Regardless, I don’t think this is the place to debate it. Open a new thread if you want. ---
**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, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/51 "2004-12-13T08:04:37Z")
> [@Malodorous](#): > > Also, for reasons I’ve never understood, [this](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Ap17recon.jpg) picture from the Apollo 17 mission(rather then Earthrise) is probably the pic of the Earth from space that I see recreated the most. It has always struck me as odd that with all the Apollo missions, this one pic is reproduced so much more then any other Earth pic. I think maybe that page has been editing. I’m seeing a logo, not a picture. ---
**Author:** ![tim314](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim314/32/3468_2.png) [@tim314](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim314)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/52 "2004-12-13T08:21:42Z")
> [@Wendell Wagner](#): > > Cisco writes: > > \> Among the general population maybe (imdb), but I’ve never known a film > \> scholar that thought it was really worth mentioning. > > Oh, come on, that’s wildly overstated. For instance, look at the Sight and Sound 1992 poll of film critics: > > [http://listsofbests.com/list/83/](http://listsofbests.com/list/83/) > > Yes, _Citizen Kane_ comes out on top, but _The Godfather_ is fourth. > > Or look at _The Village Voice_’s poll of film critics: > > [http://listsofbests.com/list/44/](http://listsofbests.com/list/44/) > > Again, _Citizen Kane_ does come out on top, but _The Godfather_ comes out twelfth. > > If you’d merely said that critics tend to rate _Citizen Kane_ higher than _The Godfather_, that’s a reasonable statement, but “I’ve never known a film scholar that thought it was really worth mentioning” is hopelessly over the top. Casablanca doesn’t make either list? I find that surprising – I always thought it was generally regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. Am I wrong? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/53 "2004-12-13T08:40:20Z")
> [@Cabbage](#): > > My pick for most famous photo? The cover of [Abbey Road](http://www.cnn.com/interactive/entertainment/0111/album.gallery/abbey.road.jpg). That is an interesting choice. I am a great fan of photography and that is one of the enduring images of my youth - people know the licence plate on the car, who is in step, who is wearing what etc; but because it is an album cover it wouldn’t have crossed my mind as a photograph. Probably the only one that eventually would have is [The Clash](http://www.dfbpunk.com/uploads/clash_copy1.jpg) only because it was voted best ever rock photo. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/54 "2004-12-13T09:20:33Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I think maybe that page has been editing. I’m seeing a logo, not a picture. Doh!!, I’ll try again. [Here](http://starryskies.com/articles/2003/08/earth.jpg) is the picture of Earth from space that I’m talking about. Pay attention whenever they show a non-specific pic of the Earth on TV or in books or whatnot, this one is almost always the one they show. Always seemed strange to me why this one is so iconic when the moon missions must’ve taken many similar pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/55 "2004-12-13T10:07:00Z")
> [@CapnPitt](#): > > I’m sure this shows my American bias, but I always thought of the Kent State massacre photo (you know the one) [link](http://www.uiowa.edu/~policult/politicalphotos/vietnam3.html) I hope if I ever get photographed at a massacre, I’ll have had the foresight to wear fringe and Beatle boots. I second Che, the kid in front of the tank at Tiananmen Square, Abbey Road (and how about Sgt. Pepper while we’re at it?), Marilyn au naturel, and (heh) Goatse. And how about [Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald](http://www.yale.edu/yale300/democracy/may1text/images/Assasination.gif)? ---
**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, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/56 "2004-12-13T13:39:07Z")
Cisco writes: \> Well, I happen to think that The Godfather is a hopelessly overrated, mediocre \> movie, and it is true that I have never known a film scholar that thought it was \> worth mentioning (and I’ve known several, so I’m not playing with semantics \> here.) \> \> Regardless, I don’t think this is the place to debate it. Open a new thread if you \> want. Oh, come on, Cisco, I was the one who made a reasonably nuanced statement about the relative placement of _Citizen Kane_ and _The Godfather_ in the opinions of most film critics. If you had replied by simply saying that _Citizen Kane_ is generally rated higher in critic’s opinions than _The Godfather_, you would have made a reasonable statement. You might even persuade me of the truth of that statement. But when you claim that you’ve never known a film scholar who thought _The Godfather_ was worth mentioning, you’re either showing you don’t know much about the general trend of critical opinion or you’re confusing your own opinion with the general critical opinion. Incidentally, at no point did I ever state my own view about the relative merit of the two films. That’s irrelevant to the statement that I made. I’m not remotely interested in debating that with you. You were the one who started the debate about the relative worth of the two films. Start your own thread if you want to discuss it. I won’t participate in it. In general, I’m not interested in discussing my opinions on the SDMB. I find that such threads merely give people the opportunity to beat up on me for having opinions. I was making a factual statement about the average opinion of film critics about those two films. You may well be right that _Citizen Kane_ is rated better on average by most film critics. That’s a simple factual statement that can be settled by reference to evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Ithaka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Ithaka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ithaka)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/57 "2004-12-13T14:07:57Z")
This has been mentioned but not linked to yet: [Capa](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://students.uta.edu/jm/jmc1090/scwproject/images/capa.jpg&imgrefurl=http://students.uta.edu/jm/jmc1090/scwproject/thewar.html&h=245&w=460&sz=30&tbnid=Lmp7vrdHrKMJ:&tbnh=66&tbnw=123&start=6&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcapa%2Bspanish%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26c2coff%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN) Also mentioned but not linked to is this Afghan girl. This image trully went global. I’ve seen copies of it in backstreet Thai markets: [Eyes](http://www.ngc.tv/image/press_AfghanGirl.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Aro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Aro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aro)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/58 "2004-12-13T14:11:17Z")
[Here](http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/LPG/51402.jpg) is another very famous photographic image (which was, incidently, also used as an album cover by _Rage Against the Machine_). ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/59 "2004-12-13T14:28:20Z")
Whn the Victory Kiss was mentioned, I thought immediately and erroneously of Doisneau’s [The Kiss on the Sidewalk](http://www.ackland.org/art/exhibitions/seasonsofparis/lebaiserdutrattoir.html). This might be a US/Europe thing. Personally I have never seen the first, and have seen the latter thousands of times. Anecdotally, though I’m not sure of the provenance of the picture, the [firefighter](http://home.att.net/~sl.schofield4/wtc/the_attack/wtc_fireman_stairs2.jpg) going up the stairwell of the WTC was almost certainly taken by an evacuee on a digital camera. The quality wasn’t amazing, and it isn’t a ‘good’ photograph in that respect, but his expression spoke volumes: exhausted, fearful, yet determined. It was an amazingly powerful image, and was featured in full-page on the front of the UK’s The Mirror newspaper, with a follow-up article a few days later with the headline **HE’S ALIVE!** That said, I’m shocked nobody’s yet mentioned the bird playing tennis with an itchy bumcheek and no knickers on. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2004, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466/60 "2004-12-13T14:50:55Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > That said, I’m shocked nobody’s yet mentioned the bird playing tennis with an itchy bumcheek and no knickers on. Damn, beaten to it at the last 😉 My votes: Fame: 1. Che by Alberto Korda. 2. Buzz Aldrin on the moon. As for the _best_, just about all of the finalists in the [Wildlife Photographer of the Year](http://internt.nhm.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wildwin/2003/ad_index.html) contest blow me away… visiting that exhibition is always a highpoint of the year! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/1-photograph/279466.md?page=4)