This photo decides the election
Experienced Photographer Evan Vucci Took the Picture That Could Have Decided the US Elections Early: It is an iconic image for history books.
Donald Trump is the next President of the United States due to this photo. It is a perfect image in every respect. The photo was taken by Evan Vucci. His eye has produced iconic images before, he has received the Pulitzer Prize and is an experienced war photographer.
75 seconds after the shot, he managed to get it. He had to run around the stage first: "What's next?", he asked himself and then cleared the only escape route for Trump. His experience in Iraq and Afghanistan helped him stay calm, the photographer told CNN. And: "Composition and light must match".
Unbridled Will to Win
But technology also plays a role: Today's cameras have a swiveling screen that makes photographing above the line of sight easier. They can shoot rapid image sequences in high resolution almost without limitation, while the autofocus clings to the subject's eyes. If you look at how Vucci worked that day, you can see that these things also play a role.
The famous photo is not only the work of a great photographer, but it could only have come about due to the presence of mind of the former President. After being hit on the ear, Trump's bodyguards rushed to shield him from further projectiles. They wanted to pull Trump out of the line of fire, but he shouted "wait, wait". Despite having just missed a deadly headshot by a few centimeters, Trump now wanted to throw a fist and shout "Fight! Fight! Fight!"
This requires presence of mind, an unbridled will to win, and not least courage: Trump couldn't know at that moment if the bodyguard still had more bullets. He knew that the crowd could hardly hear him, but he knew that they could read "fight!" from his lips. Trump is the king of media competence, an unparalleled tamer of images. Communication means bringing your target audience behind you in the decisive moment. That's what makes it a "defining moment". Trump's media instincts deserve respect from even his most ardent enemies.
A Picture, a Message
A picture is iconographic if it embodies a message and - this is important - nothing else. A picture that can stand alone without explanations. A picture that stimulates the cultural memory of people and follows aesthetic principles at the same time.
A photo can reflect reality in an interesting way without meeting these criteria. For example, the photo where the trajectory of the bullet is visible will soon be forgotten: It needs to be explained to be felt. Vucci's photo of Donald Trump will be etched in the history of photography forever.
The photo is taken from the "hero's perspective", shot from below, making Trump appear to rise into the sky. It is almost nothing too much on the picture: On some variations of other photographers, you can see teleprompters or a large part of the stage deep into the picture, distractions that limit the visual impact - reasons why photographers like Vucci avoid such distractions or, if it's not about press photography, remove them with Photoshop.
Trump, the Savior [Translation of the German text provided, keeping the original formatting and length.]
The message of the image is simple: Trump is the relentless fighter against deceitful enemies surrounding him and his supporters, a savior. A fighter raises his fist, the danger is recognizable by the blood and the Secret Service people surrounding him. And he suffers. For whom? Naturally, for America, as evidenced by the waving Star-Spangled Banner in the background.
This image imparts a nearly messianic aura to Trump. In fact, for his supporters, this image is quite fitting. The most fanatical among them portray the former president as superheroes in sensual images or even saviors: Among evangelical Christians, Trump is being stylized as a warrior in a holy war for Christianity and America. These people will view this photo as confirmation of their fantasies. He is even compared to Neo from The Matrix, another savior who can stop bullets with a hand gesture.
The simplicity and aesthetics of the image extend to the color palette: black, white, red, orange, and blue - nothing more. The colors of the American flag reflect in the blood and the podium and the blue of the sky. One would have to paint it as a painting if it were one. In the famous work "Liberty" by Eugène Delacroix, the colors of the French tricolor are reflected in the clothing and powder smoke.
A gift for the Republicans
It's no surprise that this photo will become a campaign piece for the Republicans. It will be printed on T-shirts and mugs, just like Shepard Fairey's "Hope" stencil print in the past. For the Republicans, it's a gift: First, the historical narrative about a dynamic Joe Biden has given them a lot. Now, history grants Trump hero status.
In the medium term, a much broader narrative could emerge based on this photo: That is, the disinformation allegations against the American left were merely calculated attacks against the Trump camp. I happen to be in the United States at the moment. When I show this Trump photo to my part-American, mostly Democratic-leaning family, their initial reaction is, "That's just an insignia!" (At that point, almost nothing was known about the circumstances.)
The image is too iconographic to be true - but it is true. In it lies the real power for the Trump camp. Everything they have constructed seems to become true all at once.
Trump's media shadow
What's next? The assassination attempt on Trump casts a massive media shadow over the Democratic campaign, making it nearly impossible to escape. In August, the Democratic Party convention takes place, where they will officially nominate their candidate. They may have won some time to reorganize themselves after the disastrous Biden performances. However, in the coming weeks, everything revolves around the blood and the fist of Donald Trump.
It's hard for fact-oriented observers that a photo could decide an election so significantly. But it's not the first time. [
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Trump
In the United States Presidency Election 2024, Donald Trump may lean on the iconic image taken by Evan Vucci during his campaign as a powerful symbol of his unyielding spirit and resilience. Joe Biden, on the other hand, might face challenges in overcoming this influential visual narrative.
The controversy surrounding the election in 2020 raised questions about the role of media and images in shaping public perception, as this controversial photo by Vucci demonstrates.
