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Fan Frenzy Ensues Over Steelers 'Our Father' Prayer Portrait

POSTED: 3:34 pm EST January 25, 2006

The following report by Channel 4 Action News reporter Kelly Frey first aired on Channel 4 Action News at 6 p.m. on Jan. 24, 2006.

It's a photograph frenzy.

Hundreds of viewers have either e-mailed ThePittsburghChannel.com or called wanting to know where they can get the incredible snapshot in time.


WHO TO CONTACT:
To contact the photographer, call (412) 621-1268, visit Web site or e-mail duane@riederphotography.com.

For weeks, Squirrel hill passers-by have seen the black and white photo in the Framingsmith store window -- Troy Polamalu, Joey Porter, Jerome Bettis, Bill Cowher, Tommy Maddox and Ben Roethlisberger like a knight draped in white.

All the Steelers with their heads bowed, saying the Lord's Prayer.

But who would have guessed such a serene moment would suddenly cause such a commotion?

Frey: "You are getting calls from as far away as...?"

Shane Wygley, Framingsmith manager: "California. E-mails. Oregon. Everywhere."

Wygley said he just dresses the beautiful photo -- the credit goes to his friend, the man behind the lens.

Tucked away in a quiet Lawrenceville studio, one will find a life-size Jerome Bettis, Troy Polamalu's game jersey, Steelers helmets -- a virtual Black and Gold museum.

And then there's the picture.

"It was shot before the New England game last year," Duane Rieder said.

Rieder was one of the only photographers allowed inside the locker room before the game.

"Cowher, I mean every game he leads them in the 'Our Father' before the game," said Rieder. "It's just a special moment that I got to be there. And when they were saying the prayer, I was hoping that my camera noise didn't mess up Coach Cowher. So, I was all like, "Shh," and I'm holding my breath because I got one shot at this."

"So, I'm holding my breath. I click one click, and I look and no one flinches. And I've got the shot and I'm like, 'Whoa,'" Rieder said. "It's a very tender moment. You see guys like that, and they are the most macho guys, and yet there they are holding hands It really gives fans a sneak peek into the locker room."

Frey: "You feel like you are in there when you look at this picture."

Rieder: "Maybe that's why they are winning."

Frey: "Like to think so for the man upstairs."

Rieder: "Plus, they are a pretty good team, too."

Any pictures being sold online or elsewhere are fakes, according to Rieder. An easy way to tell whether it is an original is that Rieder always signs and dates his photos. Further, the fakes are labeled "Our Prayer" instead of "Our Father." Rieder said the only way to ensure an authentic print is to purchase it through him.

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