--- description: The story of a famous portrait of what, at first glance, might be a shadow-shrouded cyborg -- but is, in fact, photographer Dennis Stock. title: Behind the Picture: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Camera image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt09e468e33cef8974/69884b5a55a859746da8b7e1/140213-andreas-feininger-masks-011.jpg?branch=production&width=1920&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Behind the Picture: Portrait of a Young Man With a Camera by [Ben Cosgrove](/author/ben-cosgrove/) ## Ben Cosgrove Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 2, 2014 9:06 PM CUT  Caption from LIFE. "Cameraman has viewfinder for left eye, camera lens for right." Caption from LIFE. "Cameraman has viewfinder for left eye, camera lens for right."Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images by [Ben Cosgrove](/author/ben-cosgrove/) ## Ben Cosgrove Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 2, 2014 9:06 PM CUT Andreas Feininger’s striking 1951 portrait of what, at first glance, might be a cowled cyborg—complete with mismatched lenses for eyes—is one of LIFE magazine’s most recognizable and frequently reproduced pictures. It’s one of those photographs that we feel we’ve known all our lives. In fact, though, most of us likely know very little about why or how the photo came to be. The picture first appeared in LIFE in a June 1955 issue of the magazine, a full four years after it was made. The partially obscured face in the photo belongs to a young Army veteran and photographer named [Dennis Stock](http://life.time.com/culture/james-dean-dennis-stock-photos-1955/#1 "undefined") (1928 – 2010), who himself would go on to a storied, decades-long career behind the camera. The brief but telling text that accompanied this and a few other Feininger pictures in that 1955 issue explained why Feininger made the picture: --- > “” --- --- > “” --- Meanwhile, in John Loengard’s indispensable book, [_LIFE Photographers: What They Saw_](http://www.amazon.com/Life-Photographers-What-They-Saw/dp/0821225189 "undefined") (Bulfinch Press, 1998), the 85-year-old Feininger sheds light on _how_ the picture was made, telling Loengard that he “had to get a picture of this person and, frankly, didn’t quite know what to do.” --- > “” --- Andreas Feininger died in February 1999; [Dennis Stock](http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31%5F10%5FVForm&ERID=24KL53ZKDJ "undefined") died in 2010\. Their photographs, including more than a few of the most celebrated pictures of the 20th century, can be found in galleries and major museums around the world. Finally, it’s worth noting that Feininger’s portrait of Stock did, eventually, make for a great cover. It’s the image that graces the front of Loengard’s _What They Saw_. _Liz Ronk, who edited this gallery, is the Photo Editor for LIFE.com. Follow her on Twitter_ [_@lizabethronk_](https://twitter.com/LizabethRonk "undefined")_._  Students clashed against Tucson Police officers on University Avenue Saturday March 29, 2014 in Tucson, Ariz. after Arizona's loss to Wisconsin 64-63 in the West Region NCAA final. Andreas Feininger—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. "Cameraman has viewfinder for left eye, camera lens for right." Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. "A swimmer and his face plate take on the look of an old lantern." Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. "A fencer's face behind his saber mask looks like a death's head." Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. "Doctor's head mirror transforms his face into a single huge eye." Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Not published in LIFE. A man in a welder's helmet. Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Caption from LIFE. "Jeweler's magnifying glasses give him a face of many eyes." Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Not published in LIFE. Closeup of a man wearing a megaphone. Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Not published in LIFE. Man in a diving mask. Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Not published in LIFE. Man in a catcher's mask. Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Not published in LIFE. A diver wearing a metal helmet. Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images  Not published in LIFE. Man wearing a gas mask. Andreas Feininger—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images   LIFE magazine, June 27, 1955. 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