An interesting and memorable photo I came across on Instagram and looked into the story behind it. Fascinating read.
Story Source:
Days after the catastrophic eruption of Mount St. Helens, Cliff Smith heard a remarkable story he’d never forget.
Smith was working for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, pitching vending machine companies on carrying their cigarettes. Smith was riding shotgun with a “routeman,” restocking vending machines with Camels, when he started talking about his close call with the eruption. The man’s name was Richard “Dick” Lasher.
On the morning of May 18, 1980, Lasher, who was also a freelance photographer, headed towards Mount St. Helens in his bright red Ford Pinto. Lasher told Smith that his plan was to drive his Pinto as far as he could, then take his motorcycle, precariously hitched to the bumper, even closer. “He tried to get as close as possible,” Smith recalled. “I don’t think at the time he knew just how close he was.”
Then, at 8:32 am, the mountain erupted with fury. Lasher skid to a halt as the gigantic ash cloud barreled towards him, jumping out of his Pinto and taking the now-infamous photo. Normally, it’s a Cardinal sin for a photographer’s vehicle (or camera bag) to appear in the frame. But not this time.
It was too late for Lasher to turn around his car, so he jumped on his Yamaha and fled the plume of ash. “By the time he unhooked his dirt bike his Pinto was on fire,” Smith told me.
Smith, who is retired and living in Idaho, said Lasher gave him a print after working together on the vending machine routes. “I have had that picture hanging on the wall in every house since!”
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