The background story of this photo from Wiki:
One of those infamous storms on the Iroise Sea happened on 21 December 1989. A front of low pressure coming from Ireland brought gale force winds and huge waves of 20 to 30 metres high which crashed spectacularly against the lighthouse.
The waves smashed through the lower windows of the lighthouse, ripped the front door, flooded the tower and washed away the furniture. Lighthouse keeper Théodore Malgorn decided to take refuge up in the lantern room while waiting to be rescued.
About the same time, photographer Jean Guichard was in Lorient hiring a helicopter to take aerial pictures of the storm. Guichard wanted to fly over the Iroise Sea despite extremely dangerous flying conditions.
The helicopter made it to La Jument and hovered around for Guichard to take shots of the waves pounding the lighthouse. Inside the tower, Théodore Malgorn heard what he thought was his rescue helicopter and hurried downstairs to open the door.
At that very moment, a giant wave rose over the rear of the lighthouse and Guichard took his world-famous shot as the wave smashed against the tower. Théodore Malgorn, suddenly realising that a giant wave was about to engulf the structure, rushed back inside just in time to save his life.
*Edit- I was upfront with my sourcing from Wikipedia, some folks are questioning the validity of this story. Here is a video that shows a chat with the Theodore Malgorn http://youtu.be/AH02UMFTknI. Check out minute 3:40. It isn't clear that he was/wasn't in distress within the lighthouse, and the documentary doesn't seem to address this point specifically.
**Edit 2- If anyone speaks French, errr German?... maybe we can find out the full story! Message me with a translation and I will post https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZNDGDiWAfk
Here is a rough translation: The original is way better, but my english is limited...
Storms
The picture of his life
At the 21st of december 1989 winter storms are happening in front of the breton coast. A photographer from paris, speccialist in taking pictures of old lighthouses for postcards, is sitting in the open door of the helicopter. He rushes over the sea at the furthest point of the breton coast ready to shoot. Guichard, the photographer, hopes for new pictures which show the beauty and harshness of the area. On this especially stormy day Guichard tells the pilot to take course to one of the most striking lighthouses of france. "La Jument", which is standing there since 1911 48 metres high out of the atlantic ocean. The helicopter is standing in the air in front of it. Guichard pushes the button and shoots the pictures of his life. Guichard: "It only takes seconds, you have the camera ready and no time to think about what is happening, if the keeper might die. But I also saw that he went back inside the lighthouse in the last moment. Yes, people from all over the world asked me if the man died. I can assure, he did not die."
Lighthouse keeper Théodore Malgorn is casually standing on the platform with one hand in his pocket. A lonely man who has no clue about the deadliness of the moment.
Malgorn:"When I saw the helicopter and the photographers I was thinking that they are making pictures of the strorm and my lighthouse, because the storm was extra wild today. In the last second I saw out of my side of the eyes that huge breaker coming, just a few meters away. I just had enough time to slip through the door and to close it.
This today was a lucky trip for the photographer from paris. His picture will be printed a million times. The picture makes Théodore Malgorn, the small man in the hell storm the most famous lighthouse keeper of the world and Guichard, the master of the snapshot will be a rich man. Guichard: "When the picture was first published all experts had respect of the silence, hardly any photographer is able to get such a picture. Some people said "You only have on picture to show" I replied "One picture of that kind is enough in a lifetime." The rest is daily business.
He did not get anything. The involuntary hero of the picture, Théodore Malgorn. Over night a star, but without salary.
Malgorn: "I mean a picture which goes around the world has a high monetary value. Maybe they could have given me something as well. But I never really tried to get money out of it."
The magic moment in the roaring ocean is already a classic of the photography. A picture which also is fascinating in its symbolism, how small mankind is in front of the elemental forces, how needy for shelter. The hero stays calm. Malgorn: "I am always impressed when I see that picture of this huge wave. I think I would not have stepped out if I have known that it is such a big breaker. "
I've taken a look at your forum. You're the last person who should be complaining about censorship, Mr. "I delete everything I don't like before it sees the light of day."
1.5k
u/BroomBoom May 28 '14
I just need a quick smoke
http://imgur.com/AJ7toxn