Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
I thought the most reproduced photo was one of Che Guevara.
The Iwo Jima photo is certainly a very famous and powerful one.
The Iwo Jima photo is certainly a very famous and powerful one.
OT: the most reproduced photo in history taken on this day
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Marc
Member
While not trying to hijack the thread, I thought some of you might be interested to see a few recent photos of Iwo Jima and the top of Mt Suribachi. Please accept my apologies for their digital origins. While on the island I am usually too busy to keep a camera up to my eye....heresy, I know, but I doubt photography will ever pay my bills.
Cheers
Marc
OK. Can't get the files to attach. As soon as I can get the photos to actually upload I will share them.
Cheers
Marc
OK. Can't get the files to attach. As soon as I can get the photos to actually upload I will share them.
fstop
Lurker
Here is Eisenstaedt's own description of how he took that VJ Day photo:
The quote is from Digital Journalist, which have a couple of very interesting articles on the great man.
George S.
How many is enough?
I guess it depends on what generation you're from, which photos have the most "impact" on you. And it seems most of our choices have to do with war or violent figures, I guess it's because they have impacted us the most and affected our lives or the lives of our family members?
Off the top of my head, if I had to choose my 'most seen' photos, it'd be 1. Iwo Jima flag raising. 2. Photo of astronaut on moon next to American flag. 3. Saigon police chief executing the VC prisoner. 4. V-J day kiss in Times Square. 5. Vietnamese girl napalm victim.
I'm sure people under 30 who aren't into photography would have a completely different list, which would probably include Jennifer Aniston, Jay-Z or the like!
Off the top of my head, if I had to choose my 'most seen' photos, it'd be 1. Iwo Jima flag raising. 2. Photo of astronaut on moon next to American flag. 3. Saigon police chief executing the VC prisoner. 4. V-J day kiss in Times Square. 5. Vietnamese girl napalm victim.
I'm sure people under 30 who aren't into photography would have a completely different list, which would probably include Jennifer Aniston, Jay-Z or the like!
C
ch1
Guest
George S. said:
I agree that each generation produces certain iconic images that are "of its time". For example some of the Viet Nam war era photos noted here etc.
But I also think that there are some images which transcend their own era and become lasting images. This is why I think the Iwo Jima is a good example of this transcendence. Since it was taken 61 or so years ago, it is almost a certainty that none of the rather young fireman at Ground Zero is a contemporary of the generation that "produced" the image.
Nonetheless, admist of of the carnage and chaos of that day, several of these men chose to make a symbolic defiant statement of strength in adversity by finding a flag (it was taken from a yacht in a nearby boat basin) and raising it in an "Iwo Jima-like" fashion. Not surprisingly, the photograph of their action has become iconic at least in the NYC area.
One final point, as to the "most reproduced" measure. Iwo Jima certainly and perhaps the "kiss" and the Viet Nam photos were "of the moment" shots. I think THAT is what makes them iconic. I don't think it is a reasonable analysis to compare these types of images to portraits - such as those of Che or Mao.
Portraits can be reproduced in untold quantities to "feed the masses" - and in the past (e.g. during the "Cultural Revolution") NOT hanging a portrait of Mao could have been dangerous.
Now, as Bugs Bunny would say: "That's All Folks!"
allthumbs
Established
Happy Birthday, JoshRoot!
allthumbs
Established
You make a great point George. Leave it to a bunch of photographers to believe that the most reproduced photographs must have great aesthetic or documentary value. 🙂 I'll bet no one here thought of Farrah Fawcett's cheesecake poster, or others of that ilk.
I'm glad you mentioned Einstein, too, as that has to be one of my "most seens", although the number of his portraits in common circulation probably reduces the number for any one of them.
Did you consider that the flag on the moon was appropriated by MTV as a logo and broadcast umpteen times a day for years? Does broadcasting count as "reproduction"? Please no one answer that last one or this thread will go on forever.
I'm glad you mentioned Einstein, too, as that has to be one of my "most seens", although the number of his portraits in common circulation probably reduces the number for any one of them.
Did you consider that the flag on the moon was appropriated by MTV as a logo and broadcast umpteen times a day for years? Does broadcasting count as "reproduction"? Please no one answer that last one or this thread will go on forever.
Jocko
Off With The Pixies
copake_ham said:
Sorry to hi-jack the question - but for the sake of historical completeness, here is the tennis girl picture. It was an Athena poster and c.1977 was more or less compulsory on the bedroom walls of spotty British youth. Being of a very slightly later generation, albeit equally untroubled by soap, I prefered Kate Bush. 🙂
C
ch1
Guest
Jocko said:
Jocko,
Your diligent dedication to historical accuracy is well-appreciated by all! 😀
AGN
Established
allthumbs said:
..or others of that ilk...hmm, Marilyn Monroe has been mentioned twice.
AGN
C
ch1
Guest
AGN said:
Portraitures, espescially of "...that ilk" ( 😉 ) are mostly "generational" and have limited transcendence.
Certainly I would argue that Farah has not acheived "time transcendence". Marilyn? Perhaps somewhat - but in part because Warhol extended her as a graphic image (much as has been done with Che - who is most definitely NOT of "...that ilk ( 😱 )!
Garbo has some lasting value. But would many under 30 or even 40 y.o. recognize her?
The most iconic image of "...that ilk" would have to be the Mona Lisa - and the original is not a photo - although it has been photographically reproduced many times.
[Note: I am omitting the BVM because: a) she is not of "...that ilk"; and, b) because of (a) I don't want to be struck down by lightning! 😀 ]
allthumbs
Established
AGN said:
IMO those photos are in a different league.
allthumbs
Established
copake_ham said:
There are no photos of the BVM, AFAIK.
Yes, I think paintings are way OT. Even icons per se are way OT, despite the fact that some photographs are iconic. The issue I was addressing was "most reproduced photo", not "most iconic". Unfortunately, that gives an advantage to the most commercially lucrative, though again that may happen to be the most iconic (in the pop sense). Derivative reproduction.... yeah, grey area--and that would also include what MTV did to the man on the moon.
P.S. I never thought of the Mona Lisa a cheesecake shot! 😀
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C
ch1
Guest
allthumbs said:
Perhaps we have been looking at this from the wrong perspective altogether?
Although Brett postulated that Iwo Jima was the most "reproduced" photo - perhaps he meant it was the most "recognized" image (i.e. viewed and remembered by the most people - years upon years after it was first taken and published)?
In that case, one photo of a bottle of Coca Cola shown on Chinese TV during the broadcase of a popular soap opera would just as likely as not qualify as the most "viewed" image.
Maybe Brett has posed an unknowable and unanswerable query? Wouldn't be the first time he did so. 😀
AGN
Established
allthumbs said:
Is that to say that the Marilyn Monroe photo, with her skirt in the air, is not cheesecake photography.
Art
allthumbs
Established
AGN said:
Heh, I wasn't even thinking of that one, not to mention the nudes. Maybe it's the B&W but yes, Art, even those photographs, somehow, seem far more classy than Farah in a tank top.
C
ch1
Guest
allthumbs said:
Marilyn projected "innocence and vulnerability" :angel: - that's why she was considered every guy's "sweetheart Saturday night date". It's what Warhol "captured" in his "photo turned graphic".
Farah (and before her, Racquel) projected "sexy, but with attitude" 😎 .
Different "images" altogether....and equally enticing! 😀
dostacos
Dan
JoshRoot said:
trade ya, on my birthday [not the day of birth 😀 ] the SLA shootout in Los Angeles occured :bang:
also Bobby Valentine chasing a long fly ball into deep center field, leaped up.....caught his spikes on the fence and broke his leg so badly it ended his playing days with the California Angels 😱
on the UP side it was the day that Ferris Bueller had off.....
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