An interesting emotion can be felt when you look at the last monumental
photo of a historical figure, object, or landmark. It can fill you will
rage, peering into the eyes of a cynical creature, sadness, as you
remember the life and legacy of a great man, or intrigue, as you wonder
what these individuals experienced in their final days. Photography has
helped give people a glimpse into reality. Individually, we can travel
and view only so much, but photos can instantly take us all around the
world. I have composed a list of ten of the most famous final
photographs ever captured. CAUTION: This list contains some graphic
images.
10. Chris Benoit (1967-2007)
Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler who spent time with many
wrestling organizations, including the ECW, WCW, and the WWE. He was an
extremely successful and popular wrestler. During his career he
accumulated 16 championships as a singles competitor, including two WWE
world heavyweight titles and a WCW championship. He is the second of
only three men to hold the belt in both the WWE and WCW. On June 25,
2007 Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their 7-year-old son Daniel were found
dead in their home. A subsequent investigation found that Benoit had
killed his family and then hung himself with an exercise cord.
Toxicology reports found a devastating mix of medication and steroids in
his body. On the day of the murders Benoit was visiting the office of
Dr. Phil Astin in Carrollton, Georgia and a fan snapped a cell phone
picture of him. This is the last known picture of Chris Benoit, who
committed murder the same day the photo was captured.
9. Jesse James (1847-1882)
Jesse James was an American outlaw from the state of Missouri that
was born in 1847. He was regionally famous when alive, but became a
legendary figure of the Wild West after his death. He was an
ex-confederate following the American Civil War and was infamous for
robbery, shootouts, and murder. In 1882, the James gang was nearly
annihilated by arrests, deaths, and defections. Jesse felt that the
only men he could trust were Robert and Charley Ford. On April 3, the
Fords and James prepared to depart for another robbery when Robert Ford
shot and killed an unarmed Jesse. Ford ultimately decided to cash in on
the reward money and fame of killing the infamous outlaw. The death of
Jesse James was a national news story and important event in history.
As with many famous outlaws during this era death pictures were taken of
James to confirm and record the incident. This picture gives a sad
profile of the famous James, who will continue to be embedded in
American folklore for generations to come.
8. Manfred von Richthofen (1892-1918)
Manfred von Richthofen was an infamous German fighter pilot given the
nickname “Red Baron.” He was born into an aristocratic family with
many famous relatives. During World War I von Richthofen was the most
successful flying ace of the Imperial German Army Air Service. He has
been historically credited with 80 confirmed air combat victories. He
was killed in action just after 11 a.m. on April 21, 1918. He was
pursuing a Sopwith Camel piloted by a novice Canadian pilot and was shot
down by a trailing fighter. This is the last photograph of him and it
was taken on the morning of his death. You can see his military boots
and piloting attire. Historians note that there is one other image of
von Richthofen as he was getting ready to depart on his final voyage,
but his face is not seen.
7. Jeffrey Miller (1950-1970)
Jeffrey Miller transferred to Kent State University from Michigan
State in 1970. He was a smart kid and had many friends. When first
arriving at Kent State Miller pledged Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and
became a member. On May 4, 1970 he was shot and killed by an Ohio
National Guardsmen in the Kent State shootings. Miller was part of a
large group of unarmed students who gathered on the Kent State campus to
protest the U.S. war efforts, especially the recently announced
invasion of Cambodia. At some point the guardsmen became agitated and
fired 67 rounds over a period of 13 seconds, killing four students and
wounding nine others. There was a significant national response to the
incident and many students all over the U.S. conducted a walk out and
strike. Jeffrey Millers last photograph is truly a sad site. John Filo
was on campus the day of the shooting and took some iconic images. One
of them was the Pulitzer Prize-winning picture of a young girl
screaming while leaning over the dead body of Jeffrey Miller. It is one
of the most famous pictures in U.S. history and shows the realism of
the event. Jeffrey Miller was a kind hearted passionate man who was
murdered at a young age. I strongly feel that the final picture of
Jeffrey is a fitting tribute to his life and has helped teach a
generation about an important cause.
6. MV Wilhelm Gustloff (1945)
MV Wilhelm Gustloff was a German passenger ship during World War II.
The ship was named after Wilhelm Gustloff, who was the German leader of
the Swiss Nazi party. It originally served as a hospital ship, but
once the war started it was assigned as a floating barracks for naval
personnel. On January 30, 1945 three torpedoes fired by the Soviet
submarine S-13 sank the ship killing around 9,400 citizens and
officers. The ship was struck while participating in the evacuation of
civilians and personnel who were surrounded by the Red Army in East
Prussia. The evacuation was part of the German Operation Hannibal. It
was a gloomy night and the MV Wilhelm Gustloff sank in less then 45
minutes. Most of the passengers were forced to enter the rigid waters
of the Baltic. It remains the greatest loss of life during a maritime
disaster in history. Today, the shipwreck is one of the largest on the
Baltic Sea floor. The final recorded picture of the MV Wilhelm Gustloff
is taken from a bit of a distance as it left harbor on its final
voyage. You can clearly see the massive giant floating away.
5. Bonnie & Clyde (1910-1934)
Bonnie & Clyde were a pair of well known outlaws, robbers, and
criminals who traveled the Central United States during the Great
Depression. They captured the attention of the entire nation and news
agencies rigorously followed every crime. They are thought to have
robbed numerous banks and killed nine police officers. Bonnie and Clyde
were killed on May 23, 1934, on a dirt road in Bienville Parish,
Louisiana, near their hideout. They were ambushed and shot by six
police officers, riddling hundred of bullets into the couple’s
automobile. A media circus ensued and numerous pictures of the bullet
ridden car and Bonnie & Clyde’s bodies were published. It was a
clear attempt by the police to show the population that murder and theft
would not be tolerated. The final picture of the group is rather
gruesome, but it gives a true sense of reality. Bonnie & Clyde were
outlaws that practiced violent force and it is fitting they would meet
that same fate.
4. Salvador Allende (1908-1973)
Salvador Allende was a Chilean political official and President of
Chile from November 4, 1970 to September 11, 1973. He was originally a
physician and became the first democratically elected Marxist socialist
to become leader of a state in the Americas. Allende had a close
relationship with the Chilean Communist Party from the beginning of his
political career. America was uneasy from the moment Allende was leader
of Chile and he was eventually overthrown in the 1973 Chilean coup
d’état. The government was dissolved and Allende arrested on alleged
breaches of the Constitution. The Supreme Court ruled that his rule was
a disruption to the legality of the nation in its failure to uphold
judicial decisions. President Allende died during coup and his body was
filled with AK47 ammunition. His death was officially labeled as a
suicide, although certain aspects are unexplained. In his final days
Allende realized that his government was going to be overthrown and that
his life was in danger. He was constantly watched by armed guards.
The last picture of Salvador Allende was taken in the final days of his
life. He can be seen dressed in a suit, surrounded by police, and
looking very cautious. It is an interesting photo and gives an
important glimpse into the world’s political history.
3. Tupac Shakur (1971-1996)
Tupac is a rap music pioneer and top-selling recording artist. He
was also a promising actor and determined social activist. Shakur has
sold tens-of-millions of records worldwide and is still considered one
of the most popular musicians in the industry. He is consistently one
of the top earning deceased celebrities, bringing in millions every
year. In 1994, Tupac was shot five times and robbed in the lobby of a
recording studio in New York City. He lived, but emerged extremely
angry and helped spark the deadly East Coast-West Coast hip hop rivalry
of the 1990’s. On September 7, 1996 Tupac was again shot, this time
four bullets in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. He was in a vehicle
leaving a Mike Tyson prize fight. Tupac died several days later of
respiratory failure and cardiac arrest. His famous final photograph was
taken by paparazzi twenty minutes before the deadly drive-by. It shows
him and Suge Knight leaving the fight in the car Tupac was killed in.
2. Michael Jackson (1958-2009)
Michael Jackson is one of the greatest musicians of all time. His
record sales and award nominations dominate all others and he is widely
considered the most successful entertainer of all time. He has thirteen
Grammy Awards, thirteen #1 singles in his solo career, and has sold
over 750 million records worldwide. Jackson was also a renowned
philanthropist and supported 39 different charities, raising millions of
dollars for the less fortunate. On June 25, 2009 paramedics responded
to Jackson’s house after he suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing.
He entered into cardiac arrest and died at the hospital within the
hour. TMZ was the first to report the news of his death and had camera
men outside Jackson’s home when he was being removed by paramedics. His
last image is quite revealing as he is being put into the ambulance
with a respirator over his mouth. The king of pop has died and he will
be greatly missed.
1. John Lennon (1940-1980)
John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England in 1940. He is one of the
most astounding song writers and performers of the 20th century.
Lennon is a founding member of the innovative rock group
The Beatles.
He was a strong peace activist and important social figure of the
1960’s and 70’s. John was a bit of a rebel, but extremely dedicated to
his music. In 2002, a BBC poll on the 100 Greatest Britons voted Lennon
eighth. On the night of December 8, 1980 Mark David Chapman shot
Lennon in the back four times in the entrance of the Dakota, in New York
City. He staggered his way into the building, but was pronounced dead
after arriving at the hospital. Earlier that evening, Lennon had
autographed a copy of Double Fantasy for Chapman, who was stalking his
neighborhood. By pure coincidence, a local man captured a photograph of
Lennon during the encounter and you can see the eerie face of Mark
David Chapman in the background. It was the last recorded photo of John
Lennon before he was murdered. John Lennon truly has an immortal
legacy that will continue to thrive and expand forever.
Taken from: http://www.toptenz.net/10-famous-final-photographs.php
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