Photographers recount capturing the iconic images of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump
Iconic Images: Three Photographers Capture the Moment of Terror
Saturday’s attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump will go down in history, and three photographers have captured some of the most iconic images of the event. Evan Vucci of the Associated Press, Getty Images’ Alex Brandon, and Doug Mills of the New York Times all found themselves in the line of fire, capturing the chaos and terror as it unfolded.
A Defiant Trump
Vucci’s photo of Trump pumping his fist in the air, with an American flag flying above and a money maker in the background, is an indelible image. But Vucci himself was unaware of the significance of the moment. "I didn’t realize I was taking an iconic photo," he said. "I was just trying to do my job, get the exposure right, and make sure I got the composition right. I saw the blood coming down his face and I knew I got the image, but in that moment, I wasn’t thinking about the impact or the photography. I was just trying to continue doing my job."
A Sobering Moment
Brandon’s photo, taken with a tightly framed composition, shows Trump crunched down on the stage, surrounded by Secret Service agents as blood drips down his face. Mills’ photo, meanwhile, appears to show a bullet streaking past the former president. Mills, a veteran of over 40 years of covering the White House, said he captured the bullet by shooting with an exposure of 1/18,000 of a second. "I couldn’t believe it," he said. "I still can’t believe it. I’ve heard that the chances of actually capturing a bullet are between one and a million and one and five million. It was just very lucky."
A Legacy of Photojournalism
The three images will undoubtedly be part of the history books, joining the ranks of other iconic photos such as Bill ID’s image of the moment a bus boy went to help Robert F. Kennedy moments after he was assassinated in 1968, and Ron Edmonds’ photo of President Ronald Reagan being rushed to his motorcade after being shot in 1981. Edmonds, a former AP photographer and mentor to many, would be proud to know that his colleagues continue to uphold the standards of photojournalism.
The three photographers who captured these iconic images have spoken out about the experience, describing the chaos and terror of the moment. Despite the danger, they remained focused on their job, capturing the moment as it unfolded. Their images will be remembered for years to come, a testament to the power of photojournalism and the bravery of those who risk their lives to bring us the news.
