History and photography have always been fickle bedfellows, and predicting what photos will ingrain themselves into the rich tapestry of world history can be tough. Some photos are conceived with long-lasting recognition in mind, while others find themselves slowly climbing to the top as historical values are analyzed and modern attitudes change.
The following photographs are examples of the power behind the moment; how people, places, and experiences have come to shape the course of history with powerful messages and earth-shattering imagery. At the climax of their fame, these photos awed, inspired, and motivated people of all backgrounds, and documented some of the most powerful moments in history to date.
Kevin Carte: The Starving Child And The Vulture, 1994
Probably one of the most acknowledged and empathized upon images is this dreadful picture taken by Kevin Carte. This Sudanese child is being stalked by a vulture. The bird is aware of the fact that the child will die due to starvation, so it is patiently waiting for his meal. This click won the photographer a Pulitzer but unfortunately he was so shocked by the naked stark poverty that he committed suicide three months after gaining recognition for the picture. It enlightened the world on the ruthless effects of famine in Africa.
Malcolm Browne: The Burning Monk, 1963
The Buddhist monks of Saigon have resorted themselves to immolation as a protest regarding the unreliable reforms in Vietnam. Amongst many examples, one is of this Buddhist Mahayana monk, Thich Quang Duc. He set himself afire on the outskirts of Saigon for the harshness enacted upon the fellow Buddhist monks in South Vietnam. While his body burned, Duc’s heart remained in one piece only. As a result, he was christened as a Bodhisattva by followers and fellow monks. His grave act put pressure on the administration to implement the reform laws faster.
Neil Armstrong: A Man on the Moon, 1969
Taken by Neil Armstrong on June 20th, 1969, A Man on the Moon showcases astronaut Buzz Aldrin as he takes some of his first steps across the moon’s surface.
Equipped with a 70mm lunar surface camera, Armstrong set out to document Apollo 11’s expedition through a series of photos detailing the crew-of-two’s first steps, and the placement of the American flag.
Immortalized from all of those photos is A Man on the Moon. In it, Aldrin stands alone with nothing but the vast expanse of the moon as his backdrop. With not a modicum of humanity surrounding him, Aldrin is swallowed by the great unknown of space, capitalizing on the feelings of loneliness and curiosity that, even today, drive us to find life beyond the fringes of earth. His singular presence in the photo also punctuates the whole point of the expedition: a man landed on the moon.
William Anders: Earthrise, 1968
This eponymous photograph depicts Earth as it emerges from the darkness of space, with just a cheeky sliver of the moon decorating the photo’s foreground. Captured by astronaut William Anders during the Apollo 8 voyage, Earthrise was, and still is, a shocking reminder of our lonely existence in the vast expanse of space. And yet, shocking as it is, great beauty lies in the marble-like swirl of blue and white cropping out from the monotonous blackness of our galaxy.
The photo capitalized on the beauty of our planet during a time when we were looking for beauty beyond it, and rippled through the world in such a way that people have used the photo repetitively to exemplify why the preservation of the nature of Earth is worth it.
Alfred Eisenstaedt: The Kiss, 1945
On August 14th, 1945, Japan surrendered to the U.S. This signalled the end of World War II. Celebrations erupted across streets and the most joyous were the ones in uniform. The wave of overjoyed masses also had one of the most brilliant photographers of the 20th century; the German immigrant Alfred Eisenstaedt. While capturing the celebration, he spotted a young sailor who was running and grabbing any girl with ages no bar. He captured the brimming happiness of the sailor when he locked lips with a beautiful nurse. The image was circulated rapidly across the whole country. To this day, the image is a cheerful, enduring reminder of America’s exuberance when the long battle ended.
Match Between Muhammad Ali And Sonny Liston, 1965
This famous rematch between Sonny Liston and Muhammad Ali remains controversial till date because of how Liston went down in the first round itself out of nowhere. This photograph of Ali standing over his prey has become one of the may iconic, memorable shots which epitomized the man as “The Greatest.”
Win McNamee: President Bush receives word of the September 11th attacks, 2001
President George W. Bush listens as White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card informs him of a second plane hitting the World Trade Center while Bush was conducting a reading seminar at the Emma E. Booker Elementary School, in Sarasota, on Sept. 11, 2001.
Steve McCurry: The Afghan Girl, 1984
Known for her intense stare and bold green eyes, 'Afghan Girl' came to symbolize the struggles of refugee women to the Western world. Taken by National Geographic Society photographer Steve McCurry during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan, Afghan Girl (whose real name is Sharbat Gula) managed to conceptualize everything about the struggles of refugee women all in the photo of one, tattered, gritty girl.
It is an undeniably well-framed portrait that conveys a world of emotion through one appearance; Gula’s stare is intense, determined, and unafraid, and her clothing, bright red and ragged from wear, speak volumes about her struggles as a refugee. Today, Afghan Girl is still one of Nat Geo’s most famous issue covers.
Saigon War, 1968
Another memorabilia for the world comes from Saigon area. Here, the South Vietnam police chief is seen shooting a man supposedly an officer of Viet Cong. This image is a fitting example of crime during war and a reminder to unnecessary atrocity faced by innocent civilians.
Lewis Hine: Power House Mechanic
In an effort to document industrialization, photographer Lewis Hine spent time photographing industrial workers and the environments they worked in. At the time, Hine’s work brought awareness to the conditions these workers tolerated, which were quickly diminishing in quality. While Hine’s photography is considered a form of documentary photography, the photos he chose to showcase were carefully posed and selected to leave the greatest audience impact possible. Hine’s work is a series which showcases the fact that a photo doesn’t necessarily have to be a candid or unexpected shot for it to work as a political or social statement.