Joseph Nicéphore Niépce exposed the first photograph in 1826. Now, thanks to smartphone technology, more photographs are made each day than were taken in the history of the world before the start of the 21st century.
Historian Clay Jenkinson returns with another selection of 10 magnificent images—this time Pulitzer Prize winners—to explore how great photographs epitomize a moment or an era, capture an extraordinary event, provide a window into the human condition, or make us ache with appreciation and wonder.
Choosing a list of great photographs is difficult, but using prize winners narrows the search and provides the imprimatur of the exacting Pulitizer committee. Jenkinson’s list includes William Gallagher's 1953 photo of the hole in Adlai Stevenson's shoe; William Beall's "Faith and Confidence" from 1957, capturing a policeman bending down to a 2-year-old boy; Yasushi Nagao's 1961 "Tokyo Stabbing"; and Nat Fein's "Babe Ruth Bows Out" from 1949, among others.
Often as interesting as the photography that resulted, Jenkinson tells the backstory of each image, covering who took it, when, under what circumstances, what has happened in the aftermath, and what influence the image has had on the world. He also reveals some of his runners-up and honorable mentions in assembling his top 10. Audience members are encouraged to nominate their own favorites to add to the discussion.
General Information
