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Don Nardo

The astronauts headed to the moon in December 1972 thought they knew what to expect. They would soon be exploring the moon’s surface in a lunar rover, traveling farther than anyone before them. They would be collecting soil and rock samples for study back on Earth and could expect to learn about the moon’s physical makeup and age. But what they didn’t expect came as a huge bonus. The astronauts of Apollo 17 would produce an amazing photograph of planet Earth a lonely globe floating in inky black space. Their stunning Blue Marble image was destined to become one of the most reproduced and recognizable photos in history. And no one is 100 percent sure who took it.

Various Narrators

Capstone Press

Captured World History

The Blue Marble: How a Photograph Revealed Earth's Fragile Beauty

Michael Burgan

No one knew his name. But soon millions would know about his bravery. For almost two months in spring 1989, Beijing’s Tiananmen Square had been the site of growing protests against China's hardline communist government. In early June, China’s leaders had had enough. In a matter of days soldiers cleared the square. They used sticks and cattle prods. They shot rubber bullets, then real ones. They used bayonets. Student protesters fought back with firebombs and rocks, but they were no match for the soldiers. Gunfire still rang out in parts of Beijing, but China’s leaders felt in control. As tanks rumbled through the streets near Tiananmen Square, a man in a white shirt came suddenly into view. He held up his right hand, like a police officer trying to halt traffic. The first huge tank in a row of four stopped just a few feet in front of the man. The tanks behind it stopped as well. Photographer Jeff Widener took a picture of the brave protester halting the huge armored fighting vehicles. The image was soon sent around the world, becoming one of the most famous photographs ever.

Tank Man: How a Photograph Defined China's Protest Movement

Danielle Smith-Llera

What has been called the most famous photograph in the world, and a symbol of the 20th century, began as a spur of the moment snapshot by a Cuban photographer. Alberto Korda transformed a simple photo into a world famous portrait of a larger than life revolutionary. Korda’s 1960 photo of Che Guevara’s defiant face has traveled the world in many forms. It shows up wherever people struggle for freedom and human rights. And in the 21st century, the controversial photo continues to inspire, entertain, and even infuriate.

Che Guevara's Face: How a Cuban Photographer's Image Became a Cultural Icon

When it went down in flames, the Hindenburg went down in history. The era of airship travel ended with a disastrous explosion May 6, 1937. Sam Shere’s photo of the Hindenburg in flames has been called the most famous news photograph ever taken. The entire episode—from first flash to destruction—took less than a minute. It happened so fast that Shere, who could feel the heat of the burning airship, had no time to raise his camera to his eye. His famous photo, which was the first ever to show a major air disaster as it happened, was shot from the hip.

The Hindenburg in Flames: How a Photograph Marked the End of the Airship

World War II was in its early days when brutal German dictator Adolf Hitler paid a visit to Paris, the capital of France. Only days before, on June 14, 1940, German soldiers had overrun the city, shocking the world. Hitler now viewed the city’s cultural treasures as his own. He posed for a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower, the beloved symbol of France and the country’s free, democratic people. The photo, taken by his personal photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann, would show the world that Nazi Germany had triumphed over its bitter enemy. Many who viewed the photo in newspapers around the globe would draw a second conclusion that Germany would almost certainly invade Britain next. And if Britain fell, Hitler would be a huge step closer to his ultimate goal of world domination.