Monday 14 January 2008

Top of the world

Tenzing Norgay achieves the summit of Mt. Everest, May 29, 1953. Photograph taken by Edmund Hillary.

The image of Sherpa Tenzing standing at the summit of Everest remains one of the most iconic images of the 20th century. Sir Edmund Hillary took the photo of Tenzing during the fifteen minutes spent at the summit, instantly capturing on film the moment when the Everest summit was finally reached.

No pictures of sir Edmund Hilliary at the summit exist - Tenzing didn't know how to operate the camera. How many people would take an image like that knowing that they would not be photographed themselves? The image is a fitting legacy to the remarkable achievements and friendship of Sir Edmund Hilliary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.

Image copyright of The Royal Geographic Society

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