IT'S SMOKE, AND IT'S IN FLAMES NOW; AND THE FRAME IS CRASHING TO THE GROUND, NOT QUITE TO THE MOORING MAST. OH, THE HUMANITY! 30 Photos That Changed The World.
I question the significance of the Reagan/Brandenburg Gate picture in this company. The speech and the tearing down of the wall were certainly significant, but I don't find the image very iconic when compared to the others on the list. When I think of the media coverage of that event, I think more of the images of people on the wall.
Certainly interesting to discuss how many of these photos actually changed the world...however famous they are. By the way, if you've seen Hearts and Minds, then you know that the execution in Photo #1 was also captured on film from virtually the same angle in sickening detail.
I've always thought the naked Vietnamese girl (#19) was far more powerful than (#1). And some, like the Reagan picture, are just a random picture from a given event - the Katrina picture and the wounded soldier picture are powerful pictures, but I had never seen them before. And the MLK speech is far better remembered as the film of him, especially at the very end of the speech. No individual photograph strikes me as iconic from that speech, as important as the event itself was.
Agreed -- they are photos of important events, not important photos. The 9/11 picture was not iconic (for me, that horrible day is video, not still photography, but when I think of an image it is always the blurry second plane hitting the other tower). The most indelible image from Abu Ghraib -- the one that has entered the popular consciousness and imported into things like fake iPod ads and Children of Men -- is the one of the hooded prisoner standing on the block with the electrodes attached to him. Maybe it's just because I grew up with 1980s MTV, but the right moon landing shot would have been the one with the astronaut (don't even know whether it was Armstrong or Aldrin) planting the flag.
Since I don't know that any of the pictures themselves changed the world, I'll take it as a list of iconic photographs. Under that analysis, missing are: the shot of the balcony after King was shot, with Jesse Jackson and others (Ralph Abernathy?) pointing toward the shooter. The shot of the bus boy crouching over RFK in the Ambassador kitchen. The two shots of the accordian player crying and John-John saluting at the JFK funeral (geez, a theme here?). A Great Day in Harlem. The Farrah poster.
This blog is much more authoritative on the subject of history-changing, iconic photos: http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/ Unfortunately the writing can be incomprehensible; the author is some kind of European official, I believe.
Thanks for this link. Thought provoking set of images.
ReplyDeleteloved going through the photos. Dorthea Lange did miraculous work. In my office I have a print of hers I purchased from the library of congress.
ReplyDeleteWhile you are there, do check out another post "20 awkward engagement photos" that is linked on the recent posts list on that site. Very funny.
ReplyDeleteI question the significance of the Reagan/Brandenburg Gate picture in this company. The speech and the tearing down of the wall were certainly significant, but I don't find the image very iconic when compared to the others on the list. When I think of the media coverage of that event, I think more of the images of people on the wall.
ReplyDeleteYes, I had the same reaction to that photo.
ReplyDeleteCertainly interesting to discuss how many of these photos actually changed the world...however famous they are. By the way, if you've seen Hearts and Minds, then you know that the execution in Photo #1 was also captured on film from virtually the same angle in sickening detail.
ReplyDeleteI agree.
ReplyDeleteI've always thought the naked Vietnamese girl (#19) was far more powerful than (#1). And some, like the Reagan picture, are just a random picture from a given event - the Katrina picture and the wounded soldier picture are powerful pictures, but I had never seen them before. And the MLK speech is far better remembered as the film of him, especially at the very end of the speech. No individual photograph strikes me as iconic from that speech, as important as the event itself was.
Yes, the vid of Reagan making the statement is where the meat is... I vote No Icon Photo. NIKON photo.
ReplyDeleteAgreed -- they are photos of important events, not important photos. The 9/11 picture was not iconic (for me, that horrible day is video, not still photography, but when I think of an image it is always the blurry second plane hitting the other tower). The most indelible image from Abu Ghraib -- the one that has entered the popular consciousness and imported into things like fake iPod ads and Children of Men -- is the one of the hooded prisoner standing on the block with the electrodes attached to him. Maybe it's just because I grew up with 1980s MTV, but the right moon landing shot would have been the one with the astronaut (don't even know whether it was Armstrong or Aldrin) planting the flag.
ReplyDeleteSince I don't know that any of the pictures themselves changed the world, I'll take it as a list of iconic photographs. Under that analysis, missing are: the shot of the balcony after King was shot, with Jesse Jackson and others (Ralph Abernathy?) pointing toward the shooter. The shot of the bus boy crouching over RFK in the Ambassador kitchen. The two shots of the accordian player crying and John-John saluting at the JFK funeral (geez, a theme here?). A Great Day in Harlem. The Farrah poster.
Was it Andrew Young in the MLK photo? I'm pretty sure the accordian player is from FDR's funeral.
ReplyDeleteYup. http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/fdrdeath.htm
This blog is much more authoritative on the subject of history-changing, iconic photos: http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/ Unfortunately the writing can be incomprehensible; the author is some kind of European official, I believe.
ReplyDelete