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‘Flying bullet’ photographer Doug Mills describes ‘one in a million’ Trump shot
A photographer revealed how he captured the bullet’s path during an assassination attempt on former President Trump at a Pennsylvania rally.

Headline
A photographer revealed how he captured the bullet’s path during an assassination attempt on former President Trump at a Pennsylvania rally.
Context
OUR TAKE Doug Mills’ capture of the apparent bullet path during an assassination attempt on Trump is nothing short of breathtaking. It’s a testament to the power of photography to freeze fleeting, life-altering moments. Reminds me of the iconic image of Che Guevara captured mid-speech, where the photographer’s instinct and skill converged to create an enduring icon. Mills’ use of Sony A1’s lightning-fast shutter speed and expert positioning underscores the importance of preparation meeting opportunity. Yet, it also highlights how easily a political rally can turn violent, echoing similar incidents at rallies worldwide. It’s a chilling reminder of the fragile nature of public safety in a polarised political climate. –Miurio huang, BTW reporter In an extraordinary display of photographic skill and timing, veteran photographer Doug Mills captured a remarkable image that appears to show the path of a bullet during an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. The incident occurred at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, June 13th. This dramatic photo, now widely circulated, captures what looks like a bullet’s vapor trail streaking behind Trump’s head, a moment frozen in time by Mills’ quick reflexes and expertise with his Sony A1 camera.
Evidence
Pending intelligence enrichment.
Analysis
In a detailed post on The New York Times’ Instagram page, Mills shared the camera settings and circumstances that led to this extraordinary shot. Utilising a Sony A1, Sony’s premier mirrorless camera, Mills set the shutter speed to its maximum of 1/8000s using the mechanical shutter, shooting wide open at f/1.6 with a 24mm focal length. Employing multi-pattern metering and manual mode for complete control, Mills captured the split-second event from just feet away. Mills explained, “I just happened to have my finger on the shutter and I heard the pops and just kept shooting. I didn’t know what I’d captured, but when I got to my laptop, I could see that bullet flying behind his head. It’s only in that one frame – it’s definitely not in the frames right before or after it.” His extensive experience covering presidential events and his anticipation of the moment were crucial in positioning himself to capture the shot. The photo’s Exif data, an embedded set of metadata in digital photographs, confirmed the technical details of the shot, adding credibility to the claims of what the image depicts. This data shows the camera settings used and provides a timestamp, giving an in-depth look at how the moment was preserved. Also read: Tech giants rally behind Trump after assassination attempt
Key Points
- In an extraordinary display of photographic skill and timing, veteran photographer Doug Mills captured a remarkable image that appears to show the path of a bullet during an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
- This photograph is not just a testament to Mills’ skill but also serves as a significant piece of journalistic documentation of a dramatic and dangerous moment. It highlights the critical role of photojournalism in capturing fleeting instances that might otherwise be lost to…
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