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Original poster

Most Famous/iconic photographs in history

206 replies

HangingBasketCase · 15/11/2014 14:08

Does anyone else enjoy photogtaphy? I've been looking at some of the most iconic photographs of all time, and I have a few favourites. I'll share three of them with you now.

Firstly lunch a top a skyscraper. Taken in New York during the building of the Rockerfeller Centre. I can't get my head around how they were able to sit on a metal beam, so high up without anything to secure them! If you ever visit the Rockerfeller centre you can recreate this photo, it's become that famous!

Secondly St Paul's Cathedral taken early in the morning following a devastating air raid on the city of London. All of the buildings around the cathedral were destroyed, yet almost miraculously St Pauls survived. How inspirational this image must have been to people at the time, seeing the dome of the Cathedral rising from the smoke like a Phoenix from the flames.

Finally "The Kiss", taken on VJ Day 1945, in Time Square. I believe the identities of the couple are unknown, but they weren't actually a couple. They were random strangers, he just grabbed hold of her and kissed her in happiness because the war was over. Wonder what we'd make of that now?

Most Famous/iconic photographs in history

OP posts:

Thread gallery

TheHappyCamper · 15/11/2014 16:08

I love a good sporting icon photo (love reading all the Roger Bannister stuff). Here are 2 favourites from London 2012.

LeBearPolar · 15/11/2014 16:00

BumpAndGrind - I though of exactly the same two photos.

Also this one of the Tornado Down pilots who were captured in Iraq. I remember being haunted by this when it happened because they look so destroyed - not just physically but mentally and emotionally. And then many years later I went on to teach the son of one of them.

Vintagebeads · 15/11/2014 15:51

The afgani gitl was the photo I thought of when thinking of iconic images . Really enjoying everyone else's too.

PacificDogwood · 15/11/2014 15:44

Do you remember her on the cover of National Geographic magazine?

This is her now

BumpAndGrind · 15/11/2014 15:43

When I read your thread title 2 images entered my head at the same time.

Marilyn Monroe white dress and the napalm one with the young girl striped of her clothes running at the camera.

I have posted this without reading any of the replies because I didn't want to be reminded of anything first.

Those were the first images my mind thought of.

Original poster

HangingBasketCase · 15/11/2014 15:38

I love that one of the little dog!

OP posts:

unclerory · 15/11/2014 15:32

Dorothea Lange's migrant mother is pretty iconic.

katiegee · 15/11/2014 15:32

probably not famous or iconic outside of Northern Ireland... but the photograph of Fr Alec Reid giving the last rites to a soldier, beaten and bloodied by the IRA. Fr Alec has this incredible look of sadness and compassion in his eyes.... it's a haunting image.

PacificDogwood · 15/11/2014 15:30

That's heartbreaking, TheWild - her suicide note gives a textbook perspective of what it's like to be depressed (her fiancé being 'better off without her).
I'd never seen this or heard of it before

PureMorning · 15/11/2014 15:24

Also a favourite modern one for me is the little dog in Mexico following the pope in 2011 with a cheering crowd

SorrelForbes · 15/11/2014 15:24

All of the above plus:

TheWildRumpyPumpus · 15/11/2014 15:23

There's a picture I love but it's pretty sad, called The Most Beautiful Suicide. I won't post the picture although it isn't gory or gruesome at all, it's incredibly beautiful for what it shows.

The article explains all about who she was and how the photo came to be taken. Very sad. Do scroll down to see her smiling.

PacificDogwood · 15/11/2014 15:20

I had been thinking of that one too, Wowser

Norbert, Yosemite Park has a special place in my heart

WowserBowser · 15/11/2014 15:18

This one

NorbertDentressangle · 15/11/2014 15:18

oops pressed post too soon - meant to add that I was thinking of all my favourites rather than universally iconic

NorbertDentressangle · 15/11/2014 15:17

Pacific - I love Ansel Adams and was going to suggest one of his too.

WowserBowser · 15/11/2014 15:15

The Vietnam War one with the little naked girl running down the road.

The one I most remember is the one with the vulture. Horrific.

TheWildRumpyPumpus · 15/11/2014 15:13

I think the couple from 'The Kiss' are known - the guy was there on his first date with another girl when the news came in and he went round grabbing all the different girls giving them joyful kisses, the photographer captured this one. In the full shot you can see his girlfriend (now wife) in the background on the right!