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• Issue #112
• Article

JOE ROSENTHAL, whose photograph of U.S. soldiers raising the American flag over Iwo Jima in World War II became an iconic symbol of victory in the face of adversity, died August 20th at age 94. He passed away at an assisted living center in San Francisco, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, the newspaper where he worked for 35 years until retirement in 1981. Although his career spanned more than 50 years, Rosenthal is best remembered for his single shot of the flag raising at the top of Mount Suribachi on Feb. 23, 1945. Rosenthal's picture won a Pulitzer Prize and has been reproduced numerous times, including on postage stamps, on a commemorative silver dollar and even on a cast in bronze at the Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington, VA. The captured scene inspired books, films and even songs about the men in the photograph, the latest homage a movie by Clint Eastwood entitled "Flags of Our Fathers" that will be released for distribution on October 17th.

Photojournalist MARTHA HOLMES died at her home in New York City at age 83 on September 19th. In 1944, Holmes became the third woman to photograph for Life magazine. Among her most famous portraits is an image of Jackson Pollack at work on one of his canvases.

My friend and fellow photography dealer FRANCISCO BELCHIOR died on October 1st. He was a noted collector of Portuguese photography and worked in Paris with the Antiquites Photo Verdeau group. He left behind a wife and daughter. I will always remember his wonderful smile, sense of humor and friendship. There will be a memorial tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 9:30 am at Crématorium du Père-Lachaise in Paris.