Hanging On My Wall
When The Associated Press office in Columbus moved from the Dispatch building to Schrock Road, one of my tasks was to select the photos to be placed in the new space's public areas.
“Tank Man” by Jeff Widener was one of those photos. I kept it when the office was redecorated a few years later after a new bureau chief was appointed.
It continues to hang on my wall, a constant reminder of the events of Tiananmen Square and the battle for freedom and democracy.
Last year, Patrick Witte, a former photographer and picture editor with National Geographic, WIRED, TIME, and The New York Times, wrote for Field of View, his Substack newsletter, a rich history of Widener’s photo, the other photographers who also made the photo, and the difficulty in getting it sent to the world. I can’t tell it any better.
His story is below.
The Blue Plate Special
Pork tacos with maters, lettuce, hot salsa, chipotle chili sauce, sour cream, and cheese.
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