And suddenly it was everywhere. At the July 13 Trump re-election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, shots rang out, an assassin’s bullet grazed the right ear of former U.S.

President Donald Trump and photographers covering the event captured what they could of the chaotic aftermath. Secret Service agents hustled a stunned Trump onto the outdoor stage floor, shielding him from what might follow. Then, after the “shooter down” transmission, up came the candidate, back on his feet, fist in the air, American flag behind him, clear blue sky above it all.

Barely heard over the commotion, he called out “fight!” three times, giving his supporters and the cameras something to remember. Associated Press photojournalist Evan Vucci’s image of that moment hit the news wires. Within hours, minutes, even, a confluence of political agreement emerged across right, left and center.

News images made under terrifying circumstances enter the world, and while the photographer may have a hunch about how they’ll be used for political or commercial purposes later, it’s too late. It’s out of the bag. But what transforms some photos into icons — we’ll use that word once, and cautiously, as with any “iconic”-adjacent word — while more complex images from the same, recent, tragic event take a back seat? What can we find in other photographs made under extreme pressure that day, or other days in our history, Sept.

11, 2001, included, revealing different light and shadows of the sam.