We all know what they say: a picture is worth a thousand words. There is no denying that there is some truth there. You can glean so much knowledge from a single photograph even if it does not come ready with a caption! However, knowing the story behind a photo can give you an even deeper appreciation for it. Pictures are one way to look at the past and see things we would never be able to bear witness to otherwise. Some might even say that they make for more compelling documents of history than written text. Visual aids certainly leave a lasting impression on us!
Iconic Photos Throughout History And The Incredible Stories Behind Them
There are a lot of photos that are so famous they no longer need a caption. Just looking at the image will already spark an idea or feeling in you. While this might be the case, you are in for a treat when you find out the story behind each one of these! Let us take a look at the most iconic photos and the stories that go with them. Are you ready?
Phone Call Queue
Wow, things sure have changed since the ‘70s. These days, college students can talk to family and friends from different parts of the world from the comfort of their rooms. Cell phones are such convenient creations so don’t take them for granted! Back then, it was not quite that easy.
Phone Call Queue
The young ladies in this photo had been photographed as they lined up to use the phones in the dormitory. It was already late at night, yet the students patiently waited for their turn to use the communal phones. They also knew the phone numbers by heart. Address books were also helpful. The bad thing here is one cannot hog the phone for a long time and privacy was limited.
Rocket Scientists
Technology has definitely changed a lot since this photo was taken all the way back in 1961. In those days, the United States and the Soviet Union were locked in the Race for Space. These two countries were working to send men to space for the first time in history. The space programs were busy calculating the formulas and trajectories necessary to accomplish such a feat.
Rocket Scientists
Computers had not been invented yet, so they made calculations on large chalkboards like the one you see above. The scientists in the photo had been posing for Life magazine. Of course, this means that those formulas were not the highly confidential ones they had been working on!
Louis and Lucille in Egypt
Surely, you have at least heard of the talented Louis Armstrong! An influential figure in jazz, he was a singer, composer, and trumpeter who enjoyed a successful career from the ‘20s to the ‘60s. This photograph was shot in 1961, which meant that he already had an awesome career to his name.
Louis and Lucille in Egypt
The musician went on to play his music in different parts of the world. One could say he was an ambassador of sorts for the United States in those days. While he did not know much about the politics in that region, he was not one to discriminate. He played for anyone who was eager to listen to him. He is accompanied here by Lucille Wilson, his fourth and final wife.
The Christmas Truce
During the First World War, soldiers often engaged in trench warfare. This meant they shot at one another from the depths of their ditches. Between the trenches of both sides, there existed what was known as no-man’s land. This was the last place you wanted to be in since you would likely get fired at.
The Christmas Truce
This looks like nothing more than a group of soldiers from the same side playing some soccer, right? However, the reality is that this is even more incredible than that. The Christmas Truce was an unofficial ceasefire that happened on Christmas 1914. French, German, and British soldiers all put aside their differences and met up at no-man’s land to sing carols, chat, exchange gifts, and play sports together. This is clearly humanity at its finest.
Moving Picture Boxes
In this day and age, televisions have become so commonplace that you will find one in just about every home across the country. In the past, TVs were things of wonders because no one ever heard of a box that showed moving pictures yet. While the first electronic television set was created in 1927, the inventors developed it into a commodity sometime later. It took even longer before they made them commercially available.
Moving Picture Boxes
Back then, the appliances were both expensive and bulky. Not many families could afford to buy one. After the Second World War, American families started to enjoy the television experience more. Here is a photo of a little boy staring in amazement at a TV in a shop window in 1948.
Twister Chaser
Tornadoes are terrifying, so it is only common sense to get out of the area as soon as you find out that one is headed your way. Well, this woman had guts, that’s for sure. Who else would pose in front of a twister like this?
Twister Chaser
This was shot in 1989. No, the woman here is not standing in front of a green screen. We swear that this was an honest-to-goodness tornado. Sure, it still looks far away, but the winds are moving quickly. Let us hope she made it out of there just in time!
Sharbat Gula
This might be one of the most popular photos ever taken. Steve McCurry captured the shot during his time with Afghanistan refugees in 1984. He had been observing and documenting a refugee girl’s school when he saw Sharbat Gula. He only learned the name of the girl with the beautiful eyes years later.
Sharbat Gula
She was a shy girl, so he went on to photograph the other kids in the hopes that she would not want to feel left out. At last, he managed to shoot the photo he wanted. We bet he had no idea just how big this photo was going to get. We are sure the popularity of the photo has to do with her haunting expression.
Phone Booth Stuffing
There are plenty of challenges making rounds on social media platforms nowadays. However, you should know that there is nothing new about people participating in silly little challenges. In the ‘50s, people liked to see how many people could fit in a single phone booth!
Phone Booth Stuffing
People from all corners of the world joined in on the fun. In 1959, people were impressed to heart that 25 people somehow squeezed inside a single phone booth. It became the record to beat! It seems like the guys in this photo were very enthusiastic about beating it. A closer look would reveal there were 15 or more people inside already.
Moon Men
Buzz Aldrin became the second man on the moon. He worked as the lunar module pilot aboard Apollo 11. After Neil Armstrong made his first steps on the moon, he followed only minutes later. This huge leap in the history of mankind happened on July 20, 1969.
Moon Men
What is interesting is that the most iconic photos actually feature Aldrin because Armstrong had been the one carrying the camera. This photo shows Aldrin posing for the camera against the dark. You can see both the lunar module and Armstrong through his visor!
Chocolate Rush
When wartime comes, you should expect rationing to happen. During the Second World War, many products were rationed in Europe and the United States to help the war effort. In the UK, sugar had been rationed until 1953. It is understandable that kids were eager to get sweets when they could.
Chocolate Rush
As soon as candy was available freely, people flocked the candy stores to get their fix. This photo was taken in 1953, which explains the long lines of children in England queueing up to get their hands on some candy.
Jumpman
Look at this photo from 1984! Around this time, Michael Jordan was fairly new in the sports world. A photographer called Jacobus “Co” Rentmeester took this photo of the legendary basketball player for LIFE. However, its claim to fame would be the fact that it was the basis of the “Jumpman” silhouette logo we are all familiar with.
Jumpman
This ushered in a new era where athletes can become commercial superstars in the fields of advertising and marketing. The Air Jordan brand under Nike became a lucrative business. Of course, we already know that Michael Jordan made a name for himself as one of the greatest ballers in history.
Frank Sinatra Selfie
We doubt that you can scroll through any social media page without seeing a selfie in this day and age! Perhaps you even take a couple of yourself every now and then.
Frank Sinatra Selfie
Before the advent of digital cameras and cell phone cameras, you had to be prepared if you wanted to take selfies. This photo was taken in 1938, and it is believed to be among the first selfies ever taken. Crooner Frank Sinatra snapped this mirror photo of himself at the age of 17. He is truly an icon.
From Princess to Queen
Queen Elizabeth has cemented her spot in British history as the longest-ruling monarch! However, she did not expect she would become Queen when she was a young girl. While her grandfather was King, her uncle had been the next in line for the throne.
From Princess to Queen
Of course, people expected that King Edward VIII would marry and then produce an heir. However, he opted to abdicate the throne and instead marry a divorcee. This was how King George VI, Elizabeth’s father, ascended to the throne. In 1952, he passed away and Elizabeth took over the monarchy.
Potato Sack Outfit
The most famous photo of Marilyn Monroe has to be the one of her in a white dress standing over a subway grate. However, we would like to talk about this photo instead. The story starts when the actress received some flak after wearing a controversial red dress in 1951.
Potato Sack Outfit
One columnist commented that Monroe looked “cheap and vulgar”, even suggesting that she would have had been better off in a potato sack. This is why she decided to take on the challenge. We daresay she still looks stunning in such an outfit!
Sticking His Tongue Out
Apparently, this Nobel prize winner got tired of smiling for the camera on his 72nd birthday. Scientist Albert Einstein decided he would stick his tongue out instead! This is common now but not so before.
Sticking His Tongue Out
This photo was taken by Arthur Sasse and went on to become one of the most legendary photos of the century. It turned out that Einstein loved this photo himself and even ordered nine copies of it! When he died, his estate licensed this photo for publication. However, it almost did not happen because editors felt like it was not appropriate.
Get Up and Fight
Neil Leifer is best known for his amazing sports photography career. He has shot Muhammad Ali more than 50 times over the years and snapped numerous iconic photos of the legendary pro boxer. One of these would be this 1965 photo of his fight with Sonny Liston.
Get Up and Fight
Only a minute and 44 seconds has passed when 23-year-old Ali punched Liston on the chin. Liston then fell to the ground, which prompted Ali to tell him to “get up and fight.” The unbelievable moment has been immortalized forever with this photo.
The First New York Skyscraper
New York City is famous for its unrivalled skyline full of skyscrapers. However, there only used to be the Empire State Building back in the day. Tourists flocked the city to see the tower in real life.
The First New York Skyscraper
In 1931, the construction of the 1,250 feet 102 story skyscraper was completed. It held the title of the tallest building in the world for nearly 40 years. This photo was taken in 1941, and you can see the massive building towering above everything else in the city.
Airport Reunion
Major Terri Gurrola got deployed to Iraq in 2007. She had to leave her two-year-old child Gaby at home when she went on assignment. She wrote that it was the hardest thing she has ever done in her life. In fact, her worst fear was that her daughter would eventually forget her.
Airport Reunion
When she got the chance to go home for two weeks for a mid-tour break, she found Gaby waiting at the airport for her. Upon seeing her young daughter, the major dropped to her knees and pulled her child close. Just about everyone who got to witness this got teary-eyed as well!
V-J Day Kiss
When the Second World War came to an end in August 1945, Alfred Eisenstaedt made sure to photograph the celebrations and festivities erupting all over the streets of New York City. He got lucky when he saw a young sailor kissing every lady in sight. Eisenstaedt then waited for the perfect moment.
V-J Day Kiss
His opportunity came when the sailor took a nurse in his arms and planted a kiss on her lips. Eisenstaedt immediately took a shot. The photo appeared on newspapers the next day and is still one of the most recognizable photos ever taken.
Photo Booth Pictures
A long time ago, it was a huge deal to get your picture taken. People did not have access to a camera phone back then, after all. Instead, one needed to hire a professional photographer, stay still, and then let them work their magic. That was what it was like for this couple from the 19th century.
Photo Booth Pictures
They planned to get a formal photograph, although they could not help but erupt into laughter. What an adorable photo! Don’t you think it could pass for one taken from a photo booth? We are sure they would have loved to live in a time when those things already existed.
99 Cents Only
While this photograph does not show any particularly remarkable event or people, it is among the most expensive photos sold. Titled 99 Cent, it was actually built by stitching together a number of images shot by Andreas Gursky at a 99 Cents Only location in Los Angeles, California back in 1999.
99 Cents Only
The lines and colors in this image made such an ordinary place look like a masterpiece. The image was put up for auction in 2006. It ended up getting sold for an impressive $2.3 million. Whoa.
The Great Depression
Dorothea Lange went on to capture the condition of the United States during the Great Depression. This photograph has come to be known as Migrant Mother. She had been traveling in the West to document the state of the nation during this difficult period in history.
The Great Depression
After seeing Frances Owens Thompson, the photographer knew she found a fascinating subject. She took photos of the woman with her kids and captured the worry in her face. Migrant Mother is still considered to be one of the most famous photos of the Depression.
Lunch Atop a Skyscraper
We know how crazy this photo looks, but this is precisely the reason it has become a popular dorm room poster all over the country. In 1932, these 11 construction workers eating their lunch at a height of 840 feet was photographed and therefore immortalized.
Lunch Atop a Skyscraper
The men had been resting on the 69th floor of the RCA Building looking completely at ease. Known as Lunch Atop a Skyscraper, it was taken for a promotional campaign. It has not only become incredibly popular, but it has also been reproduced as merchandise in different forms.
Selfie at the Oscars
Now, you can clearly see that a lot of things had been going on when this selfie was taken during the 2014 Oscars. Ellen Degeneres was hosting the event but decided to snap a selfie and post it on Twitter during the broadcast!
Selfie at the Oscars
She first had to trade in her iPhone for a Samsung because the South Korean conglomerate was a sponsor. Ellen then headed into the audience to snap a selfie with Meryl Streep, only to be joined by other stars who wanted in on the fun. Bradley Cooper took the phone and snapped this iconic photo, which then went up on Twitter.
Phone Camera Photo
We know that this looks like a regular baby photo, but we will have you know that it is special. The grainy photo you are looking at is the first photograph ever taken with a cell phone.
Phone Camera Photo
In 1997, Philippe Kahn had been waiting for his wife to deliver their baby in the maternity ward. He had nothing to do, which is why he began to play around with his digital camera and flip-code. With several lines of code, he managed to sync them together in order to send a photo of their newborn right away.
No More Nessie
For sixty years, this famous photograph was thought to be evidence that the Loch Ness Monster exists. Taken in 1934, it was captured by a Dr. Robert Kenneth Wilson and even appeared in the Daily Mail.
No More Nessie
It later underwent analysis, which led to the conclusion that this was faked. In 1994, some documentary filmmakers took a look at the uncropped photo and saw evidence that the object was being towed through the lake! We are sad to report that Nessie might not be real.
The Abbey Road Photo
This is the album artwork for the Abbey Road album by the Beatles, but we are sure you already knew this. After all, it is one of the most well-known images ever! It has been printed on whatever items you can think of.
The Abbey Road Photo
The photo was based on a sketch created by Paul McCartney himself. It was taken on August 8, 1969. A police officer was there to stop traffic and photographer Iain Macmillan took six frames from a stepladder. They got the perfect photo in a matter of ten minutes!
Just Like Photoshop
If you are interested in giving photo editing a shot, you only need to open Photoshop and let your imagination run loose. In the past, such a thing was impossible and even unimaginable. And yet a photograph by the name of Philippe Halsman still managed to get this incredible shot of Salvador Dali.
Just Like Photoshop
The easel was suspended in the air using thin wires. He also got help from his daughter and wife, who threw the water bucket and cats into the shot. Of course, Dali made the jump himself. How incredible is that? They were certainly ahead of the time.
Seeing the Earthrise
Apollo 8 was the first manned mission that orbited the moon successfully. Bill Anders, Jim Lovell, and Frank Borman successfully came around the other side of the moon in a spacecraft and witnessed the sight of their home planet as it rose over the surface of the satellite in its blue and white glory.
Seeing the Earthrise
Anders snapped a black and white photo as Lovell went to look for some color film to fully capture the sight. We are glad he succeeded in doing so because the end result was incredibly striking!
Anna Nicole Smith and J. Howard Marshall
Anna Nicole Smith was 29 years old in this photo. On the other hand, her then-fiancé J. Howard Marshall, an oil tycoon, was 89 years old. The couple first met at an adult dance club three years before this moment. After making several proposals, Anna Nicole finally agreed.
Anna Nicole Smith and J. Howard Marshall
It was a short-lived marriage since he died after only fourteen months together. Anna Nicole got used to the sweet life, which naturally came when you are married to someone as rich as her husband. However, she got a wakeup call when she found out she was not in his will!
Marilyn Monroe’s Pregnancy
A number of rare pictures that show an allegedly expecting Marilyn Monroe went up for sale at the price of $95,000. Considering just how iconic the actress was, this is not hard to understand. She was best known for her dazzling beauty, charm, and controversial love life. The photos were first taken in 1960, during which she was still married to Arthur Miller.
Marilyn Monroe’s Pregnancy
According to her old friend Frieda Hull, who was the photographer behind these images, Marilyn told her she was carrying the child of actor Yves Montand. We will probably never know for sure if there was any truth to this, although the actress did look pregnant in the photos. She did not bear any children before she passed away in 1962.
Chaotic Traffic Jam
This photo of a rather chaotic and crowded street was taken on September 3, 1967 in Stockholm, Sweden. We couldn’t believe it either. Apparently, it was the day the nation shifted from left-hand drive to the other side. With this in mind, we bet you find this unbelievable photo funny!
Chaotic Traffic Jam
As you can see, a lot of people were confused. It took several days before people got used to driving on the other side of the road. The change was made because their neighboring countries had already started driving on the right side. It did not make sense for them to drive on the left anymore.
Audrey and Pippin
Audrey Hepburn is easily one of the most adored actresses from the Golden Era of Hollywood. She was often the subject of cameras whenever she attended dinners and award shows. However, she was not all glammed up in this photo. Instead, she was simply relaxing at home with Pippin, her pet deer.
Audrey and Pippin
Most people prefer to keep dogs and cats for pets, but Audrey Hepburn got to be creative with her choice. She got Pippin when she filmed Green Mansions. The animal trainer on the set advised her to bring home the four-legged creature home so that she could bond with it!
Prince William in Jerusalem
The Duke of Cambridge paid Jerusalem a visit in 2018. Apparently, it was the first official visit by any member of the British royal family since 1948! Prince William went around a number of holy places across the city before he paid his respects by going to the grave of his great-grandmother.
Prince William in Jerusalem
Princess Alice of Battenberg was buried on the Mount of Olives. Her great-grandson took a few solemn minutes by her grave and put down a bouquet of flowers in there as well.
Cheering on the Pirates
This amazing photo was taken in 1960 when a number of students from the University of Pittsburgh cheered on The Pirates from a rooftop far away from the stadium.
Cheering on the Pirates
If you are a regular Joe, you probably knew how rough things were when you were still in college. Despite this, the loyal fans did their best to cheer on their team as much as they could. What makes the photo even more legendary is the fact that the Pirates actually won for the first time in 35 years!
Winnie the Pooh in Real Life
Not a lot of people know the fact that there was a real-life Winnie the Pooh. However, the bear was not yellow but brown. It was also a female bear instead of a male one! The sweet bear was a hit at the London Zoo after it was rescued by a veterinarian called Harry Colebourn when it was only a cub.
Winnie the Pooh in Real Life
Apparently, the bear was so well-tempered and kind that zookeepers did not think there was anything wrong with letting kids enter the enclosure. One kid who got to know her up-close and personal was Christopher Robin. His father, writer A.A. Milne, got some inspiration after seeing such a touching moment! The rest, as they say, is history.