Photo Taken During Suicide Jump

Faline · #1 ● 06-05-2011, 08:51 AM

Powerful image

p4irs · #2 ● 06-05-2011, 01:11 PM

*examines the pic suspiciously

talleys · #3 ● 06-05-2011, 02:20 PM

I found this excerpt that might be educational:

An acquaintance of mine posted it with only the information, "NY, 1942, accidental shot". I figured it was from NYC, so I started trying to look it up there. I quickly learned that it is a famous picture from 1942 by I. Russel Sorgi, who worked for the Buffalo Courier Express. It is known as "The Genesee Hotel Suicide" or "The Despondent Divorcee."

I continued searching and found an explanation by the photographer:

"I snatched my camera from the car and took two quick shots as she seemed to hesitate...As quickly as possible I shoved the exposed film into the case and reached for a fresh holder. I no sooner had pulled the slide out and got set for another shot than she waved to the crowd below and pushed herself into space. Screams and shouts burst from the horrified onlookers as her body plummeted toward the street. I took a firm grip on myself, waited until the woman passed the second or third story, and then shot." Sorgi 1942

After learning about the situation surrounding this captured second in time, you begin to notice details aside from the main subject. Notice the police woman (maybe a meter maid?) running in the front door of the Hotel. Notice the man sitting in the window of the coffee shop, wondering what is going on. Imagine how his life changed the second after this picture was snapped.
It's crazy to think about.

I found that The Genesee Hotel sat at 530 Main Street from 1882 to 1922.