They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, and some may be worth even more than that. Harnessing the ability to show others what they would otherwise be unable to see, photographers capture moments in history and shift our perception of the world. The power and influence of these photos are epic, and it’s hard to believe all it took was the press of a button (along with impeccable timing, flawless composition, and serious talent – but you get the point).
Abbey Road
This photo adorning an album cover of the Beatles walking across Abbey Road in 1969 became iconic as soon as it hit the stands. Abbey Road was not only the name of the street and the album, but also of the studio where Paul, John, George, and Ringo recorded their magic. They have photographer Iain Macmillan to thank for it. Friend of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, he was probably pretty thankful himself that they called in the favor.
Afghan Girl
The haunting eyes of Afghan Girl were captured by photographer Steve McCurry in 1985 at a refugee camp in Pakistan, where she had been moved after her parents died in the Soviet bombing of Afghanistan. The photo became National Geographic’s best-recognized cover, and efforts to identify her years later were successful in 2002. She is Sharbat Gula and became the focus of a documentary, “Search for Afghan Girl,” as well as the inspiration for the Afghan Girls Fund, a charity aimed at educating Afghan girls and women.
Tank Man
The year was 1989, and the Chinese government was brutally cracking down on what had been a peaceful protest for economic and democratic reform in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. It’s estimated that more than 2,000 people were killed by the Chinese military clearing the area, but one man attempted to stand in front the tanks to keep them from proceeding and was captured on film by photographer Stuart Franklin Magnum. Though it’s unknown what happened to the man – he was never identified – the picture became a symbol of resilience and hope.
V-J Day in Times Square
The kissing photo to end all kissing photos, Alfred Eisenstaedt snapped Unconditional Surrender on Aug. 14, 1945, in Times Square, New York, after it was announced that World War II had officially come to an end. Though many assumed it was a kiss between a passionate couple, a sailor had actually been running through the square kissing everyone in sight after he heard the news (most likely overjoyed that he wasn’t about to get shipped back out again). The picture made the cover of “Life” magazine shortly after it aired in newspapers.
Earthrise
Before Apollo 8 was able to orbit the moon and return safely home, there had been no photographs of the entire Earth from space. This breathtaking picture taken by astronaut William Anders was able to capture the planet as a whole, and is said to have helped spur on the environmental movement, forcing the population to realize how beautiful Earth is. At the very least, it’s used as a symbol of the movement, whether or not it actually impacted people’s opinions.
Migrant Mother
Dorothea Lange set out in 1936 to capture the Great Depression on film, and succeeded when she found Florence Owens Thompson in a California migratory labor camp. A widowed mother of seven whose husband had died from TB, Thompson was struggling to support her family. The bleak but proud expression on her face resonated around the country and became a symbol of the Great Depression and the American spirit.
Sudan Famine
In March of 1993, Sudan was wracked by famine, but it was largely off the radar of the Western world. Kevin Carter, traveling in the country with the U.N. through Operation Lifeline Sudan, shot this picture of a girl heading towards a U.N. food drop as a vulture landed in the background. While in reality, the girl’s parents were getting food from the plane and only left her for a moment, the stark ribs protruding from her body and the symbol of death awaiting in the background captured the horrific consequences of famine and raised international awareness. Carter won a Pulitzer Prize for his photo. He committed suicide one year later due to depression.
Raising the Second Flag on Iwo Jima
During the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II, five U.S. Marines and one U.S. Navy corpsman raised a flag on top of Mount Suribachi on Feb. 23, 1945. Joe Rosenthal captured the moment as a symbol of the war’s end, though three of the Marines died later in action. There was some controversy after the image was sent back to the U.S. Some claimed that it was staged, but other footage from similar vantages showed that Rosenthal had captured the real deal.
New York Construction Workers Lunching on a Crossbeam
It’s not the safest way to eat lunch, but the picture Charles C. Ebbets shot in 1932 of workers taking their break on what became the 69th floor of the GE building at Rockefeller Center in New York City became instantly iconic. Though it later came out that the picture was staged, the men in the photo are all actual workers of the building, so no harm, no foul.
The Falling Man
September 11 is a day that will never be forgotten by the world, and especially New Yorkers who were in the city the day of the terrorist attacks. Associated Press photographer Richard Drew captured the horrific images of people jumping from the World Trade Center, including this one, thought to be 43-year-old Jonathan Briley, an employee at the Windows of the World restaurant. The Falling Man became an image of despair of the attacks, but also strengthened resolve to find justice for the victims of 9/11.
