The adage that 'pictures speak a thousand words' may be cliché, but it has proven true because images, specifically striking ones, deliver a powerful message. These timeless photos usually tell a story without a need for words.
What makes a good photo is highly subjective, but we can all agree that we love a snap that transcends years, if not centuries, to give us an idea of how things were. Here we round up some of the most influential images that will get you thinking or change the way you see the past.
Starving Child and Vulture (1993) - Kevin Carter
South African photographer Kevin Carter was assigned to cover the 1993 Sudan famine, specifically in the Ayod village, when at one time, he heard a faint cry. He saw an emaciated child on his way to the feeding center, and suddenly, a vulture landed nearby.
Because he was advised not to touch the victims, the lensman shooed the scavenger away, and the toddler went on with his journey. This opened up a debate on whether lensmen should intervene or not. Unfortunately for Carter, the harrowing scenes he witnessed were too much to bear, so he took his own life in 1994.
Lunch Atop a Skyscraper (1932) - Unknown
This 1932 picture shows workers taking a break, sitting on a beam more than 800 feet above the ground. These men were some who helped build the Rockefeller Center, and although this snap might elicit sweaty palms, it was meant to promote the skyscraper.
This photo, taken on the 69th floor of the RCA Building, also symbolizes New York's resiliency and bravery, so much so that one couldn't walk the Times Square without seeing the image on mugs and shirts. This iconic shot was said to be the most reproduced by agency Corbis.
Tank Man (1989) - Jeff Widener
Media outlets sent their teams to China to cover the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square massacre. The Associated Press' representative, Jeff Widener, was at the Beijing hotel, taking photos of bloodied victims as well as burning vehicles when he spotted a courageous man holding shopping bags.
Widener saw the unidentified man standing in front of war tanks. Eventually, the citizen was escorted away but not before this lensman was able to take a powerful image that displayed the person's act of resistance. Nowadays, the place is a tourist spot, but it will forever be remembered for the demonstration.
Falling Man (2001) - Richard Drew
The 9/11 attacks will forever be immortalized in harrowing pictures of bombings, planes, and victims. But one of the most eye-catching images from that tragedy is the Falling Man, captured at the right moment by Richard Drew. It was so gut-wrenching that numerous outlets across the U.S. published it after the event.
Although the man's identity remains unknown to this day, he is believed to be an employee from the Windows on the World restaurant. This photo will send chills down the spine, but it shows what a person is willing to do in times of desperation.
Alan Kurdi (2015) - Nilüfer Demir
This photo of a boy named Alan will forever depict the true victims of the Syrian War. In 2015, or around four years into the unrest, the Kurdi family traveled in an inflatable boat from Turkey to the Kos Island, Greece. However, the watercraft capsized, drowning the kids and the mother.
Alan's body washed up on the Bodrum shore where Nilüfer Demir was, and as there was nothing left for her to do, she captured the distressing sight. Unfortunately, a decade has passed since the war started and children remain deprived of education.
Earthrise (1968) - William Anders, NASA
Back then, it was hard to imagine how the earth really looks from outer space, but in 1968, thanks to the astronauts who boarded the Apollo 8 and landed on the moon, we now have an idea of how small of a speck we really are. Bill Anders, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell orbited the moon in a dangerous mission but came back with this mesmerizing snap.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration will next aim to send the first woman to land on the moon in a 2024 mission through the Artemis program. Elon Musk-founded space exploration company, SpaceX, will also attempt to bring humans to the moon.
Mushroom Cloud Over Nagasaki (1945) - Lieutenant Charles Levy
Kids can never understand how massively destructive wars were decades ago. A few days after the bomb called Little Boy hit Hiroshima, Japan, the United States sent a far more powerful weapon nicknamed Fat Man on Nagasaki. Lieutenant Charles Levy, the bombardier who took the photo was impacted by the bombing.
'Like boiling coffee,' was how the man described the bombing and revealed that spews of white, red, and purple were visible at the time. This weapon, which killed 80,000 people, along with the atomic bomb, made the Japanese surrender. This year in 2021 will mark the 76th year World War II ended.
V-J Day in Times Square (1945) - Alfred Eisenstaedt
Victory over Japan Day, commonly called V-J Day, marks the end of World War II. After Japan suffered powerful and destructive blows, the Land of the Rising Sun surrendered, much to the delight of America and other countries. Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt from Life Magazine captured this sailor suddenly grabbing a nurse and kissing her.
Although this photo illustrates the uncontrolled happiness of citizens, it does open conversations nowadays. Many people are wondering if it was a case of harassment because there was no consent. Nonetheless, this was one of the most reproduced pictures of the 90th century.
Pillars of Creation (1995) - Nasa
Years before the Hubble Space Telescope captured this magical scene, the equipment had to be repaired a couple of times. In April 1995, it gave a glimpse of the Eagle Nebula in the Serpens Cauda constellation. This picture may look manipulated, but the interstellar dust clouds truly look magnificent.
In 2014, the Hubble revisited the pillars and gave the public a sharper and wider view of the sight. The photo was released during the American Astronomical Society meeting. This iconic image is so popular that it's been used in a 2018 short film.
Fire Escape Collapse (1975) - Stanley Forman
On a fateful day in July 1975, the media was called to Marlborough Street to cover a fire. A woman and a child were at the fire escape waiting to be rescued, so journalist Stanley Foremen thought it would be like any typical rescue.
However, the fire escape broke, and the 19-year-old lady and her two-year-old goddaughter fell. Forman was quick to snap the duo as they fell but turned around before they hit the ground. He earned a Pultizer because of the photos, and the incident prompted the call for stricter fire escape codes.
A Man on the Moon (1969) - Neil Armstrong, Nasa
In July 1969, three men voyaged and went to the moon via the Apollo 11. One of them was Neil Armstrong, who first walked on the crater-filled satellite of the Earth. The second was Buzz Aldrin; the man in this photo.
Meanwhile, Armstrong held the camera. The awkward pose, Aldrin revealed, was probably because he was looking at a checklist on his wrist. The Wapakoneta, Ohio-born astronaut, who passed away in 2012, received many honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor, the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy, and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.
Jewish Boy Surrenders in Warsaw (1943) - Unknown
This powerful photo of a little boy was taken in the '40s. Apart from his hands being up in the air, what made this scene heartbreaking was how terrified he looked. The child was just one of the Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto, which the Nazis built to starve them to death.
The Holocaust was one of, if not the darkest moments in the history of bloodshed as it killed millions of Jews. The Nazis, led by Adolf Hitler, put up camps where they packed people who didn't support them or were deemed unworthy.
Bloody Saturday (1937) - H. S. Wong
Not all countries gave a care in the war between China and Japan in 1937, but that changed when this photo was published. Taken by lensman H.S. Wong at the South Station in Shanghai, he tried to grab a boy that was weeping as his lifeless mother laid on the tracks, but his father hurriedly got him and ran.
This photo was sent to New York and was published in several newspapers and magazines, reaching about 136 million people. As such, the US, France, and Britain joined forces to condemn the attack. Nowadays, the station has a modern design, thanks to a renovation that was completed in 2006.
Migrant Mother (1936) - Dorothea Lange
The younger generations probably don't have an inkling of how hard it was during the Great Depression, but here is the iconic picture that had become the event's emblem. Photographer Dorothea Lange was driving past Nipomo when she decided to stop at the Resettlement Administration, where she saw Frances Owens Thompson and her kids.
Lange sold her car's tires to buy food for the woman and captured this powerful photo. Then the photographer tipped the authorities of the situation, which resulted in 20,000 pounds of food distributed. The Great Depression started on Black Thursday on Oct. 24, 1969, and lasted for a decade.
The Hindenburg Disaster (1937) - Sam Shere
This aircraft, known as a Zeppelin (named after its German inventor Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin), was then considered a mammoth display of wealth and luxury. As such, many spectators, including the media, flocked when these arrived. International News Photos' Sam Shere was one of those who waited for the LZ 129 Hindenburg to fly in from Frankfurt.
However, it suddenly caught fire, killing dozens of people. Although many people captured the event, his picture ultimately got published on the front pages. It became so important that even rock band Led Zeppelin used the photo as the cover of its album.
Dalí Atomicus (1948) - Philippe Halsman
Photographer Philippe Halsman was fond of spontaneity and capturing his subjects' reality, which gained many fans. So he thought of a clever and creative way to snap a portrait of his good pal, Salvador Dalí, by using the artist's Leda Atomica painting as an inspiration.
Halsman, who had 26 takes before he got the perfect shot, elaborately staged a flying chair and floating easel and asked his wife and daughter to throw cats and a pail of water. Apart from Dalí, the lensman had captured portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Albert Einstein.
Leap Into Freedom (1961) - Peter Leibing
Associated Press' Peter Leibing got insider info that there's a brewing defection in 1961. East German leader Walter Ulbricht had put the barbed wire to serve as barriers, but one guard named Hans Conrad Schumann was enticed to flee by the West Berlin crowd.
Schumann leaped, and Leibing captured the motion at the right moment. This brave man, known for being the first soldier to run away, made it to the front pages. While he became the symbol of freedom, he couldn't bear the weight of it, so he took his own life in 1998.
Flag Raising on Iwo Jima (1945) - Joe Rosenthal
Around 21,000 Japanese and 6,800 Americans died fighting on the island of Iwo Jima. The US conquered Mount Suribachi on the fifth day, and the Marines raised a flag, but the commander wanted a bigger one to dishearten their enemies. These six men were just following the order, and Associated Press' Joe Rosenthal captured one of the most striking war pictures in history.
This Pulitzer-winning picture immortalized the moment so much that it was turned into a postage stamp. A bronze memorial was cast and displayed in Washington to commemorate the 179th anniversary of the Marine Corps.
Emmett Till (1955) - David Jackson
The death of George Floyd in 2020 opened a conversation. African-Americans have long been struggling with discrimination. This photo speaks of the hardship that people of color faced in the '50s. This stoic woman was the mother of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old who was brutally murdered.
The boy stopped by a grocery, where he met Carolyn Bryant, but four days later, he was killed. The jury acquitted the suspects. The victim's mother, wanting to share their state with the world, insisted on having an open casket. It didn't just wake up the public on their sufferings, but it also opened the eyes of mothers.
Hitler at a Nazi Party Rally (1934) - Heinrich Hoffmann
Being leader Adolf Hitler's photographer, Heinrich Hoffman captured every milestone of the Nazi party, including this September 30, 1934 picture of the Bückeberg Harvest Festival. The politician and his minions are at the center of the shot, walking on as his soldiers stood by. A video of the event was made available online by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Hoffman, who joined the party in 1920, was criticized for feeding the wounded public photos of the regime. It was said that he had about two million pictures of Hitler. His works were included in different media, such as Leni Riefenstahl movies and the Nazi banners.
Gandhi and The Spinning Wheel (1946) - Margaret Bourke-White
Mohandas Gandhi, also known as Mahatma Gandhi, was so loved for his pro-nationalist, anti-violence stance. Here he reads a newspaper by his spinning wheel called a charkha. Although he looked serene when the shot was taken, he was a prisoner in Pune, India.
Although this photo was never published alongside the article it was intended for; it did appear in publications after the Indian lawyer was assassinated. This sight really solidified his tranquil persona and his image as a peaceful protester. A historical film, based on the life of the leader, was released in 1982.
Fetus, 18 Weeks (1965) - Lennart Nilsson
Life is such an incredible journey that it's worth documenting. Lennart Nilsson captured a developing fetus, which piqued the curiosity of Life Magazine's readers, so much so that it sold out within days. The magazine explained that the photo of the fetus was taken when it was out of the womb, as it had been removed for medical reasons.
Apparently, Nilsson had a deal with a Stockholm hospital to be contacted whenever there was an opportunity to photograph. He would position the subject to appear inside the womb, just like what he did with this 18-week-old.
The Pillow Fight (1964) - Harry Benson
Known as one of, if not the most influential bands, English rock band The Beatles was composed of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison. Harry Benson captured the moment the musicians learned that their song I Want to Hold Your Hand became a U.S. chart-topper while at the George V Hotel.
The fleeting happiness and sheer joy of knowing the band had successfully infiltrated another country's music charts are evident in this picture. The Fab Four eventually started the British Invasion after guesting on The Ed Sullivan Show. A 2021 documentary titled The Beatles: Get Back - A Sneak Peek will share never-before-seen sessions of the group.
The Face of AIDS (1990) - Therese Frare
Three years before the formation of the White House Office of National AIDS Policy and a year before the red ribbon symbolized resilience, Therese Frare shot this heartbreaking photo of 32-year-old David Kirby on his deathbed. The striking picture zoomed in on AIDS and how devastating it was.
With Kirby's family's consent, clothing brand Benetton published a color version of this picture to raise awareness on the matter. The ad was met with criticism, but it did send a strong message to the government about the fate of people suffering from the disease.
First Cell-Phone Picture (1997) - Philippe Kahn
Most moments nowadays are frequently captured using smartphones, but this wasn't the case before. Philippe Kahn, who took the first cell phone picture, was at the hospital because his wife was giving birth. With nothing else to do, the software engineer tinkered with a digital camera and connected it to his phone.
He shared this photo of his daughter with 2,000 people. In 2000, Sharp used Kahn's creation and released the camera phone in Japan. The same tech was also introduced in the United States, forever changing people's lives. Nowadays, apps like Instagram and Facebook can be used to share pictures straight from the phone.
Raising a Flag over the Reichstag (1945) - Yevgeny Khaldei
Toward the end of the '30s, Adolf Hitler and Russia's Joseph Stalin reached a ten-year non-aggression pact, but the former leader betrayed the agreement. The countries would go on to fight for years and eventually were in a race to conquer Berlin. In 1945, the Red Army arrived in the country and mounted a flag atop the Reichstag building.
Two days before this happened, Hitler took his own and his wife, Eva Braun's life. On capturing this historic moment, Ukrainian photographer described it as euphoric. This picture was published in Ogonek, a Russian magazine.
Famine In Somalia (1992) - James Nachtwey
Photos don't just have the power to tell stories, but they also help open people's eyes. Such was what happened when James Nachtwey took this shot, published in The New York Times Magazine. In 1992, he went to Mogadishu, Somalia, backed by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Nachtwey came back with harrowing pictures of how difficult the situation was, including of this woman, waiting to be wheelbarrowed to a feeding center. This heartbreaking scene zoomed in on the hunger problems in the country. Public support started pouring in, which would lead to 500,000 people being saved.
Muhammad Ali vs. Sonny Liston (1965) - Neil Leifer
It takes patience and the right timing to get the perfect shot. Neil Leifer from Sports Illustrated had an advantageous seat, and he didn't miss capturing the iconic expression of then 23-year-old Muhammad Ali when he knocked opponent Sonny Liston over.
This 1965 epic fight became famous after Ali took Liston down in just a minute and 44 seconds. Considered one of the greatest boxers of all time, the athlete battled Parkinson's disease for decades before he passed in 2016 at 74 due to septic shock. In 2020, director Regina King released One Night in Miami about the young Ali.
The Situation Room (2011) - Pete Souza
In May 2011, then U.S. President Barack Obama gave the order to attack Osama bin Laden's Pakistan compound. Although this picture didn't show the raid, Pete Souza captured the moments the Chief Executive and his team watched the operation unfold.
What made this picture powerful is that there was no photo of bin Laden's body, which served as the sole reminder of the event. Just have a look at how then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is covering her mouth. Recently, Obama and his wife Michelle were pictured attending Joe Biden's inauguration.
Gorilla in the Congo (2007) - Brent Stirton
In 2007, renowned photojournalist Brent Stirton was working in the Democratic Republic of Congo when he joined conservation rangers who were tipped about the gorilla killings by those in the charcoal industry. Unfortunately, one of those dead was 500-pound Senkwewe.
The carcass of the gorilla was carried by more than 12 people using a makeshift carrier. Stirton is extremely passionate about showcasing the wildlife situation. Apart from this moving snap, he also captured the gut-wrenching picture of a dead rhino, which won him the 2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year award.
Surfing Hippos (2000) - Michael Nichols
Lensmen Michael Nichols and Michael Fay headed to Gabon, where the former spotted these creatures swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. Although hippos live in water, they are usually spotted in swaps and rivers and rarely in the sea. Moreover, what made this picture impactful was that it inspired the country's president to form a parks system for wildlife.
Hippopotamus, which comes from the Greek word river horse, is a species that is native to Africa. They are the third-biggest land mammals, next to elephants and rhinos. A famous one named Fiona celebrated her fourth birthday at the Cincinnati Zoo in January 2021.
Kent State Shootings (1970) - John Paul Filo
Thirteen seconds doesn't seem like a lot of time, but many things can happen in that span. Take, for example, the 1970 Kent State University shooting that left four dead and nine others injured. Student protesters were expressing concerns over American troops in Cambodia.
However, they thought that the National Guard men were only using blanks. Student John Filo perfectly captured the moment Mary Ann Vecchio learned about the death of Jeffrey Miller. A few decades after the tragic event, Filo and the woman met and were pictured sharing a hug.
Birmingham, Alabama (1963) - Charles Moore
In 1963, discrimination was blatantly happening on the streets, as can be observed in this photo shot by Charles Moore, who was then working for the Montgomery Advertiser and Life. Those oppressed were oftentimes clashing with those who were in favor of segregation.
Moore was horrified by the violence happening in broad daylight and captured these unsightly moments. The most standout, perhaps, is this photo, where a dog tore a demonstrator's pants. A year after this was published in Life Magazine, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that targets discrimination against race and many others, was passed.
The Babe Bows Out (1948) - Nat Fein
Baseball player Babe Ruth was considered one of the best in the sport, but unfortunately, he fell ill and was out of the game for over ten years. On June 13, 1948, he graced the Yankee Stadium to celebrate its anniversary and retire his jersey, although people understood that this was his goodbye.
As the Auld Lang Syne was heard in the stadium, New York Herald Tribune's Nat Fein captured, from behind, how Ruth seemingly leaned on his bat. The emotional moment became even more powerful because, after two months, the Sultan of Swat passed away.
Country Doctor (1948) - W. Eugene Smith
W. Eugene Smith was famous for his war snaps, but more than this, he became well-known for his approach to his subjects. He wanted to be immersed in their lives and try to be in their shoes, which was evident in this picture titled Country Doctor. This man is Ernest Ceriani in Kremmling, Colorado.
He followed the expert to the Rocky Mountains in a neighborhood with 2,000 people and witnessed how the man cared for the sick. Smith's pictures were published in Life, although he reportedly resigned after having difficulty with editors.
Boat of No Smiles (1977) - Eddie Adams
The situation of refugees back in the day was similar to what they are experiencing now. In 1977, a boat carrying around 50 South Vietnamese people arrived in Thailand, hoping for a reprieve post-Vietnam War. Seeing the group, Eddie Adams boarded the watercraft, but Thai authorities ordered him to disembark.
Adams managed to get this gut-wrenching shot and send it, along with a report, to Associated Press. This photo tugged the hearts of those in Congress, and over 200,000 Vietnamese refugees were welcomed to the United States in 1978. As what's been happening in Syria, millions of refugees try their hardest to escape their war-torn country.
Dovima with Elephants, Paris, August (1955) - Richard Avedon
Celebrated star Dorothy Virginia Margaret Juba, commonly known as Dovima, was photographed by renowned lensman Richard Avedon for Harper's Bazaar in the mid-50s. At the time, they were already established personalities in the fashion industry, making this picture one of the most iconic in the field.
Dovima, who was described as the most unconventional beauty of her period, wore a Dior outfit, the first one that Yves Saint Laurent designed. This was taken at the Cirque Medrano in Paris, seemingly giving a new life to the phrase 'beauty and the beast'. She died in 1990 after succumbing to liver cancer.
Michael Jordan (1984) - Co Rentmeester
Shot by Co Rentmeester for Life, Michael Jordan's legs almost split mid-air, and his left hand reached for the skies. Although there are tons of photos of the basketball star, this one is one of the most iconic simply because Nike used it for its logo of Air Jordan.
Named 'The Jumpman' the image would soon be imprinted on athleticwear and caps. The Air Jordan line proved lucrative, raking in $3.2 billion in 2014 despite a copyright infringement case filed by Rentmeester. Jordan, who is regarded as the greatest NBA superstar, has an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion.
The Valley of the Shadow of Death (1855) - Roger Fenton
The battle of Turkey, France, Sardinia-Piedmont, and England versus Russia, commonly known as the Crimean War, is remembered through striking photos like this one taken by Roger Fenton. Called The Valley of the Shadow of Death, this was captured near the area mentioned in The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.
While many think that this is the only picture of the gully by Fenton, another one surfaced in 1981. The Valley of the Shadow of Death appeared in The Illustrated London News, and it created a buzz because of how it powerfully depicted death.
Trolley—New Orleans (1955) - Robert Frank
Celebrated photographer Robert Frank was known for bringing out the uncomfortable truth in his pictures, including this masterpiece called Trolley—New Orleans, which showcased the stark difference in the passengers' expressions. The Swiss-born published a book titled The Americans, which showed different scenes from his travel across the country.
Although some believed that his pictures were anti-American, many others thought that his works mirrored the country's reality post-war. Frank remained outspoken about his photos, explaining that he was simply showing what was happening. He died in 2019 at 94 due to natural causes.
Couple in Raccoon Coats (1932) - James VanDerZee
People thought of African-Americans so lowly decades ago, but photographer James VanDerZee made it a point to highlight them in his works. From funerals to weddings in Harlem, he highlighted people's pride. In this staged picture, the pair wore raccoon coats against a Cadillac Roadster.
However, People for Ethical Treatment of Animals strongly condemn the use of real fur, even going as far as protesting. Reality star Kylie Jenner was lambasted in 2020 for wearing luxurious mules with fur after she expressed sadness over the death of wildlife because of the Australian bushfires.
Bricklayer (1928) - August Sander
Lensman August Sander was most remembered for his portraits, including this piece called Bricklayer. The Herdorf, Germany-born, wanted to show everyone from all walks of life in the same manner, aiming to tell his viewers that there are many more layers than they know.
This man from Cologne, Germany, worked tirelessly as a bricklayer, but he showed a proud expression in this striking shot. Sander's works, particularly portraits like Young Farmers and Pastrycook, were published in People of the 20th Century, although some of his negatives were burned. Nonetheless, his collection celebrated the faces of ordinary people.
Fort Peck Dam (1936) - Margaret Bourke-White
It's quite hard to take a creative shot of a dam that is front-page worthy, but Margaret Bourke-White impressively did so. After she was tasked to cover the Fort Peck Dam construction in Montana for Life, she produced this magnificent photo that showed the scale of humans and this massive project.
Bourke-White did it artistically by illustrating how the castle-like structure could make humans feel so small. Then dubbed as the world's largest dam, the construction was completed in six years and gave employment to 50,000 people. However, it also reportedly claimed the lives of 60 workers, some of whom were victims of the 1938 landslide.
Brian Ridley and Lyle Heeter (1979) -Robert Mapplethorpe
The LGBTQ community wasn't as welcomed back in the day as nowadays. But Robert Mapplethorpe chronicled the underground gay situation, particularly those who were into S&M. One of his shots showed Lyle Heeter (standing) and Brian Reedley, who donned chains and leathers as they posed in a living room.
Mapplethorpe became an inspiration to other lensmen in terms of exploring sensitive matter. Almost ten years after, his exhibition made it to the Cincinnati museum, which got its director in trouble. Unfortunately, the New York native, also famous for his black-and-white portraits, passed away in 1989 due to AIDS.
Cathedral Rock, Yosemite (1861) - Carleton Watkins
Carleton Watkins became the first person to have provided the first printed photos of Yosemite's peaks. Many were in awe of the pictures, including Sen. John Conness, who secured his own prints. Although the famous spot used to be linked to Ansel Adams, it was the New York native who popularized Cathedral Rock.
It was also said that Watkins was the one who inspired then-President Abraham Lincoln to protect and preserve the park through the Yosemite Grant Act. This would be the precursor of the National Park System, which looks over at least 400 parks in the United States.
The Critic (1943) - Weegee
Arthur Fellig earned the moniker Weegee, a play on Ouija, for his natural ability to capture the right shot. As an Austrian immigrant in the Lower East Side, he was famous for showing the social inequalities through his lens after the Great Depression. He asked his assistant to find an intoxicated woman and bring her to the Metropolitan Opera House.
Fellig strategically positioned himself at the entrance and told his assistant to leap, and the result was nothing short of phenomenal. His works were published in PM Weekly, Daily News, and Herald-Tribune.
Chairman Mao Swims in the Yangtze (1966) - Unknown
This photo of the Chinese Mao Zedong is only one of his few famous shots. Then 72 year old, he was said to have fret over his legacy to show that he was healthy and full of vigor, he swam in the Yangtze River. It was also reported that he led 5,000 avid followers in Wuhan.
This act worked the way Zedong had planned, and the Cultural Revolution ensued, getting youngsters to fight for him. Toward its end, the fatality was over a million. This bloodshed was discussed in the 2003 documentary Morning Sun, which had won the John E. O'Connor Film Award in 2004.
Untitled Film Still #21 (1978) - Cindy Sherman
For lensmen, breathtaking scenery, famous people, and special events are typically worth capturing. Cindy Sherman, however, has a unique way of seamlessly blending art and photography: taking self-portraits in different staged circumstances. That is, she becomes the subject in what seemed to be a distinctive performance shot.
Here, it would appear that Sherman is an actress ready for her closeup. With her multitude of costumes and props, she would become many things, from a socialite to a clown. In 2016, the talented woman and sculptor Annette Messager were given the Praemium Imperiale prize for their contributions to painting and sculpture.
North Korea (2013) - David Guttenfelder
Being one of the most reclusive countries globally, not everyone has the chance to enter North Korea as a journalist. David Guttenfelder had that opportunity, so he took shots of the tours, especially the residents' daily lives.
After the Asian country allowed 3G connection, the lensman became one of the first to share images of North Korea from his iPhone to Instagram in real-time. Although the notoriously secretive society now welcomes tourists, there are certain things it is strict about, including taking photos, addressing the leaders, and bringing in reading material.
Immersions (Piss Christ) (1987) - Andres Serrano
Photographer Andres Serrano stirred controversy when he took a picture of a crucifix submerged in his urine. At first, nobody cared about it until a pastor raised his concern, which reached Congress. Some senators expressed disappointment over Serrano's funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, giving birth to a law that divided the nation.
It also raised questions about the government's hand in art censorship. It pushed other artists to push limits. In 1998, the Supreme Court approved the decency-standards law. In 2007, Piss Christ was vandalized in Australia, and four years later, protesters destroyed the work in France.