A picture paints a thousand words, but there are some photos that do more than this, and go on to define an era or shape popular culture. We’re taking a look at some of the most memorable and iconic photos ever taken.
A Man on the Moon – Taken by Neil Armstrong in 1969
Neil Armstrong may have been the first person to set foot on the moon, but the pictures of the Apollo mission we know so well are actually of Buzz Aldrin. In the most famous image, Aldrin stands alone on the moon, his shadow, the lunar module and Armstrong reflected in his visor. Not only does this photo illustrate the leap for mankind, it also reminds us how small we actually are in the universe.
Lunch Atop a Skyscraper – Taken by Unknown Photographer in 1932
Photographs don’t come much more iconic than this snap from an unknown photographer in 1932. These men eating their lunch 69 floors from the ground, supported only by a beam, came to symbolise the ambition of New York City in the middle of the Great Depression. Nowadays, you can find the image everywhere, from walls to magnets and t-shirts to mugs, and it’s one of the most enduring scenes from the Big Apple.
The Beatles Abbey Road – Taken by Iain Macmillan in 1969
50 years ago the late Iain Macmillan took the photo for what went on to be one of the most well-known and influential album covers of all time. Macmillan had a total of ten minutes to take the picture, during which he was perched on a ladder in the middle of Abbey Road while a policeman stopped traffic. The rest is history. It’s a photo that still resonates with the public today and Abbey Road is a popular destination for tourists. To mark the 50th anniversary of the White Album in 2018, people flocked from all over to recreate the image for themselves.
Marilyn Monroe’s‘ Flying Skirt’ – Taken by Sam Shaw in 1954
This moment taken from the Seven Year Itch, featuring Marilyn Monroe battling an upward breeze, is one of the most recognisable moments from the history of film. The 1954 film scene took 14 takes but still had to be reshot back on set in California. This was due to the large crowd that had gathered to watch the original shoot in New York, who cheered loudly each time Monroe’s skirt blew up. Awkward moment anyone?
Each of these photographs reminds us of the power of photography – and of even a single frame. We hope that we can inspire you to get your camera out, and capture some of your own iconic photographs.
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