Pulitzer Prize Analysis

Photography

September 2023

Use of the principles of design to "read" the photo and comment on the parts of the photograph that make it Pulitzer prize worthy.

While looking through collections of Pulitzer winning photographs, none of the pictures struck me as much as the photo “Aid From The Padre” did. I was drawn to this photo due to the dramatic poses of the subjects and their horrified looks off-frame. This photograph focuses on two subjects, a priest standing in the middle of a street and a fallen solider kneeling on the ground and gripping onto the priest for support. The background is a street scattered with large puddles and there is a corner store in the background as well that appears closed due to a metal gate blocking both entrances. This gate is mirrored in the reflection of a puddle below it and creates leading lines that push the eyes to look at the two subjects in the middle of the two gates. Most eerie of all, the sign on the store in the background translates to “butcher’s shop” and “slaughter”. This connects to the deadly context behind the conflict happening outside of the photo. There are small chunks of rubble in the foreground, as well as the soldier’s sizeable gun laying in the middle of the road, that suggests some kind of armed conflict as well.

The subjects in “Aid From The Padre” are posed rather dramatically. The priest is terrified and doesn’t look at the camera or the soldier clinging to his waist. He’s looking off-camera to the right. This has quite a panic-inducing effect since we can’t see what is making the priest so scared. The fallen solider has dropped his weapon at his feet and is looking behind the priest, although it’s quite possible he could be looking off in the same direction the priest is, where the danger could be as well. The solider has fallen in front of the priest to his knees. This is significant not only because it shows how weak the solider is, but it’s also a religious connection to the priest he’s holding on to. It shows that the soldier is looking for support physically, but also looking for forgiveness and protection spiritually too, especially if he’s fallen to his knees and abandoned his weapon amid battle. Despite the solider being armed, it is the priest that is the pillar of strength in this photo. He supports the soldier and it’s clear the soldier is in pain due to the tension in his arms. There is a silent bravery to the priest being there in the center of the conflict. The priest could be considered a clear target in the chaos of battle. It’s a miracle he appears unscathed and to the soldier, it’s probably a miracle there is someone in the street to bless him and be there with him before he passes.

Héctor Rondón captured “Aid From The Padre” during violent revolt conflict in Venezuela. To capture this moment, it is known that Rondón had to lay flat on the street to get shot or caught in crossfire of the revolt. Rondón explains that to take this photo he was also “flattened against the wall while bullets were flying when the priest appeared” (Rare Historical Photos). Rondón recounts that the priest (father/padre) there who was braving the streets was giving wounded soldiers their last rites so they can confess to him and go to heaven sin free. Rondón admits that “The truth is, [he] [doesn’t] know how [he] took those pictures, lying on the ground” (Rare Historical Photos). It’s remarkable how well lined-up the priest’s head is with the corner of the butcher shop in the background knowing that the photographer was pinned and laying down on the street when he took the photo. “Aid From The Padre” captures a breathtaking moment of humanity in the heat of violence and the quiet strength and courage of a priest blessing his people before they pass on. I was most moved by this photograph due to emotional impact of the priest’s face but also the tension a viewer feels when they can’t see danger.

Works Cited: “The Priest and the Dying Soldier, 1962 - Rare Historical Photos.” Https://Rarehistoricalphotos.Com/, 30 July 2014, https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/priest-dying-soldier-1962/.