posted 05-03-2018 08:09 AM               

I like to highlight the fact that both photos were taken in difficult circumstances, Apollo 8 shot hurriedly through the command module window, in zero-g conditions, with unplanned settings. And the Apollo 11 photo taken on the lunar surface, in harsh lighting conditions, with Armstrong dressed in a pressure suit, using a camera mounted to his chest, without the aid of a viewfinder.

Both photos mark iconic events for mankind, with the Apollo 8 photo capturing Earth viewed from another world for the first time, and the Apollo 11 photo capturing the first two men to step foot on another world.

Why these two photographs make many lists of iconic photos is easily understood. Online searches for sets of iconic images confirm that these two photographs make many collections. This discussion led to a question, what would be the 25 most iconic, space-related photographs, and why?

posted 05-03-2018 10:56 AM               

• Ed White on EVA (S65-30433)
  
• Buzz Aldrin flag salute (AS11-40-5874) - due to MTV use
  
• Jim Irwin with LM and LRV (AS15-88-11866)
  
• Apollo 17's Blue Marble (AS17-148-22727)
  
• Bruce McCandless MMU EVA (S84-27562)
  
• Dale Gardner "For Sale" sign (51A-104-049)

posted 05-03-2018 12:48 PM               

1. The photo of the Mercury Seven in their silver pressure suits (1960).
   
2. Jim McDivitt's portrait of Ed White outside the Gemini IV spacecraft (1965).
   
3. Bill Anders's Earthrise photo during Apollo 8 (1968).
   
4. Neil Armstrong's portrait of Buzz Aldrin at the Sea of Tranquility during Apollo 11 (1969).
   
5. Neil Armstrong's photo of Buzz Aldrin saluting flag at the Sea of Tranquility (1969).
   
6. Buzz Aldrin's photo of his own bootprint at the Sea of Tranquility (1969).
   
7. Dave Scott's portrait of Jim Irwin, the American flag, the Lunar Module, and Lunar Rover during Apollo 15 (1971).
   
8. Charlie Duke's portrait of John Young performing the "jump salute" during Apollo 16 (1972).
   
9. Gene Cernan's portrait of Jack Schmitt, the American flag, and the Earth during Apollo 17 (1972).
   
10. "Blue Marble" photo during Apollo 17 (1972).
    
11. Tom Stafford shaking hands with Alexei Leonov during Apollo-Soyuz (1975).
    
12. The first photo of Mars taken by the Viking 2 lander after touchdown (1976).
    
13. "Face on Mars" photo taken by Viking 1 orbiter (1976).
    
14. Photo of Jupiter's Great Red Spot taken by Voyager 1 (1979)
    
15. Launch of Space Shuttle Columbia on STS-1 with white External Tank (1981).
    
16. Photo of Space Shuttle Challenger with robotic arm extended during STS-7 (1983).
    
17. Hoot Gibson's photo of Bruce McCandless wearing the MMU backpack during STS-41B (1984).
    
18. Dale Gardner holding "For Sale" sign during STS-51A (1984).
    
19. Photo of smoke plumes following Challenger accident (1986).
    
20. "Pale Blue Dot" photo taken by Voyager 1 spacecraft (1990).
    
21. "Pillars of Creation" photo taken by Hubble Space Telescope (1995).
    
22. Photo of Pathfinder rover on Mars (1997).
    
23. Portrait of STS-107 crew aboard Columbia's middeck (2003).
    
24. Tracy Caldwell Dyson next to the ISS Cupola (2010).
    
25. Suni Williams appearing to touch the Sun during International Space Station EVA (2010).

posted 05-03-2018 09:22 PM               

For the same reasons I would omit from Tyler's list the Apollo-Soyuz photo (no. 11) and his final two photos, despite how great they are.

posted 05-03-2018 11:24 PM               

It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish which images were captured as a photograph from images captured on film. Many people would recall the vision of Alan Shepard during the first manned Mercury launch, as he exited the van and looked up at the rocket, or of him seated inside the capsule during the flight. I believe both of these were captured on film. I am not saying such shots do not exist, just that many memorable scenes that come to mind of these events were on film.

I do not recall photos of Gagarin's flight, other than press or propaganda photos, like the image that appeared in newspapers following his flight. The film of Vostok 1, with Gargarin walking to the rocket, have become visions we identify with this event. There may be photographs of this event that have not become widely known, or I may just not be able to recall them.

posted 05-06-2018 04:00 AM               

The question came up during a discussion regarding photography, and what constitutes an iconic image. Popular culture identifies "Afghan Girl" as possibly the most famous photo in history. A point I challenged, feeling that "Blue Marble" or Armstrong's reflection in Buzz Aldrin's visor are equally famous, readily identifiable and have established semiotics.

posted 05-07-2018 04:51 PM            

1. The photo of the Mercury Seven in their silver pressure suits (1960).
   
2. Jim McDivitt's portrait of Ed White outside the Gemini IV spacecraft (1965).
   
3. Bill Anders's Earthrise photo during Apollo 8 (1968).
   
4. Neil Armstrong's portrait of Buzz Aldrin at the Sea of Tranquility during Apollo 11 (1969).
   
5. Buzz Aldrin's photo of his own bootprint at the Sea of Tranquility (1969).
   
6. "Blue Marble" photo during Apollo 17 (1972).
   
7. Hoot Gibson's photo of Bruce McCandless wearing the MMU backpack during STS-41B (1984).
   
8. Photo of smoke plumes following Challenger accident (1986).
   
9. Photo of Pathfinder rover on Mars (1997).

posted 05-12-2018 12:36 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by tr:
To me, for something to be iconic it has to have enough public recognition that say 1 out of 50 people could identify it.

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I am curious which images collectSPACE members, people interested and familiar with spaceflight, readily identify with. This collection has more than 20 images of Neil Armstrong that many could argue personify Armstrong as an astronaut without using a single shot of him on the lunar surface (yes there are some of him on the moon).