The photographs that changed the world

This is followup to my earlier posts in 27th and 28th October 2006.

To me, that would mean only one thing: the greatest photographs ever taken. One thing I noticed is that these photos are all about timing, especially the ones about what’s going on outside. You had to be out there, camera ready to capture that magical instant.

I liked the following best.

Robert Capa took this picture on Omaha Beach, Normandy, France on D-Day, when he landed amongst the first waves of infantry.

The following was taken by Philippe Halsman in 1948. What is amazing is that no special effects were used. The guy jumped, and a roomful of assistants threw cats and buckets of water, while pictures were taken. It took 6 hours and 28 jumps to perfect.

Another is this pic by Matthew Brady in 1863. It showed dead soldiers loyal to President Lincoln on the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg, the bloodiest battle during the American Civil War with the worst number of casualties in the history of the United States, with more than 50,000 dead in 3 days.