The Eight Most Iconic National Geographic Photos

By All That's Interesting | Edited By Savannah Cox
Published December 27, 2012
Updated January 22, 2018

The Underwater Prow of the Titanic

Using a 10,000 watt lightbulb, photographer Emory Kristoff captured the bow of the 100-year old shipwrecked Titanic resting at a staggering two and a half miles below the Atlantic Ocean’s surface.

Iconic National Geographic Photos: Afghan Girl

Published in 1985, Steve McCurry’s photo of a 12-year-old Afghani girl has remained popular for years thanks to her striking eyes and forlorn appearance.

McCurry originally took the photo while covering refugee camps during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and then later reconnected with her in 2002. Incredibly, she had remembered being photographed but had never seen the image in question.

Anxious Eyes

James Stanfield took this photo in 1987 while covering Poland’s failing and outdated free healthcare system that was reaching a state of national crisis in the 1980s.

The picture depicts heart surgeon Dr. Zbigniew Religa as he painfully tracks the vitals of a patient who is hooked up to outdated medical technology that required constant monitoring.

Tender Moment

Jodi Cobb could never have predicted what would happen when she snapped a photo of a poorly-lit dugout during the Dodgers game she was covering. The photo relays the viewer a quick moment where catcher Steve Yeager decided to kiss coach Monty Basgall on the head in what would become one of the more humorous moments in sports photography history.

author
All That's Interesting
author
All That's Interesting
Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.
editor
Savannah Cox
editor
Savannah Cox
Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.
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