iconic photo
(Photo : Instagram)

Thousands of photos were taken before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex decided to step down from their senior royal duties, but one photo is standing out and it was captured during this year's Endeavor Awards.

THE ICONIC PHOTO

With the beauty, fame, and popularity that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle embody, it is to no surprise that they always stand out from the crowd. It is also not a question as to why they are always in the headlines and the apple of the media's eye.

This time however, it is not related to their decision to step down from their royal duties that put them in headlines all over the world. It is all about a photo that was captured and stood out among the thousands of photos taken during their appearance last week.

In a recently published article, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared during the Endeavor Awards. The royal couple will leave their royal duties days from now, hence it was an opportunity for media to see the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and capture photos of them before they exit the spotlight this coming April 1.

The photo shows how happily Prince Harry and Meghan Markle looked at each other as they walked together under an umbrella. The camera lights that flashed added extra effects to the photo. It seems that the photo is more likely to be a movie poster rather than a couple walking along the streets of London.

The photo immediately caught the attention of netizens and picked up significant traction on social media. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex each have roughly 11 million followers on Instagram and they have even surpassed Prince William and Kate Middleton.

THE MAN BEHIND THE ICONIC PHOTO

The man behind the iconic photo is Samer Hussein. He is an award-winning photographer for Getty Images and has been following and covering the British Royal family for 12 years. Hussein shared in a news outlet just how he managed to capture the iconic photo.

He said, "It was pouring down with rain, which can be very tricky when shooting flash photography. [It] also meant Harry and Meghan would be under an umbrella, which usually means it's hard to get clean photos of the couple."

He thought that it could be a very bad day for him because it was raining and it could be very challenging for him to have a beautiful shot for the couple. However, the rain, the flocking crowds, hundreds of media, and all the challenges he encountered were all blessings in disguise.

He added in his statement, "Little did I know these elements would come together so spectacularly to produce a timeless image." 

HOW DID HE CAPTURE THE ICONIC PHOTO?

Hussein talked to the Sussexes' press officer and he learned that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be dropped off 30 feet from the entrance of the mansion where the Endeavour Awards was held. He immediately positioned himself in the photographer's pen.

Hussein recounted: "As they walked toward me, I noticed a flash going off from a camera in the crowd behind them. I knew that if that light could be lined up to be right behind as they walked, then it could create a dramatic photo, acting like a backlight in a studio shot. I managed to maneuver myself to line up the flash behind them and then had to work quickly, with just a second or two to get the shot as they smiled wonderfully at each other."

While taking photos of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, ha had no idea that he had captured the rain and camera flashes that add extra scenes in the photo. He only realized how poignant his photo was when uploaded it onto his laptop.

He concluded when he saw the picture, "It's a one in a million, when all the elements you could wish for as a photographer come together-perfect timing, great lighting, strong symbolism, and amazing subjects."

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