In an age when the news photographs taken on any given day would easily pile as high as a skyscraper, Time magazine`s editors had the daring-some would say the temerity-to select the 10 greatest pictures from the entire history of photojournalism.
The 10 are Time`s vote for the creme de la creme of the more than 100 memorable news photographs on exhibit at the Atrium of the State of Illinois Center, 100 W. Randolph St., in ”Witness to History: 150 years of
Photojournalism.”
From the human tragedy of the Depression to the human triumph of the 1969 moon landing, the pictures cover wars, crimes, politics, sports, celebrities, social injustice and cultural curiosities.
The photographs are drawn from Time`s 1989 special collector`s edition on photojournalism, which commemorated the 150th anniversary of the invention of photography in 1839.
Actually, it took a few years of practice and some improvements in exposure times before photographers realized they had a tool that could record historic events as they took place. The oldest photograph recording an event in Time`s special edition is one made circa 1847 of a U.S. general leading his cavalry through a Mexican town during the Mexican-American War. Unfortunately, the photographer left no record of his identity.
As to the top 10 photographs, they were taken by a stellar cast and remain ”Icons,” as Time has billed them. Each crystallizes volumes of history in a single moment captured on film.
Donald Morrison, special projects editor for Time, says the selection was made after combing through tens of thousands of pictures in the magazine`s own archives, the Library of Congress, museums and other collections worldwide.
The photographs are:
”The Sharpshooter,” July 1863, Alexander Gardner`s picture of a slain soldier taken after the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg.
”Migrant Mother,” Dorothea Lange`s 1936 portrait of the Depression captured in the face of one woman with her children. Taken for the Farm Security Administration.
”Death of a Loyalist Soldier,” Sept. 5, 1936, Robert Capa`s chilling image of a soldier being shot down as he fought Fascist forces during the Spanish Civil War. First published in the French magazine Vu.
”The Hindenburg Disaster,” May 6, 1937, Sam Shere`s horrific view of the regal dirigible bursting into flames as it attempted to land at Lakehurst, N.J., with 97 people on board. Shot for International News Photos.
”Iwo Jima,” Feb. 23, 1945, Joe Rosenthal`s stirring picture of Marines hoisting the American flag atop Mt. Suribachi. First printed in Time and other publications.
”V-J Day in Times Square,” Aug. 14, 1945, Alfred Eisenstaedt`s American classic of a sailor kissing a nurse. First published in Life magazine.
”Jack Ruby Shoots Lee Harvey Oswald,” Nov. 24, 1963. Robert Jackson of the Dallas Times Herald photographed Oswald just as he was struck by a bullet, with Ruby still aiming the gun at him.
”Viet Nam Execution,” Feb. 1, 1968, Eddie Adams` wrenching picture of the summary shooting of a captured Viet Cong officer at point-blank range in broad daylight in Saigon. Photographed for the Associated Press.
”Man`s First Moon Walk,” July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong`s snapshot of fellow astronaut Edwin Aldrin as they both walked the moon.
”Minimata,” W. Eugene Smith`s December 1971 photograph of a mother bathing her grown daughter, deformed by industrial mercury poisoning in the Japanese fishing village of Minimata. The image ”helped usher in a new era of environmental concern,” according to Time.
What: ”Witness to History: 150 Years of Photojournalism”
Where: Atrium, State of Illinois Center, 100 W. Randolph St.
When: Through May 18; 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday
How much: Free
