Highlights: Explore the most famous photographs in history — from early breakthroughs to Peter Lik’s award-winning fine art. These iconic images capture human emotion, technological milestones, and unforgettable moments that continue to shape visual culture.
- Photography preserves history, emotion, and perspective
- Famous images include Afghan Girl, V-J Day, The Pillars of Creation
- Peter Lik’s Phantom and Ghost set records and redefined fine art photography
- Iconic photographs reflect human resilience, creativity, and evolution
- Photography connects generations through time, technology, and feeling
Why Famous Photographs Still Matter
The average picture may be worth a thousand words, but the most famous photographs in history are beyond value.
Through photography, we can travel through time and forge connections with long-gone figures. Likewise, photographs allow us to track the impressive development of technology across time, permitting us to observe the art form of photography becoming more nuanced and complex. Some images simply transcend language, imparting universal lessons and emotions that resonate for generations.
In essence, the best photographs tell a story, connecting us to the natural world and one another. In this post, we explore some of the most famous photographs in history, including two celebrated masterpieces from the LIK Fine Art collection.
Famous Photographs from History
Some photographs are famous because of their role in telling stories about the history of technology. Others are famous because they capture ephemeral moments from the history of the human race. The following images represent turning points in art, history, and culture.
View from the Window at Le Gras
Often considered the first surviving photograph, View from the Window at Le Gras was captured by Nicéphore Niépce in 1826. It shows a view from his estate in the French countryside — created more than a decade before the invention of the daguerreotype.
Despite Niépce’s early death, this image granted him lasting recognition as a pioneer of photography.
V-J Day in Times Square
In terms of famous photographs that depict history in action, few are more iconic than V-J Day in Times Square. This dramatic kiss was captured by Alfred Eisenstaedt on August 14th, 1945. It depicts a U.S. Navy Sailor in a dark uniform kissing a woman in a stark, white dress. The backdrop is New York City’s Times Square, frozen in a moment of jubilant celebration.
Foremost, the visual contrast and composition are striking. Most importantly, this photograph is a symbol of the joy and relief that followed the end of WWII in America.
Lunch atop a Skyscraper
Shot by Charles C Ebbets in 1932 by, Lunch atop a Skyscraper is another uniquely iconic American image. It depicts a row of workers on their lunch break, all perched atop a steel beam 850 feet above the streets of New York.
For many years, most believed the image was a candid shot of a unique moment in a blue-collar American’s life. While it was later revealed that the image was staged, it remains a symbol of resilience and adaptation in a changing nation.
The Pillars of Creation
Few images clearly demonstrate how far mankind has come as a species as The Pillars of Creation. This breathtaking image was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1995. It depicts pillars of interstellar gas and dust captured in majestic splendor approximately 7,000 light-years from Earth. Both ephemeral and impossible, this photo almost forces the viewer to contemplate their place in an ever-expanding universe.
Afghan Girl
The striking portrait of the Afghan Girl was captured by American photojournalist Steve McCurry in 1984. It appeared on the cover of National Geographic Magazine the following year.
The portrait depicts Sharbat Gula, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan. The famous photograph has since been likened to the Mona Lisa due to its striking composition. Gula’s haunted, pale gaze has permanently affixed itself in mankind’s collective memory.
The image has inspired compassion from viewers across the globe. It is even the inspiration behind The Afghan Children’s Fund. Ultimately, one image has become the catalyst for an incredible amount of good.
The Horse in Motion
Another unique artifact from the history of photography itself is The Horse in Motion. It is not one photo, but a series of cabinet cards depicting the movement of a galloping horse. Captured in 1878, it was photographer Eadweard Muybridge’s attempt to capture movement on film. It was an incredibly influential contribution to the development of the motion picture.
Modern Masterpieces by Peter Lik
Today, few photographers have influenced the art world like Peter Lik. Known for his large-format landscape photography, Peter has helped redefine the value of fine art photography — both creatively and commercially.
We’ll explore some of Peter Lik’s most iconic, record-breaking photographs below.
Phantom
Captured in Antelope Canyon, Peter Lik’s Phantom is a black-and-white vision of light cutting through the desert stillness. The image evokes awe and mystery, immersing viewers in the raw beauty of the American Southwest.
In 2014, Phantom famously sold for $6.5 million, making it the most expensive photograph ever sold at the time. Prior to this sale, photography was rarely factored into mainstream art pricing discussions. This historic sale helped establish fine art photography as a respected and valuable medium.
Read the story behind Phantom's record sale.
Ghost
Peter Lik’s iconic Ghost is a haunting and ethereal image. It depicts a veil of dust and light unraveling in the sandstone corridors of Antelope Canyon. It draws the viewer into a dreamlike space where time slows, and light breathes.
In 2010, Ghost won the Art in Nature category at the Windland Smith Rice International Awards and was later exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution. Ghost was not the only photograph from the LIK Fine Art collection to receive this honor, but it was the first, paving the way for artistic successes to come.
Find Photographs That Move You
At LIK Fine Art, you’ll find breathtaking images that speak to your story — whether you’re inspired by historical moments or nature’s untouched beauty.
Shop the complete Peter Lik photography collection and bring a piece of photographic history into your home.
