National Geographic makes all the corners of the world available to it's readers -- here's a look at the eight most iconic National Geographic photos ever taken.
The Underwater Prow of the Titanic
Source: National Geographic
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
Source: National Geographic
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
Source: National Geographic
James Stanfield took this photo in 1987 while covering Poland’s failing and outdated free healthcare system that was reaching a state of national crisis in the 1980s.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 Zbigniew Religa as he painfully tracks the vitals of a patient who is hooked up to outdated medical technology that required constant monitoring.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
Source: National Geographic
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.
Jane Goodall
Source: National Geographic
This photograph captures a tender moment between renown primatologist Jane Goodall and one of the chimpanzees she was studying during her work in the Congo. While this photo is one of many that National Geographic took of the animal enthusiast, this one is well-known for embodying the spirit of her project.
Great White Shark
Source: National Geographic
Great White Sharks are one of the world’s most popular subjects for shark photography thanks to their massive size and menacing appearance. This particular photo by David Doubilet grants the viewer an uncomfortably close look into a devastating Great White bite.
Iconic National Geographic Photos: Polar Beat at Rest
Source: National Geographic
Shot in Canada, this photo depicts one of nature’s most endangered bear species in repose. While most photos of polar bears capture them during predacious hunting trips or defensive care of the young, this photo shows us the other, more tranquil side of Arctic life.
Ramses Temple
Source: National Geographic
In this photo by David Boyer, the Nile is creeping up on the ancient Ramses Temple in Egypt.
The statues — all depicting the Pharaoh — are an incredible testament to early architecture: at an astonishing six stories high, the temples still stand today despite enduring harsh desert conditions for millenniums.
