In a world where events unfold rapidly, photographs have the power to pause time and immortalize the emotions, triumphs, and tragedies of humanity. We’ve gathered 10 iconic photos that did more than capture a moment; they changed our world’s history narrative.
“Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” (1945)
This Pulitzer prize-winning photograph remains one of World War II’s most recognizable images, and Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press is to be thanked for it. He took it on February 23, 1945. In the picture, you see six U.S. Marines raising their country’s flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
“V-J Day in Times Square” (1945)
While shooting a spontaneous event in Times Square on August 14, 1945, Alfred Eisenstaedt caught a US Navy sailor kissing a dental assistant who was a stranger to him. The picture first appeared in Life Magazine, along with many other photos. Since then, several people have claimed to be one of the picture’s subjects.
“The Falling Soldier” (1936)
Robert Capa shot this one on September 5, 1936. It depicts a soldier from the Republican faction seemingly at the moment of being shot and falling to the ground. Despite its initial acclaim, the photo’s authenticity has been debated over the years, with questions about whether it was staged.
“Tank Man” (1989)
Several photos of the tank man were taken, but Jeff Widener shot the most popular one. The image shows a lone man motionless in front of transit tanks in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 5, 1989. Notably, this was the day after the Chinese military’s violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
“Earthrise” (1968)
Astronaut William Anders captured the picture from lunar orbit on December 24, 1968. It’s a picture of Earth and some of the Moon’s surface taken from the Moon during the Apollo 8 mission shortly after mission commander Frank Borman shot a monochrome photograph of the scene.
“Migrant Mother” (1936)
This is no random image. The image features a destitute pea picker and mother of seven, with a worried expression on her face, gazing into the distance while her children huddle around her. That photograph was part of Dorothea Lange’s work for the Farm Security Administration, showing the plight of migrant workers in the United States.
“The Terror of War” (1972)
Nick Ut gives us one of the scariest images of war as he captures a nine-year-old girl naked and running after being severely burned by a napalm attack. That little girl is now a 63-year-old activist, Phan Thi Kim Phuc, living in Ontario, and the picture is a Pulitzer Prize winner.
“The Falling Man” (2001)
Associated Press’s Richard Drew snapped a man dropping from the World Trade Center during the unforgettable 9/11 attacks. Many readers thought the image was disturbing, but people like Elton John said it was among the most perfect photographs ever.
“Lunch atop a Skyscraper” (1932)
Eleven men sit on a steel beam 850 feet above the ground in this photo. Photographer Charles C. Ebbets captured the image during the construction of the RCA Building (now known as 30 Rockefeller Plaza) in Rockefeller Center. The men symbolized the fearless spirit of American workers during the Great Depression.
“The Burning Monk” (1963)
Thich Quang Duc took protesting to another level by burning himself to death at a busy road intersection. This act boosted international pressure on the South Vietnamese government led by Ngo Dinh Diem. Malcome Brown captured a photo of it, which won him a World Press Photo of the Year award.
