Looking for hi-quality nuclear test picture

August 9, 2013 3:47 PM

I'm looking for a picture of a specific nuclear test in a book or other printed resource, or a hi-res photo online. The image in question is here. There seems to be conflicting information about whether this is the first nuclear test (Trinity), I really don't think it is.

I'd like to use the image as reference for a tattoo I'd like and want to give artist something a little better to work off of than the rather crappy image I linked to. I know of the book 100 Suns (It's been in my Amazon wish list for ages), and think that may be my best bet, but before I buy it I'd like to know for certain.

So, does anyone know if that picture is indeed in that book, or know of any other resource that might have a nice quality image?

posted by hafehd to Media & Arts (11 answers total)

Best answer: It's Harold Edgerton's photo. I think it's in his book Stopping Time, but wouldn't swear to it.
posted by Ideefixe at 3:53 PM on August 9, 2013

Best answer: Here's a pretty definitive link about it (Definitely in Stopping Time), but it doesn't pin it down any more than 1952. (Though that would rule out Trinity) http://edgerton-digital-collections.org/galleries/iconic/bombs#hee-nc-52011
posted by CrystalDave at 3:58 PM on August 9, 2013

You're right that it's not Trinity. Joshua trees don't grow in New Mexico.

I have a copy of 100 Suns at home and will look in there for it if you don't get any more info here.
posted by zsazsa at 3:59 PM on August 9, 2013 [1 favorite]

You might try calling the nuclear testing museum in las vegas to try to nail down what test exactly it is (they have doc edgertons original cameras there too, btw and they're fascinating. ..imagine a circle of super-high-speed cameras around a rotating mirror...then that footage gets interlaced for absurd frame rates. ..genius)
posted by sexyrobot at 4:36 PM on August 9, 2013

Zsazsa beat me to the Joshua tree thing. Here's a Trinity photo, for comparison.
posted by mon-ma-tron at 4:41 PM on August 9, 2013

More history about the photographers at Trinity test. Berlyn Brixner had 55 cameras set up.
posted by Ideefixe at 4:58 PM on August 9, 2013 [1 favorite]

I'm still looking for the exact nature of the test, but the picture was apparently taken by Harold Edgerton in 1952. That shaft of light to the lower left is apparently where a guy wire was for the tower holding the bomb.

It was apparently part of the Tumbler-Snapper tests which narrows it down to seven tests.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 5:44 PM on August 9, 2013 [1 favorite]

I work with the Edgerton negative collection, memail me if you need a higher-res version than this.
posted by nonane at 5:48 PM on August 9, 2013 [17 favorites]

I just got home and checked, and that particular photo is not in 100 Suns. A couple other Edgerton high speed shots are, but not that one.
posted by zsazsa at 6:17 PM on August 9, 2013

Best answer: The picture is also reproduced in Cosmos, the companion book to Carl Sagan's TV series. p. 324 in my edition.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 2:46 PM on August 10, 2013

Response by poster: For the win! I have a copy of Cosmos on the bookshelf. Thanks all!
posted by hafehd at 4:46 PM on August 10, 2013