who knows who took the pic or if its real of the four construction workers sitting on a beam high up in 1940s

Answer 1

I found this images listed as Charles Ebbets, 1932 as did some other responders.

I read the article posted claiming the image to be a fake. This article is crap. The reason cited was that building codes would not have permitted it. In 1932, OSHA did not exist, safety of workers was hardly a concern. More to the point, there is no technical indication of it being a composite print. Also, Lewis Hine was working contemporaneously on his brilliant documentation of the construction of the empire state building. Those workers did not have restraints. At that time documentary photography adhered to Paul Strand's theory of "Straight Photography". That means no gimmicks such as double exposures or compositing. Also, NO documentary magazine of the time would have printed an image that had been manipulated in any way other than dodging and burning. You can find quite a bit about Hines, Paul Strand and the documentary movement of the 20-30's in Naomi Rosenblum's excellent book "A World History of Photography." Unfortunately,
Mr. Ebbets is not mentioned in her book, he is one of the greats Art History missed.

Good question-thanks for asking.

Answer 2

There is a photograph from 1932 of several construction workers sitting on a crossbeam eating lunch. It's very real! And pretty scary. It was taken by Charles C. Ebbets at the RCA Building at Rockefeller Center in New York. There are more than four of them, but this is the only thing I know of that could be it. It's an iconic image, sitting on the edge of death while eating lunch!

Answer 3

I can only find 1 picture, but it was taken in 1932 and it had a bunch of men on it.
According to the web page it is a fake. But look at it and judge for yourself.
http://www.posters-artprints-pictureframes.com/posters-lunch-in-the-skyscraper.htm

This also had some picts of men on beams.
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/jazzposters/c2/8809~constructionworker~page1.html

Answer 4

that sounds like something life mag. would have done. check their web site archives. you might find the answer there.