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Author
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Topic: Most iconic photograph captured during Apollo
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jemmy
Member Posts: 178
From:
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 07-21-2012 08:14 AM
  
I would love to hear from cS members what do you think is the most iconic Apollo photo ever taken? If I do a search on the web it shows numerous photos, such as Earthrise, Aldrin's visor shot, Aldrin's boot print, U.S. flag on the moon, Apollo 13 damaged service module (just to start with the obvious).
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GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1317
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 07-21-2012 08:15 AM
Aldrin, hands down. One of the most-viewed and most often reproduced/published images in history. |
JohnPaul56
Member Posts: 191
From: Montclair, NJ, USA
Registered: Apr 2010
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posted 07-21-2012 08:57 AM
It has to be the shot of Buzz on the moon, with the earthrise from Apollo 8 as a close second. |
Michael Davis
Member Posts: 530
From: Houston, Texas
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 07-21-2012 09:29 AM
Yep, it has to be the Aldrin visor shot. It is hard to escape seeing that photo every few days or so. My own favorite is Irwin saluting the flag from Apollo 15, but that is a separate question. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43576
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-21-2012 10:06 AM
I would suggest that Apollo 17's "blue marble" shot of the full Earth also ranks high on the list. It's not often associated with Apollo as it is a shot of Earth, but I think it may be even more iconic than Apollo 8's earthrise given how many times that particular shot of Earth has been superimposed into other scenes and photos. |
J.L
Member Posts: 681
From: Bloomington, Illinois, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted 07-21-2012 10:15 AM
The topic of "iconic" mission images is near and dear to me right now. As some of you may know, John Bisney and I have been working on a book of seldom and never before seen images from Mercury thru ASTP. Working title is "Monnshots and Snapshots". Each chapter will average between 8 and 12 pages and contain roughly 30-40 images from each flight. On the opening page of each chapter we have chosen what we consider to be an "iconic" image representing that mission. Some missions are more of a challenge than others, but most flights have obvious choices.And I also think that the Buzz visor shot is the first choice... followed by the Apollo 8 earthrise image. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1317
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 07-21-2012 10:27 AM
This is the first I've heard of your project. More info, please! |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1317
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 07-21-2012 10:32 AM
Also, I agree with Robert on the "blue marble" picture of Earth. I've seen it so many times, yet it seems like most parties who reproduce it for whatever reason give no credit or aren't even aware of its origin. |
jemmy
Member Posts: 178
From:
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 07-21-2012 11:09 AM
First, second and third so far. |
One Big Monkey
Member Posts: 171
From: West Yorkshire, UK
Registered: Jul 2012
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posted 07-21-2012 11:16 AM
My own favourite has to be from the sequence showing the returning Eagle captured in flight with the Earth in the background. |
chet
Member Posts: 1506
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 07-21-2012 11:33 AM
According to Wikipedia, it is thought the "Blue Marble" photo may be the most widely distributed photo IN HISTORY (!), but if we're talking about most iconic of Apollo my vote is also for "Buzz Visor" - - I don't think any photo better represents the culmination of the space race to land men on the moon. |
Beau08
Member Posts: 159
From: Peoria, AZ United States
Registered: Aug 2011
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posted 07-21-2012 12:27 PM
My personal choice would be Earthrise by Apollo 8. It represents visually the titanic goal of being the first humans to leave Earth orbit by reversing the Earth/Moon relationship. Also many people remember it due to the reading of Genesis at Christmas. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3413
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 07-21-2012 03:21 PM
quote:
Originally posted by GoesTo11:
This is the first I've heard of your project. More info, please!
I have seen most of the pages of this forthcoming book and believe me: this is one you will want to have! |
p51
Member Posts: 1658
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
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posted 07-21-2012 06:40 PM
It all depends on who you ask. The public would probably think "earth rise" or maybe even a launch shot as KSC. They'd probably think of the Aldrin shot because they've seen it so many times. Space fans like us would pick in regards to the mission itself, probably, to a degree... quote:
Originally posted by jemmy:
First, second and third so far.
I agree for the most part, but I still think John Young's jumping salute shot is very well known as well and in my mind, in a top ten for sure from the program. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1317
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 07-21-2012 07:18 PM
quote:
Originally posted by heng44:
I have seen most of the pages of this forthcoming book and believe me: this is one you will want to have!
Ed, don't tease me like that. When will this be available, what will the format look like, and who's publishing it? |
J.L
Member Posts: 681
From: Bloomington, Illinois, USA
Registered: May 2005
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posted 07-22-2012 10:52 AM
quote:
Originally posted by GoesTo11:
This is the first I've heard of your project. More info, please!
The book that John Bisney and I are working on is being published by University of New Mexico Press. Working title is "Moonshots and Snapshots". It will be an over-sized book with approximately 375 pages. I am using seldom and never before seen images from Al Shepard's flight through ASTP. In addition, the photos are complemented by expanded captions that inform beyond the image itself. Each flight is given it's own chapter and will range from 8-14 pages. I do not believe this has ever been done to this extent before. I don't like to get tied to exact release dates, but I would look for it to be available sometime next year. |
GoesTo11
Member Posts: 1317
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 07-22-2012 11:22 AM
Sounds like a must-buy! Please keep us updated  |
schnappsicle
Member Posts: 396
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 07-22-2012 07:43 PM
While I agree that the visor and earthrise shots are very significant historical photographs, I think the "iconic" shot is Aldrin saluting the flag. The flag showed the world who made the first manned landing.My second choice would be the seldom seen AS11-40-5886 which also shows the American flag, but this time on the upper PLSS of the first man on the moon. If I had a time machine, I'd set it back to the night of July 20, 1969 and get a frontal of Armstrong on the surface. Even if we can't see his face, everyone would still know who it was. |
randy
Member Posts: 2231
From: West Jordan, Utah USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 07-22-2012 10:23 PM
I think the most iconic Apollo picture is Jim Irwin saluting the flag during Apollo 15. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3160
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-23-2012 04:50 PM
There must be many Americans of a certain age who watched or listened to Alan Shepard's Mercury launch and - ten years later - saw the classic picture of Shepard on the Moon with the U.S. flag and allowed themselves a few tears of pride. Not the very best picture, but it should feature in any top 20 lunar surface pictures because of its symbolic importance. |
Gonzo
Member Posts: 596
From: Lansing, MI, USA
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 07-24-2012 11:39 AM
We're all forgetting the boot print in the lunar dust. That to me is the most iconic. It says we (as humans) were there without being egotistic (as Americans). It's a simple statement while at the same time has so much meaningful depth to it as well. |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 678
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
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posted 07-24-2012 12:28 PM
I agree. Either Aldrin with Armstrong's reflection in his visor, or Aldrin's bootprint. |
schnappsicle
Member Posts: 396
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 07-24-2012 07:10 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Gonzo:
We're all forgetting the boot print in the lunar dust. That to me is the most iconic. It says we (as humans) were there without being egotistic (as Americans). It's a simple statement while at the same time has so much meaningful depth to it as well.
Who is the "We" that "came in peace for all mankind"? It was two Americans. If it were an international effort, designed, built and paid for by the nations of the world, then I could see your point. However, the last time I looked, no other nation contributed in any way to the US effort to "land a man on the mooon and return him safely to the earth". The only exception I can think of would be the three tracking stations scattered across the globe. Everything else was designed and built in the United States by Americans for Americans. No human being from any other nation flew on any Mercury, Gemini, or Apollo missions. The space race was above all a chance for two nations to showcase their competing political, social and economic strengths through technological achievements. I will be just as happy a few years from now when men from China plant their country's flag on the moon. I'm sure I'll cry for them just as I did for all the men who landed during Apollo, but I will not feel the same sense of pride that I felt when the first 12 men set foot upon the moon, nor should I, for the very reasons I just stated. And yes, I agree with you, the boot print in the lunar soil is a great photograph. I just don't think it's THE Apollo photograph. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43576
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 07-24-2012 07:29 PM
quote:
Originally posted by schnappsicle:
However, the last time I looked, no other nation contributed in any way to the U.S. effort to "land a man on the moon and return him safely to the earth".
A case could be made for Canada, or at least Canadians, thanks to the engineers who came in 1959 to NASA after the CF-105 Avro Arrow was shutdown. |
Gonzo
Member Posts: 596
From: Lansing, MI, USA
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 07-25-2012 01:38 AM
quote:
Originally posted by schnappsicle:
Who is the "We" that "came in peace for all mankind"?
To me, the "We" would be ALL mankind. My point was that while Americans actually did it, it was for ALL mankind. I don't see it as a purely American thing. It was a great accomplishment for all of us, whether we are American, Canadian, Russian, Chinese or any other group. It was a HUMAN accomplishment. To say it was solely an American accomplishment would be very short-sighted and arrogant. There was an estimated 400,000 people that toiled to make those flights possible. I'm quite sure that very nearly EVERY race on this planet is represented in that group somewhere. And THAT is why I think the boot print is the most iconic. It represents ALL of the human race, not just Americans. In a boot print there is no group represented other than the HUMAN group because it is a HUMAN boot print. It transcends all boundaries and ethnicities and puts us all as one big group.
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Dwight
Member Posts: 577
From: Germany
Registered: Dec 2003
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posted 07-25-2012 03:28 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
A case could be made for Canada, or at least Canadians, thanks to the engineers who came in 1959 to NASA after the CF-105 Avro Arrow was shutdown.
You should also add the Australians and the Spanish for their operation of the tracking stations which were essential for getting the men to the moon. |
jemmy
Member Posts: 178
From:
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 07-27-2012 08:44 AM
I personally think that the Aldrin Visor Shot is probably the most iconic Apollo photo ever taken.I found this photo on Moonpans' site. Really interesting photo of Armstrong from Aldrins visor. |
Paul23
Member Posts: 836
From: South East, UK
Registered: Apr 2008
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posted 07-27-2012 09:42 AM
quote:
Originally posted by schnappsicle:
However, the last time I looked, no other nation contributed in any way to the US effort to "land a man on the moon and return him safely to the earth".
Perhaps with a wee bit of help from some German born engineers and scientists!
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garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 07-27-2012 11:13 AM
Although one can never change one's nationality (where you were born) those "Germans" were naturalized Americans by the time they worked for NASA. So if the question is which country's citizens paid for or worked on the Apollo project, it really is Americans (with some help from the Canadian AVRO engineers as mentioned above).Question - did those Canadian engineers return to Canada after the great adventure or stay in America and become citizens? I'm guessing most stayed, making the American contribution even stronger. |
Cliff Lentz
Member Posts: 655
From: Philadelphia, PA USA
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 07-27-2012 11:48 AM
Let's face it! If you're constantly on this site, as I am, EVERY Apollo image is iconic! I recently started looking at the not-so-great images from the moonwalks. They seem to prove that the Moon photos aren't faked as some have complained the the images are almost TOO Perfect to be real. To me they show how difficult it was to take those photos. Even though they may be over or under exposed, they are still a record of a pretty incredible event. |
Gonzo
Member Posts: 596
From: Lansing, MI, USA
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 07-27-2012 12:49 PM
I agree. ALL the images, from Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, ASTP and the Shuttle and the ISS, along with the video they've shot are all treasures.The point of the question for this thread though, as I see it, are which images from Apollo stand head and shoulders above the rest? And as I stated, I still hold the boot print is the best, single image. There's been a lot said about my earlier post and about the accomplishments of Apollo being "American". I still disagree and others can agree to disagree with me. Strictly speaking, there were many German and Canadian engineers on staff at NASA during the development (among others). Yes, many of the Canadians went back to Canada. Many stayed here in the US becoming US citizens and living the rest of their lives here. BUT, that's not the point. Generally speaking, to me, the accomplishments of Apollo are symbols of what human ingenuity can accomplish. It was a series of events that placed the bar pretty high (no pun intended). It showed what we are capable of accomplishing given the right incentives. And, sadly, it is a bar we have not crossed since. While ASTP, the shuttle and the ISS were great accomplishments in themselves for various reasons, where they did fail was in the galvanization of the human spirit. Something that signifcantly contributed to the success of Apollo. If you were a visitor from another world, what would you see first? Most likely, if you were here to investigate our little planet, your first stop would be the Moon. There you would find the remnants of our visits. So in a way, just because Americans were the first, and so far ONLY, humans to visit this desolate place, they did so in peace with the intent of representing ALL humankind. As a space traveler, you would see those remnants as a representation of ALL the humans you would later find on this blue marble. My point being is that when you found these remnants you wouldn't automatically assume that what you found was strictly from one country bound by borders you can't even see from space. You would be looking at the planet as a whole, as one race of people. And to me, that bootprint represents what it was all for. It shows what we, as humans, are capable of accomplishing. "We came in peace for ALL mankind." |
propliner1
New Member Posts: 9
From: West Bend, Wi.
Registered: Mar 2012
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posted 08-13-2012 04:26 PM
I have always thought the photo of Apollo 17 commander Gene Cernan inside the lunar lander in the spacesuit covered in lunar soil was great. This photo showed that the moon was not only a place of exploration, but a workplace. |
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