Richard Evelyn Byrd was an aviator and explorer who participated in several notable polar and transatlantic flights. He was the first man to fly over both the North Pole (May, 1926) and South Pole (November, 1929). He also led five survey expeditions to Antarctica (1928-1930, 1933-1935, 1939-1940, 1946-1947, 1955).

The photograph is an original image bearing Associated Press markings and the tongue-in-cheek (for the 20s) caption on a typewritten slip, attached to the reverse,  "Eastman 'shoots' Admiral Byrd."