SUMMARY
A new book, 'Lunch on a Beam: The Making of an American Photograph,' by archivist Christine Roussel, reveals the untold story behind the famous 1932 photograph of ironworkers eating lunch on a steel girder. The image, widely reproduced and iconic, was actually a staged publicity shoot orchestrated by Rockefeller Center to promote the RCA Building. The book details the challenging photographic process using equipment like the Graflex Speed Graphic 4x5 and highlights the bravery of the photographers, including Charles Ebbets, Thomas Kelley, and William Leftwich, who worked at extreme heights. While Roussel's research points to Ebbets or Leftwich as the most likely photographer, the exact identity remains uncertain after 90 years.
TAKEAWAYS
The iconic 1932 'Lunch on a Beam' photograph was a staged publicity event, not a spontaneous moment.
Photographers used heavy Graflex Speed Graphic 4x5 cameras without modern features at extreme altitudes.
Charles Ebbets and William Leftwich are the most likely, though unconfirmed, photographers of the image.
A new book by Christine Roussel details the history and photographic challenges behind the famous image.