Malaysia has once again put us on the map recently with the famous photograph “Malaysian Mowgli” picture taken by Nazri Sulaiman. The heartwarming story of local buffalo boy who is seen sitting alongside a herd of buffalo and playing around earned the photo recognition in galleries at Rome, Italy and a few places in Europe.
Prior to this, Mohd Nazri snagged the grand prize for the Street and People category as the ‘Asian Geographic: Images of Asia 2018’ awards.
There are also many photos that have captivated the world over the years. Here are some throwbacks
Sharbat Gula – Steve McCurry
This 1984 iconic Afghan Girl became the talk of the world when she was featured on the cover of National Geographic magazine. It shows the image of her in those powerful green eyes with a red headscarf looking intensely at the camera. The picture just speaks everything.
Einstein’s Birthday – Arthur Sasse
Even the smartest man has a sense of humour for the camera too. Photographer Arthur Sasse manages to capture the cheeky side of the great physicist of the 20th century right before he left. Today, this picture is one of the most classic photographic records and used for few memes too.
Tank Man – Jeff Widener
The protest has been going on in Tiananmen Square for weeks when the photo was taken. It was only during this picture shown that amplifies how bad the situation was when a man known as “Tank Man’ stood in front of a military tank that potentially would have risked his life. Till today, this picture is being remembered for how united and dedicated the people there was.
Sandy Hook Elementary – Shannon Hicks
The shootout that happened in Sandy Hook Elementary school left many feeling scared for all the children caught in the school as reports came in that 28 has been found dead including the gunman itself. The picture shown really encapsulate the raw emotion the kids felt, making it an impactful photograph.
Muhammad Ali Knocks out Sonny Liston – Neil Leifer
Every element about this picture came together perfectly, showing moments right after the boxer, Ali knocks out his fellow opponent, Liston. Initially, the picture was in black and white as taken by John Rooney but Neil Leifer took a risk and decided to use colour film. He managed to capture this image within a split second.
The Burning Monk – Malcolm Browne
The particular picture happened as to protest the treatment of Buddhist by the regime of President Ngo Dinh Diem. Browne took this picture of what seen to be a monk be up in flames while sitting down as though in a meditation mode earned a Pulitzer Prize award. The act of martyrdom by the monk was a symbol of the volatility of the nation as said by Browne.
Lunch Atop A Skyscraper – Ebbets, Kelley and Leftwich
How can this picture not be iconic? 11 men casually eating, chattering and smoking 840 feet above Manhattan. They were sitting with nothing but a thin beam to keep them balanced. One wrong move and that’s it. The men were among the construction workers who helped build one of America’s most iconic place, Rockefeller Center.
President Bush Receiving News on 9/11
The 9/11 terrorist attack impacted one whole nation and is still one of the worst days in recent American history. President George W. Bush participates in a reading demonstration at Emma E.Booker Elementary School when he was approached by one of his confidants, whispering and notifying him on the terrorist attack.
Night Picture of KL and Genting – Tan Jun Hong
The stunning photograph that received likes of over 12,000 likes on Facebook wows the social media scene in Malaysia. Some commented that it must be photoshopped but according to the photographer it is 100% real. It depicts the night scene of the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur and further ahead you can see a clear view of Genting Highlands upon the mountains.
The Vulture and The Little Girl – Kevin Carter
The Sudanese famine was happening during this time and it showed a starving girl while a vulture is waiting behind of her. What was fascinating about the story on this Pulitzer Prize photo is the photographer itself. After the picture was published in the New York Times in 1993, Kevin Carter received harsh comments that he should have dropped his camera to help the girl. The comments were too hard for him to bear that he took his own life by the end of July 1994.
Beatles Abbey Road – Iain Macmillan
The most iconic band deserves an iconic album cover and so the Beatles members became the cover shot of their Abbey Road album. According to the photographer, he stood on a ladder in the middle of the street while a policeman blocked the traffic. Today, this picture serves as one of the most legendary photographs in the world and many can be seen recreating the same pose in the photo in Abbey Road itself.
Migrant Mother, Dorothea Lange
Florence Owens Thompson is a 32-year old mother of seven sat in a temporary shelter near the migrants camp as her car broke down. While waiting, the photographer, Lange approached her and the photo became a definitive image of Depression-era poverty and despair. It quickly got the photo the title of what it’s known now as “Migrant Mother”.