Some photographs are timeless. A photograph makes a viewer live an experience regardless of the space or time he/she is present in. The impression they leave on the mind of the viewer cannot be measured objectively, but subjectively. Some photos impart joy, some make us uncomfortable, some make us nostalgic while there are some photographs which live through the test of time and force a person to think, introspect and retrospect.
Well, here we bring you some photos from the history which might make you happy or sad, but definitely will force your mind to think. The photos here mark important events that changed the course of the history for good or for bad, and thus the world we live in, forever.
The Gadget-1945
‘The Gadget’ was the nickname of the first ever nuclear bomb to be tested by the US, under the codename ‘Trinity’. This bomb was detonated from a 30-m high ramp and its blast was equivalent of 18 kilotons of TNT.
At 05:29:21 (July 16, 1945) local time, the device exploded. The Gadget was officially a Y-1561 device, as was the FatBoy, which left Nagasaki in ruins for decades, few weeks later.
At the time of explosion, the mountains in the background illuminated ‘brighter than daylight’ for one or two seconds, and the heat was reported as ‘being as hot as an oven’ at the base camp. The shock wave was felt over 100 miles away and the mushroom cloud reached 7.5 miles in height.
After watching the test, Robert J. Oppenheimer, the director of Los Alamos was reminded of a line from the Bhagavad Gita, a hindu scripture: “NOW I HAVE BECOME DEATH, THE DESTROYER OF THE WORLDS”.
The Magnifier Transmitter
This famous photograph of Nikola Tesla sitting next to the giant high voltage generator, called ‘The Magnifier Transmitter’, which produces very high bolts of electricity was a promotional ‘double-exposure’ stunt by photographer Dickenson V. Alley.
The machine’s huge sparks were photographed first in a darkened room, then the photographic plate was re-exposed with the machine off and Tesla sitting in the chair.
In Colorado Springs Notes, Tesla admitted:
"Of course, the discharge was not playing when the experimenter was photographed, as might be imagined!"
The Captain And The Chief
A father-son bond is a special bond. Doesn’t matter what rank are you serving, or how old and experienced you have become, a father is always proud of his children and never misses a chance of guiding them with the knowledge and intention.
In this picture taken in 1957, an Indian chief is visiting his son who is enlisted with the rank of ‘Captain’ in the US Army, who is on board a tank during a military exercise in Washington County.
Anti-Nuclear Rally
Having witnessed the aftermath of Hiroshima and Nagasaki explosions, when nuclear power began to be used as a source of generating electricity, it brought a panic and prevailed fear in the hearts of many.
So was the basis of the protest of 1979 against the introduction of nuclear power, following the Three Mile Island accident earlier that year.
Musicians United for Safe Energy carried on this protest to promote investment and innovation in sustainable energy sources.
Ironically, with public education of how the nuclear power will be safe and better efficient, US started embracing the future of energy.
Beat Me If You Can!
Samuel H. Reshevsky was a Polish chess prodigy, who grew up to be an American chess grandmaster after he won eight times at the US Chess Championship. He is tied up with Bobby Fischer for an all-time record.
The above photo shows 8 years old Samuel playing against several accomplished masters of the game simultaneously, beating them all in the chess exhibition of November 1920. Undoubtedly he was one of the most brilliant chess grandmasters ever to walk on the planet.
Drink Fresh, France!
In this picture people are seen buying and drinking the world-famous Coca-Cola in France after it was officially introduced.
Coca-cola was unofficially available in France since 1919, but it was officially re-introduced in April of 1950. Coca-Cola ran a campaign “Drink Fresh” and it was served to people in the streets as a part of campaign.
Coca-Cola calls this a “cold revolution” now.
Thank You For The Shoes!
One can feel the happiness and joy that this little boy cannot contain when he got a new pair of shoes as he clutches them with a chubby innocence to his chest.
Werfel, a six years-old Austrian boy was photographed with his new pair of shoes which were donated to him by the Junior Red Cross in the United States of America, at the Am Himmel orphanage.
Werfel, along with many other children as brought to the US after being deported from Israel/Palestine, where he arrived after the liberation from the concentration camps.
The photograph was shot by Gerald Waller in 1946 and it was first published in LIFE magazine on December 30, 1946.
A Daring Publicity
Annette Kellermann was a professional Australian swimmer, writer and film-star who is well known by this picture in her swimwear.
This custom swim-suit was designed for women for the purpose of serious athletic swimming, and it was unlike the conventional women’s swimwear available t the time.
The photograph sparked a lot of controversy and was considered a daring publicity stunt. This self-designed custom suit was also declared indecent and she faced some serious charges by the law of the time.
Love knows no barbed-wires
This photograph was published in The February 2010 Telegraph obituary, and was captioned “Greasley confronting Heinrich Himmler in the POW camp”. Other news sources, impressed by the story of Telegraph, republished the photo along with its description.
The story said that this British soldier was in love with a German girl, and when he was captured, he galloped 200 times! That does make an interesting war-time love story.
It was later asserted by Guy Walters that the soldier in the picture was not Greasley, and the picture was actually taken by a photographer for a propaganda film and the officers in the photo are the same who appear in the film with Himmler.
Rebellion Ballerina
Franciszka Manheimer-Rosenberg, better known as Franceska Mann, was a Polish-Jewish Prima Ballerina.
She was transported to Auschwitz-Birkenau along with 1700 other prisoners, after she was captured in Warsaw Ghetto. She was sentenced to the gas chamber and was instructed to strip naked before entering the mustard chamber.
Legend says that she stripteased the officers in such a provocative way, that the guards on duty got distracted for a moment, and she snatched a gun and killed one of the guards while injuring another. This ignited a big rebellion in the female prisoners of the concentration camp. What a lady!
Brooklyn Supreme
Meet Brooklyn Supreme or ‘Brookie’ a red-roan Belgian Stallion. The horse was designated the world’s heaviest, if not the largest. 6 ft 6 in tall stallion weighed over 3,200 lbs and its horse-shoes required 30 inches of iron.
Foaled in Minneapolis, Minnesota on the farm of Earl Brown, it was the Grand Champion of his breeds in many state fairs before becoming oversized.
Brookie was owned in partnership by Charles Grant Good of Ogden and Ralph M. Fogleman of Callender, both from the state of Iowa and was exhibited around the US.
The fond spectators would pay 10 cents just to view the animal!
Just Another Routine Execution
The shot that won Eddie Adams a Pulitzer Prize, was taken on the streets of Saigon on 1st of February 1968.
Honored as one of the most powerful images of the Vietnam war, this iconic photo helped fuel the anti-war movement and ended US involvement in the war. It brought to life the magnitude of violence occurring in a horrific visual, which was apparently just another routine assassination of a prisoner.
Gandhi And The Spinning Wheel, 1946
This iconic picture of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of Modern India, was not an easy click. LIFE magazine’s first female photographer Margaret Bourke-White had to overcome many challenges before she got the rare opportunity of gaining access to India’s ideological leader.
Gandhi played a leading role in India’s independence movement. He looked at the spinning wheel as a told for the downfall of the British empire in India back in 1919 as he realised it is the trade of clothes that is empowering the colonial empire to sow its roots deep in the Indian soil. He promoted khaadi and non-cooperation movement, and also led the people to swadeshi movement, giving the English many sleepless nights.
Dalí Atomicus, 1948
Definitely not an easy photo in a world without Photoshop, it took Philippe Halsman 26 shots before he could satisfactorily capture the essence of Salvador Dalí. It was something extraordinary that he captured, both in terms of the art and the artist.
To compose the frame, he thought it would be better express Dalí and his art work if there were flying cats and splashing water. Without having the privilege of photoshop and computer, he roped his wife and daughter to help him orchestrate a still shot.
Halsman and Dali were both unusual in terms of their sense of style and creativity. Halsman’s photo captured the echoes of the artwork of flamboyant Dali.
Before ‘The Beatles’ Were Famous
Whether a born in 60s or late 90s, whoever loves music remembers ‘The Beatles’ fondly. But as they say, success is not an overnight journey.
The picture was taken when no one knew who ‘The Beatles’ were. In December 1961, they once played for just 18 people at the Palais Ballroom in Aldershot. The town is situated in Hampshire.
Now imagine going to Beatles concert when they were at the prime of their fame. The ground didn’t see sunlight because of swarming fans dancing to their songs, and it used to be a rocking hit.
Smiling In The Face Of Death
This photo was taken during a mock execution curated by Germans to extract information from George Blind, a member of French Resistance. He bravely refused to speak to his captors. He keeps his calm and smiles to the barrel ends of killing machines.
George Blind became a member of French Resistance during WWII. He operated at night with ambulance paramedics and firefighters, and conveyed secret members of the resistance who were wanted by authorities, along with weapons, intelligence and clandestine newspapers.
After the arrest he was taken to Alsace, and further transported to Dachau concentration Camp where this photo was taken.
Horses, Mules and Donkeys
US army created this photograph by making a horse-head formation to commemorate and honor millions of donkeys, mules and horses that got killed during the WWI.
This moving photo signifies the memorial service they held. While 8000 troops were lost in the line of duty, over 8 million working animals were brutally slaughtered during the war.
Searing Into The Heavens
The great city of New York is recognized by its sky-high buildings and has always inspired the urban-architecture in the surrounding world. The Empire State Building was the first sky-scraper to be built in New York City in 1941.
In this iconic photo, buildings surrounding the giant tower look incredibly tiny in comparison. After the photo was published, people of the US and other parts of the world had to come down to the city and see it for themselves, and still find it unbelievable. Looks like straight out of a futuristic movie, doesn’t it?
The Bombed Bride
As they say, if you are happy from within, your surroundings have a minimal impact on you. So is the story of this Bombed Bride!
In 1940, London being one of the epicentres of World War II was bombed day and night. But this could not steal the excitement of this bride for her special day. Happiness so contagious that the bridesmaids couldn’t help but reciprocate the same happiness with a bright grin while they stands in the ruins of their house after an attack.
Cease Fire And Play Soccer
In Europe, you are not friends with someone until you play soccer with them. This picture was taken on the occasion which later was remembered as the Christmas Truce after the British, German and French soldiers called an unofficial ceasefire on the Christmas of 1914.
The soldiers ventured into no-man’s land to talk, swap gifts and return prisoners of war. They played a friendly match of soccer and in some camps, even the joint burial services for the dead were held. Soldiers ended the day by singing together some Christmas carols such as “Silent Night” and “The First Noel”.
We Made Him Resign!
As they say that a pen is mightier than a sword, nothing proves this saying better than this picture. Journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein triumphantly watch president Richard Nixon resign in the middle of his second presidency term on August 9th, 1974 after they uncovered the Watergate scandal.
The US was in a state of constant shock for two straight years after the scandal and President Nixon, instead of accepting punishment for his deeds, resigned from his office.
A Birthday In Iran, 1973
You might say, what is so special about this photograph? It might appear like a girl is celebrating her birthday and could afford a camera-man to click her picture while she cuts her birthday cake.
This picture’s significance is more than that. It shows how drastically Iran has changed since the 70s. If this picture is clicked and released publicly this day, the girl will probably be detained by law for inappropriate attire!
Hey Honey! We Got A Telephone!
This picture looks like it is straight out of a 70s college flick movie. Actually, thats what it is, though not from a movie but an actual college women’s dormitory.
This picture was clicked late at night and gives us a glimpse of what college life was like in the times when there was no Instagram or Snapchat. Women would wait in groups for their turn so that they can talk to their near and dear ones. Letters just started going out of fashion in this decade.
People’s Favourites
“What I admire most about your art, is your universality. You don’t say a word, yet the world understands you!”
“It is true, but your fame is even greater: the world admires you, when nobody understands what you say!”
This was a snippet of the memorable conversation between a great scientist and a greatest comedian of that age. You know who would have said what!
This picture was clicked when Albert Einstein met Charlie Chaplin in January 1931 at the City of Lights premier. Einstein once expressed his wish of meeting Charlie Chaplin one day.
Come Here You Big Scary Ball Of Fur!
Wanna find a way to someone’s heart? Well, its through their stomach. This stunning photograph showing Soviet troops feeding giant polar bears is a proof.
The picture was taken in 1950 when the soviet tanks startled the bears by rolling into their territory. But they came scaling the sides and received snacks from soldiers.
This was when Soviet Union manned drifting exploration stations in the higher altitudes of the arctic and this contributed immensely in North Pole research.
Till We Meet Again!
This is not merely a romantic photograph, but marks the beginning of the Korean War in 1950, which lasted three years. The US and the USSR both accepted the responsibility for the situation and Americans headed south, whereas the remaining troops were withdrawn and sent home on June 25, 1950. North Korea saw this as an opportunity and attacked South Korea.
In this picture, Harvey Wilson (left) and Frank Harvey (right) hold Private Robert Maye out of the train window while he leans down and kisses his wife Gloria goodbye before leaving for the war.
Not A Colony Of Ants But A Ship Full Of Soldiers
It might appear as a piece of staircase swarmed with ants, but actually is an aerial photograph of a crowded ship almost spilling out with American soldiers. These men are on the way back to their homes after the WWII ended in 1945.
This passenger liner “Queen Elizabeth” might appear awfully overcrowded and uncomfortable, but not to the soldiers returning home to their families friends and loved ones after fighting a dreadfully long war, and full of optimism. The discomfort is worth the reward!
Thirst For Learning Knows No Borders
This picture shows three remarkable women from India, Japan and Syria, who broke all the shackles of sexism and racism to have their future in their own hands despite society’s norms.
This picture was taken in Women’s Medical College of Philadelphia on October 10,1885 where these women will train to be doctors and give back to the society, along with becoming an inspiration for generations to come.
A Monk And The Inferno
This is not a scene created by CGI or VFx. This is an immortal shot from the lens of Malcolm Browne in Saigon, Vietnam on June 11, 1963.
The Buddhist monk Thich Quang Doc immolated himself publicly as his protest against the policies of oppression of the Buddhist religion by the government of South Vietnam, burning himself to death. This event created a big unrest.
Old-School Pen Drive, 1956.
While we carelessly carry our smart phones in our pockets with more storage memory than we need, this gigantic box that belongs to IBM proudly stores just 5MB of data. It is just 6 pictures! What? We click at least 10 photos of our lunch tray from different angles.
The company was able to lease the storage for around $3000 a month, around $30,000 today when we account the inflation as well. Atop the heavy maintenance costs, you will need trucks and hulks to load/unload the giant box. Imagine the speed of data transfer?
Marilyn ‘Potato-Sack’ Monroe
When you know how to give it back to your haters, it is the sure-shot burn in their hearts. The story behind this photo is that Marilyn Monroe wore a revealing red dress at a party in 1951 and the photo that got published received a lot of criticism. A Columnist attacked her by saying it looked “cheap and vulgar” and she would have looked more decent in a potato sack.
Marilyn took these rude remarks in her own fun way and responded with her devilish sense of humor. She proved that even a potato sack couldn’t stop her from looking stunning.
A Vulture And A Child
This award winning image also drew a lot of controversy and hatred towards the photojournalist Kevin Carter when he travelled to Sudan in 1993 to cover the famine. This image is as famous for its social impact as it is for the ethical issues raised.
The image of a vulture stalking over a collapsed child caused a lot of public outrage because of the horrific subject, for photographing the child instead of helping.
That day, and the onslaught that came after and continued to haunt Carter made him take his own life in 1994.
For the record, the child was never in danger as the mother was sitting close by and the longer telephoto lens makes the scene more compressed, making the bird appear closer to the child than reality.
The Tank-Man
On June 5 1989, after the Chinese military had suppressed the Tiananmen Square protests by force, the tanks manoeuvred to pass by a man on the road. Nicknamed as “Unknown Rebel”, this man repeatedly shifted his position to obstruct the tank’s attempted path around him.
The filmed incident was smuggled to a world-wide audience and this image is considered one of the most iconic images of all time, internationally. However, Inside China the image and the events leading up are subject to heavy state censorship.
Till Death And Beyond!
Religion and social-class have always been known to stand as a wall between lovers of all time. This virtual classification has resulted into countless wars and crusades that took place all over the world over the centuries, and are prevalent even in today’s time.
But as they say, love wins in the end. This image of 19th century graves in a cemetery tells a similar story. A catholic woman and her Protestant husband deny this Dutch cemetery the power of separating them. Love lasts, definitely!
How Dare You!
The assassination of the favorite President of the United States of America was mourned by every citizen. It was a disturbing event, and the assassin was hated all over the country by the people who loved JFK as a person and as their leader.
In the image, Nightclub owner Jack Ruby shoots Lee Harvey Oswald, the man who assassinated JFK in November 1963.
Careful, Champ!
None can love children like grand-parents! This image tells a similar story.
Clicked in March 1999 at an Albania Camp, This photograph shows a family member passing Kosovar refugee Agim Shala, 2, into the hands of grandparents through a barbed wire.
As sweet as the kid is, even looking at the picture from the past makes us worry if he went through without hurting himself from the barbs.
Border Divides Blood
Political borders of many countries have shifted over the years because of the disputes of the governments. Sometimes, new countries emerge because the leaders think the different races/religions superior over one another can not co-exist after induced states of unrest.
This image tells a similar story. A man from South Korea is bidding good-bye to his long-separated relative from North Korea in this powerful photograph clicked in October 2010.
Will You Buy Them?
Children have the power and innocence of keeping the families together and giving their parents a purpose of lifetime as to how they want to raise them. No one has been known to voluntarily separate from their kids under the hardest of the circumstances.
This image tells a very sad story where 4 kids are sadly sitting behind a placard about them being put on sale. This picture was taken in Chicago in 1948, and the woman, possibly their mother, hides her face in shame after having the children “sold”. We can only wonder what her circumstances may be!
Cotton Mill Girl, 1908
Lewis Hine was an investigative photographer. With this image of Sadie Pfeifer, one of the smallest children at work standing at just 48 inches, he knew he would change people’s views about child labor.
National Child Labor Committee was established in 1904 to fight for the rights of the child workers in the USA. They had this notion that showing the real face of child workers would be a powerful tool to make the masses aware of this horror they don’t acknowledge, and change psychology of masses.
This was a crucial photograph along with many others and was an important part of the campaign which led to a change in legislation. As an outcome, there was a 50% cut in the number of child workers over a period of a decade.
The Falling Soldier, 1936
Robert Capa did not even look through the view-finder to capture this scene. He was holding his camera above his head while in the trenches when he captured the image of a Spanish militiaman being shot. This photograph took war photography to an entirely different level.
After this iconic image was released to the world, more journalists began to be formally embedded into army units. Their job was to capture and document the horrors of war!
