- 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 time. The image has sparked considerable discussion in both photography and law enforcement circles regarding its authenticity and the technical prowess required to achieve such a shot.
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
What happened
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.
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.
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Why it’s important
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 time. The image has sparked considerable discussion in both photography and law enforcement circles regarding its authenticity and the technical prowess required to achieve such a shot.
Michael Harrigan, a retired FBI special agent and firearms expert, weighed in on the image in a follow-up article in The New York Times. He remarked that the photo “absolutely could be showing the displacement of air due to a projectile.” Given the ballistic characteristics and the camera settings, the likelihood of capturing such an event, while exceedingly rare, is possible. Harrigan further explained that capturing a bullet in flight usually necessitates a high-speed camera, but acknowledged the shot’s plausibility given the circumstances and the equipment used.
The discussion extends beyond mere technical fascination; it underscores the perils faced by public figures and the vigilance required to document such events. Mills’ photo joins a lineage of iconic images that serve to remind the public of the ever-present risks in political life and the bravery of those who document it. For instance, the 1963 photograph of Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald or the 1981 image of John Hinckley Jr.’s attempt on Ronald Reagan are reminders of the power of photojournalism to capture critical moments.
Moreover, the photograph has stirred a broader conversation in the photography community about the capabilities of modern camera technology. The Sony A1’s ability to shoot at such high speeds with clarity challenges the limits of what professional photographers can achieve in real-time, high-pressure situations. This incident mirrors a 2022 event where Swedish photographer Göran Strand used a Nikon Z9 to capture a bullet leaving a biathlon rifle, emphasising that with the right gear and timing, extraordinary feats are possible.
Doug Mills’ photograph not only captures a split-second dramatic moment but also symbolises the intersection of skill, preparation, and luck in photojournalism. It brings to light the indispensable role photographers play in bearing witness to history, often at great personal risk. This one-in-a-million shot is a powerful reminder of the capability of human and technological synergy to document the otherwise ephemeral, turning a moment of potential tragedy into a lasting historical record.
This image stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication of photojournalists who risk their lives to document truth and provide the public with an unfiltered view of history in the making. The convergence of cutting-edge technology and human intuition in this photograph underscores the evolving landscape of journalism, where capturing the essence of a moment can alter our perception of reality and underscore the relentless pursuit of truth.
