The Most Famous D-Day Photograph

[Dave]

It was at LION-sur-MER that the most famous D-Day photo was taken – a view of QUEEN Beach, Red sector (taken by Sgt. Jimmy Mapham – later Gen. Montgomery’s personal photographer) around 0830 on 6/6 with No. 84 Field Company RE seen staggering ashore. The scene was incorporated into the OVERLORD EMBROIDERY on display at the D-Day Museum, PORTSMOUTH.

SOURCE

[paperclip]

That is a very impressive picture. Look at it long enough and it seems to come alive. You can almost hear the rounds zooming overhead.

[vetwarner]

Now I dont want to by any means belittle the jobs of the soldiers, but being a War Reporter I think has got to be one of the hardest roles to play on the battle field right?

I cant imagine trying to ignore the surrounding blaze of firing to get the perfect angle for a picture

[Indiescribe]

Hey, what about the pics taken at Iwo Jima by Joe Rosenthal. What do you think about it? It is one of the most enduring images of WWII.

[Jim]

Agree Indiescribe, the picture of the flag been raised on Iwo Jima is renowned world wide for the taking of this Island, Dave's picture is renowned for D-Day, two great pictures ..

[Spitfire XIV-E]

Yes I would say that the Mount Suribachi pic is certainly iconic. And I believe is also now a statue in Washington ?

[Dave]

That photo always reminds me of Ira Hayes and the song by Peter LaFarge, The Ballad of Ira Hayes.

Ira said:

"How could I feel like a hero when only five men in my platoon of 45 survived, when only 27 men in my company of 250 managed to escape death or injury?"

He died drunk early one morning,
Alone in the land he had fought
to save
Two inches of water in a lonely ditch,
was the grave for Ira Hayes.

From The Ballad of Ira Hayes

[Shaun]

I reckon Robert Capa's images from Easy Red on Omaha have got to be up there with the most iconic from D Day. He is quoted as saying "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough!"

"The men from my barge waded in the water. Waist-deep, with rifles ready to shoot, with the invasion obstacles and the smoking beach in the background gangplank to take my first real picture of the invasion. The boatswain, who was in an understandable hurry to get the hell out of there, mistook my picture-taking attitude for explicable hesitation, and helped me make up my mind with a well-aimed kick in the rear. The water was cold, and the beach still more than a hundred yards away. The bullets tore holes in the water around me, and I made for the nearest steel obstacle. A soldier got there at the same time, and for a few minutes we shared its cover. He took the waterproofing off his rifle and began to shoot without much aiming at the smoke-hidden beach. The sound of his rifle gave him enough courage to move forward, and he left the obstacle to me. It was a foot larger now, and I felt safe enough to take pictures of the other guys hiding just like I was."

After what seemed an eternity, Capa turned away from the beach killing zone and spotted an incoming LCI (landing craft, infantry). He headed for it. "I did not think and I didn't decide it," he later wrote. "I just stood up and ran toward the boat. I knew that I was running away. I tried to turn but couldn't face the beach and told myself, 'I am just going to dry my hands on that boat.'"

With his cameras held high to keep them from getting waterlogged, Capa was pulled aboard the LCI and was soon out of harm's way. He had used three rolls of film and exposed 106 frames. After reaching England, he sped by train to London and delivered his precious film for developing.

A darkroom technician was almost as anxious to see the invasion images as Capa himself. In his haste, the technician dried the film too quickly. The excess heat melted the emulsion on all but 10 of the frames. Those that remained were blurred, surreal shots, which succinctly conveyed the chaos and confusion of the day.

After having cheated death so many times, Capa vowed never to risk his life in wartime photography again. In 1954, however, he agreed to supply LIFE with some photos of the escalating conflict between the French and the Viet Minh in Indochina. That spring, while attempting to get as close to the fighting as possible, he stepped on a land mine and was killed at the age of 40.

Perhaps the most famous of Capa's photos is the one showing the death of Spanish Loyalist militiaman Frederico Borrell Garcia as he is struck in the chest by a Nationalist bullet on a barren Iberian hillside. This was reproduced in the "Why?" poster that was so popular in the 60's and 70's.

For anyone that's interested there is an exhibition of Capa's work on at the Barbican in London until 25th January 2009. Well worth a visit.

[Dave]

, but that first shot won't load for me...

[Jim]

Capa pictures of WWII are well documented over the net and i don't disagree that there are some quality ones in among them. It is sad that most of his photo's were destroyed in a darkroom accident and never actually seen.

Also there are the strong claims that he staged most of his photos, i don't mind this personally, i mean come on how do you set up a camera and wait for a bullit hitting the chest, at least doing what he did hit home to many that were never in a a war.