Apollo 12 Self-Portrait

Apollo 12 Self-Portrait



Is it art?In November of 1969 Apollo 12 astronaut-photographe Charles "Pete" Conrad recorde thismasterpiece while documenting colleagu Alan Bean'slunar soil collection activities o the Oceanus Procellarum.The image is dramatic and stark.Bean is faceless.The harsh environment of the Moon's Ocean of Storms isechoed in his helmet's perfectly composed reflection of Conrad an thelunar horizon.Works of photojournalists originallyintent on recording the human condition on planet Earth,such as Lewis W. Hine's images from New York Cityin the early 20th century, o MargaretBourke-White's magazine photography are widelyregarded as art.Similarly many documentary astronomy an space imagescan be appreciated for their artistic an esthetic appeal.