Above- Cropped version of photo NH69726 (full sized version can be seen here). This is very likely a still taken from the battle film shot on 24 May 1941. The traditional description of this photo is of Bismarck, aft of Prinz Eugen and off her starboard side, firing on Prince of Wales. This is clearly correct...Bismarck is aft (but at an angle) and she is to starboard. She is firing on the side that we can see (note the fireball).
This image cannot, as some have suggested, be reversed. This is simply because too much of the near side is illuminated for her to be firing on the opposite side. The reflected light is not correct for a salvo fired towards the opposite side. The fireball (acutally illuminated smoke) is also clearly in front of the ship's hull. She must be firing on the side that faces us. Lastly, the silhouette is not of Bismarck ahead, but is of Bismarck behind. You can see this demonstrated below:
Above- The yellow numbers on NH69726 correspond to the yellow areas (and red numbers) on the reversed photo at the top.
It is clear that all the "reflections" are being seen from ahead. You can also see that the blast is in front of the ship.
Of course, perhaps you would prefer to see more footage from this salvo? We've screen captured some of this and have presented it below:
Above & Below- In this set of photos (taken of the same salvo that NH69726 was part of) you can clearly see that the ENTIRE NEAR SIDE OF BISMARCK is illuminated. This is not due to overexposure, this is reflected light. This proves that she is firing from the side facing Prinz Eugen. Since they only shot to port, this proves that the film and photos were not reversed. Since the only shadows are at the front, it indicates that the light source is near the aft end of Bismarck (her aft turrets firing) and that she is aft of Prinz Eugen.
Below is a sequence of two photos showing a 15cm secondary salvo also being fired from the near side. In the upper image you can see the physical fireball, and in the second image, the small puffs of smoke which followed.
