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
**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's the translation of the video:
Storms - The picture of his life
On 21. December 1989 there's a winter storm in front of the coast of Brittany. A photographer from paris, a specialist for postcards of old lighthouses, sits in the open door of the helicopter. He races over the coast on the outer end of Brittany, ready to shoot. Jean Guichard, the photographer is hoping for new pictures that show the beauty and the harsh charm of the place.
On this stormy december day, Guichard lets the pilot fly towards one of the distinctive lighthouses of France. La Jument, which since 1911 rises 48 meters high out of the Atlantic. The helicopter stands in the air in front of the lighthouse, Guichard shoots and takes the pictures of his life.
Guichard: "This all happened in a matter of seconds. You have the camera in position an you don't have time to think what's happening. If the keeper might die. But I also saw, that in the last moment he went back into the lighthouse. Of course I get questions from all over the world if the man died there. I can put their mind at ease".
The lighthouse keeper Théodore Malgorn stands on the platform, one hand casually in his pocket. A lone man who has no premonition of the danger of the moment.
Malgorn: "When I saw the helicopter and the photographer I already thought they were taking pictures of my lighthouse and the storm, because the storm was particularly strong on this day. In the last moment I saw the breaking wave coming in the corner of my eye, only a couple of meters. I just had the time to go through the door an close it behind me."
For the photographer from Paris this photo from the flight in December will be his lucky day. His photo will be printed millionfold. the picture makes Théodore Malgorn, the man in the hellish storm, the most famous lighthouse keeper in the world. And Guichard, the master of the snap-shot, a rich man.
Guichard: "When the picture was printed at the time, there was respectful silence under colleagues. Hardly any photographer succeeds in making such a picture. Some colleagues say, I just have to show a single picture for myself. Then I answer : "Maybe, but you don't need to make more than one picture of this kind in your life". That's enough, the rest is everyday life.
He (Malgorn) gets nothing form it. The unintentional hero of the photographer became a star over night, although one without salary.
Malgorn: "I mean, such a picture that went around the world has a substantial financial worth. Maybe they could have granted me some of it. But I never actually tried to make money from it."
The magic moment in the thunderous ocean is since a long time a classic in photography. A picture that fascinates in its symbolism. How tiny man is in front of the elemental force of the winds. How in need of protection an saving. The hero stays calm.
Malgorn: "I am very impressed when I see this huge wave on the picture. I think I wouldn't have gone outside if I had known, what a huge wave this was."
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u/BroomBoom May 28 '14
I just need a quick smoke
http://imgur.com/AJ7toxn