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Iconic photosCapturing rare wildlife, natural disasters, athletic victories, war, joy, and much more, photography offers us visual touchstones of history. Explore this collection of photos that reveal both the tragedies and triumphs of the events, people, and movements that have shaped our shared memory.Explore Iconic photos

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See a collection of LIFE's most iconic photos in historyFamous images, like a sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square to celebrate the end of World War II, are each shared with context in this article. See some of history's most famous moments from a unique point of view, including photos of Marilyn Monroe, the Beatles, and Muhammad Ali. TIME Dorothea Lange's photos of US concentration camps were censoredLange, who took some of the most iconic photos of the 20th century, was hired by the United States government in 1942 to document the "relocation" of Japanese-Americans into concentration camps. When military commanders saw her work, however, they censored it, even suggesting some of the images should be "Impounded." Anchor Editions View photos of classic New York graffitiHenry Chalfant was one of the foremost documentarians of early graffiti and hip-hop culture, photographing some of the era's most iconic pieces and playing a part in the genre-defining "Style Wars" film. This interview with him is accompanied by some of his photos from an exhibit at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, showcasing the art form as it came into its own. Buzzfeed News Hear the story behind 11 iconic Super Bowl photos, told by the photographer who shot themSports Illustrated legend Walter Iooss Jr. revisits 11 unforgettable Super Bowl images—including Namath, Montana, and Taylor—explaining how light, access, and timing captured moments that defined the game’s visual history. The Players Tribune A gallery of famous artists and their dogsPicasso often featured his photographer's dog, Lump, in paintings, due to an unusually close connection. George O'Keeffe adopted chow chows as companions and protectors in the New Mexico desert. See the pets of Lucian Freud, Frida Kahlo, and more. DailyArt Magazine The best album covers of all timeRock 'n' roll has defined the style of several generations, and much of that is the result of iconic album covers. This Billboard list breaks down the best of the best, ranking generation-defining images from Pink Floyd, Cyndi Lauper, Nirvana, and more. Billboard The iconic photo of the Wright brothers' first flight was the photographer’s firstUsing a then-state-of-the-art Korona V, rescue member John T. Daniels was tasked with squeezing the device’s rubber bulb the moment the plane left the wooden track on the sand. The camera produced negatives on 5 by 7 sheets of glass. HISTORY 'Behind the Gare St. Lazare' (1932) famously froze a moment of spontaneityHenri Cartier-Bresson's photo of a man jumping over a puddle inspired generations of future street photographers. Cartier-Bresson was known for capturing "decisive moments," as he called them. The Museum of Modern Art The identity of the Tank Man from the Tiananmen Square protests is still unknownThe lone figure standing before military tanks in Beijing is an essential component of this iconic photograph. The protests resulted in the deaths of hundreds of demonstrators, possibly including the man himself. There's also the chance he returned to normal life as a citizen and purposefully concealed his identity. Quartz The cover of "Abbey Road" was shot in a quiet London neighborhood in 1969The unassuming setting became one of the most famous attractions in the city and was the cover of the Beatles' last-recorded album. It was shot in the late 1960s, when the Fab Four was the most famous band in the world. Abbey Road 'Migrant Mother' (1936) captured the tragic reality of the Great DepressionTaken by Dorothea Lange, the image shows a mother in tattered clothes looking distressed while her children cling to her. At the time, the family was surviving on frozen vegetables from nearby fields and birds killed by the children. Library of Congress 'The Vulture and the Little Girl' (1993) has a controversial story behind itThe tragic Pulitzer Prize-winning image taken by South African photojournalist Kevin Carter depicts a little girl suffering from starvation during a famine in Sudan in 1993. Carter faced criticism from the public for taking her picture instead of helping her. A few months later, Carter took his own life. Rare Historical Photos The tragic story behind 'Afghan Girl' (1984)One of the most famous portraits ever taken is "Afghan Girl" by Steve McCurry. Sharbat Gula, the subject of the photo, was not credited until 2002 for her role in the famous National Geographic cover, and continued to live in poverty after the photo was taken. Arts Help The world's most famous portraits"Afghan Girl" (1984), "Migrant Mother" (1936), and Marilyn Monroe in a billowing skirt (1954) are among the most famous portraits of all time. Capturing both unbelievable tragedy and delight, these 15 images are some of the most captivating in human history. iPhotography Athletes are captured in moments of victory and defeat in 6 powerful sports imagesSee shots like Muhammad Ali knocking out Sonny Liston in 1965, or Brandi Chastain after winning the World Cup final in 1999. the Guardian Ansel Adams' photographs captured the majesty of a growing National Park SystemThe famed American photographer was an ardent conservationist and believed deeply in the promise of the national parks. His photos sought to capture the feeling of seeing the parks' mountains, lakes, and vistas firsthand. Below is one example, taken at Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park. National Archives Marina Abramović took 3,500 photos of China while performing ‘The Lovers’During the 90-day performance that took place on the Great Wall of China, Abramović lived in isolation, nearly fell into an abyss, and wrote poetry—among other transformative experiences. Dazed By the 1980s, fantasy football was a national activityThe Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League was a private league, but by the end of the ‘60s, a bar in Oakland opened the first public fantasy football league. Over the next few decades, the game grew more popular, as evidenced by this how-to article from a 1980 issue of “Inside Sports.” Internet Archive Jay Blakesberg is the Grateful Dead's longtime photographerJay Blakesberg sold his first photos of the Grateful Dead in 1978 to his hometown paper in New Jersey. 50 years later, he's still shooting the various incarnations of the band, acting as the band's visual historian. SF Standard Since 1974, the Comic-Con Masquerade has been an iconic part of the gatheringAt Comic‑Con, the Masquerade is the premier cosplay competition where participants submit handmade or significantly modified costumes for stage presentation. Contestants undergo pre-judging, perform live on stage, and compete for prestigious trophies. Comic-Con Gladys Heldman was a key promoter of pro women's tennisThe photo of the Original Nine holding up their $1 bills after signing their contracts is an iconic image in both the sport and the women's liberation movement. Gladys Heldman isn't in that photo, but she was the promoter behind the tournament and the subsequent Virginia Slims Circuit. This WTA Tennis article dives into her life and her unforgettable contributions to women's tennis. Women's Tennis Association The cars were originally produced by European manufacturers like Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, and MaseratiOther than the four wheels and open top, the early Formula 1 cars have little in common with today’s machines. But the era has a rich history. Using historic video and photos, this hour-long documentary details the iconic drivers of the 1950s, the evolution of the premier teams, and how the era left its mark on the sport that’s still being felt today. F1 REVERSE The Pulitzer Prize for photography has gone to the photographers who took some of history's defining imagesThe prestigious literary awards also include two prizes for photography: one for features and another for breaking news. Recipients have captured some of history’s most famous photos, including the iconic photo of US Marines raising the flag atop Mount Suribachi in Iwo Jima (by Joseph Rosenthal) and the legendary photo of Babe Ruth on the day of his final game (by Nat Fein). Weird History The story behind the iconic flag-raising photo on Iwo Jima (1945)The iconic image captured by AP photographer Joe Rosenthal went viral, as far as it could in the 1940s, showing six marines raising a flag atop Iwo Jima's Mount Suribachi. The shot was used for public relations by the military, but it would later be shrouded by controversy when it was revealed it was the second flag raising that day, inviting accusations it was staged. Live Science The famous image of Che Guevara was captured by accidentAlberto Korda wasn’t aiming for Che Guevara when he snapped one of the most reproduced photos in history. This longread traces how that fleeting moment became a global icon—later commodified across pop culture, fashion, and advertising. Smithsonian Magazine See photos from the day Havana fellWhen news broke that Batista had fled on New Year’s Eve 1958, photographer Burt Glinn rushed from Miami to Havana without an assignment. His iconic images—tanks in Old Havana and tearful reunions—captured a nation celebrating, uncertain, and on the brink of radical change. Magnum Photos See images of shipwrecks from WWII's Battle of MidwayDeep-sea explorers have captured detailed images of three iconic shipwrecks from World War II's Battle of Midway, including the first up-close photos of the Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi since its sinking in 1942. CBS News Experience Watergate through photographsThe Watergate scandal produced some of the most iconic images in American political history—especially the candid shot of Nixon boarding a helicopter while leaving the White House for the final time on Aug. 9, 1974. CNN Photographer catches a 'once in a blue moon' shotA rare "super blue moon" occurred in August 2023, a phenomenon which will not occur again until 2037. Photographer Andrew McCarthy caught a stunning image of the larger-than-normal orb with an ironic twist: a JetBlue flight silhouetted against the... Axios The US sent an iconic photographer to document the Japanese-American internmentAfter the attack on Pearl Harbor, 120,000 Japanese-Americans were removed from their homes and businesses and sent to internment camps across the American West and Arkansas. This nearly 15-minute video explores how the US government sent famed photographer Dorothea Lange to document the transfer and internment, only to restrict or impound many of her photos when they seemed less than positive. Vox

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