Photo: Neil Armstrong/NASA
He was a hero to many. President Obama said of his passing, “Neil Armstrong was a hero not just of his time, but of all time. Thank you, Neil, for showing us the power of one small step.” His work inspired millions, not only with his famous landing on the moon, but with the photos he took while there. Click through some of the image tabs above to see some of Armstrong’s photos from the surface of the moon. Many are from a Life magazine feature that ran after the lunar landing.
As the primary photographer of that first successful manned lunar mission in 1969, Neil Armstrong, was responsible for some of the most iconic images of the modern age. As the photographer, contrary to popoular belief, Armstrong did not actually appear in many of the famous photos he took on the moon. Most of the iconic images we know of today – are of his lunar romping partner Buzz Aldrin. There is one well-known shot of him climbing into the Lunar Module “Eagle.” It was Armstrong who uttered the famous, “…the Eagle has landed,” to Houston when they touched down in the Sea of Tranquility on the moon’s surface.
The two men had special modified 70mm Hasselblad 500EL. According to Hasselblad, “This is a specially designed version of the motorized 500EL intended for use on the surface of the moon, where the first lunar pictures were taken on 20 July 1969 by Neil Armstrong. The camera is equipped with a specially designed Biogon lens with a focal length of 60 mm, with a polarization filter mounted on the lens. A glass plate (Reseau-Plate), provided with reference crosses which are recorded on the film during exposure, is in contact with the film, and these crosses can be seen on all the pictures taken on the moon from 1969 to 1972. The 12 HEDC cameras used on the surface of the moon were left there. Only the film magazines were brought back. They also had two 16mm data acquisition cameras and one 35mm close-up stereoscopic camera. Altogether, they took 232 color and 107 black and white photographs on the surface of the moon.”
As I read about Armstrong this weekend I grew to admire him even more. He was, in addition to being the first man to step foot on the moon, a brilliant engineer and a fearless test pilot. Neil Armstrong went to the moon first as an explorer for mankind, second as a scientist and engineer – but with intention or not – he came back a famous photographer. Here’s an inspirational quote that I think applies uniquely to creatives – about the uncertainties of success.
“The unknowns were rampant. There were just a thousand things to worry about.”
He was, of course, talking about landing a small flying man-made pod on the moon…without knowing or having tested if it could do so. And even more concerning – if it could take OFF again. Mind-blowing. But we’ve all felt that way about something. It puts things in perspective on what is possible.
This statement from Armstrong’s family is wonderful and the best way to honor him.
“While we mourn the loss of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves.
For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink.”
RIP – Neil Alden Armstrong (August 5, 1930 – August 25, 2012)
He did a fantastic job of the photo’s under what must have been difficult operating conditions. And although it hardly merits a response, Alex (and any other hoax theorists). There was a fierce cold war rivalry between the Americans and the Russians who were bitterly disappointed when they were beaten to the moon. Do you not think that had there been any credible suggestion of a hoax that the Russians would not have exposed it !?
NASA states that the astronauts took thousands of photos through these missions. They had many a dud photo too. But the astronauts were each given cameras to practice with on Earth well before each went on their successive missions. They were encouraged to use the cameras on family events and holidays etc. so that they’d know them like the back of their hand when using these on the moon.
In reality using for the most part rather wide angle lenses and affixed to the camera mount on the suits it’s not as hard as one may think to get rather good shots (from the hip so to speak) from these angles.
I have some cool books and National Geographic’s on the space missions and the photos published in these including those from the moon are simply stunning.
Hoax believers, NASA sent men to to Moon, the facts support this and you only look a fool for disregarding the facts.
RIP Commander Armstrong.
pq as fotos na penumbra estao claras? qual o filme fotografico que eles usaram? com essa roupa acho que seria dificil de fotografar tao bem.Nao sei pq mais ainda nao acredito nessas fotos.
A ignorância tolda o discernimento dos brazucas viados 😛
Great, just great. In addition to losing an accomplished test pilot, first man on the moon and astronaut we’ve also lost a photographer.
Great photos, too great to be done on the moon from my point of view.It’s almost impossible to get one cool clean shot with your camera on your chest, not to mention in space, almost no wieght, in a full suit, no way to touch the camera in a good and simple way. Great shots, but not from the moon.
LOL
Double LOL
Oh please………keep the conspiracy rubbish out of here, it’s an insult to Neil Armstrong.
Ok, that out of the way…….I’ll never get tired of looking at the moon pics. I do wish there were really hi-res versions available…..would love to print out some seriously large versions for my wall.
Ian.
Hi Ian. There is a site with a huge archive of high resolution images of all the apollo missions: http://www.apolloarchive.com/apollo_gallery.html
The spirit of Apollo lives on no matter what!
Kind regards,
George
Wearing a large and stiff space suite would be an excellent stable platform for taking photographs (greatly reduced transmission of undesirable body movements) especially when the conditions are extremely bright so he can use a fast shutter speed. It was was also a modified camera for use with the suit (pretty stupid if they sent him up there with a standard camera) – 500EL – built in motor drive for advancing the film and probably a suitably designed remote release. Focusing would have been a problem so he was given a wide angle lens and with the bright conditions he could use a small aperture for greater depth-of-field. I suppose framing might of been hit or miss but using wide angel lens gives margin for error – just crop if necessary – it’s a large film size with, probably, a slow emulsion and a very sharp lens.
Typical – conspiracy theory born of ignorance
Hey dummy! What the hell do you think that BIG WHITE THING is right in the middle of the reflected images? One Obamas Greek columns? Because of the curvature of the visor, it distorts the reflected images, you know, kinda like “Objects in mirror are closer then they apppear”.
Completely agree. These pictures were NOT taken on the moon. They were created by the one and only Stanley Kubrick. Here on earth.