Space Mission
Apollo 11, July 16-24, 1969, 110:10:33 GET
Exhibition(s)
Paris, Galeries nationales du Grand Palais, La Lune: Du Voyage Réel aux Voyages Imaginaires, April-July 2019; exhibition catalogue, p. 24, no. 14, illustrated.
Photographer
Neil Armstrong
Photo Description
Vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA MSC caption and “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso, numbered “NASA AS11-40-5875” in blue in top margin
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)
Essay
In one of the 20th century’s most iconic images, Aldrin posed with the American flag.
Aldrin’s face is visible through his helmet as he looks over at Neil Armstrong.
This is one of the few Apollo lunar surface photographs where it is possible to distinguish the astronaut’s face.
Normally, the high reflectivity of the gold visor would block visibility but in this case “his face is directly illuminated by the sunlight from the front and at a right angle to the observer’s point of view, so it literally shines through the visor, especially because he’s sticking his head forward”
(ALSJ caption for AS11-40-5875).