The photo you see to the right is probably one of the most famous and most imitated photographs in history. It was taken by photographer Joe Rosenthal on Mount Suribarchi, Iwo Jima on February 23rd 1945.
The photo depicts six marines - Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley, John Bradley, Harlon Block, Michael Strank, and Rene Gagnon as they proudly raised the flag for the US atop the mountain.
Skeptics have suggested over the years that the photo was posed for, but Joe has always insisted it was real. Apparently it was a photo he caught by chance and it was literally just a quick thinking snap after he caught them erecting the flag out of the corner of his eye.
Obviously back then he was shooting with film and had no idea as to what the picture would turn out like so later in the day he'd set up a posed shot with the marines cheering at the base of the flag and it was this shot he thought had been published when a colleague who saw it in the papers congratulated him on it. Imagine his surprise when he discovered they'd published his quick snap photo opportunity.
Sadly Joe past away on 20th August 2006 at the age of 94 but his remarkable legacy lives on.
And watch out for Clint's new film about the photo.
Posted by: Tim Clague | October 01, 2006 at 08:58 AM