What is the most important picture EVER?

Wesley · Post by **Wesley** » December 4th, 2006, 10:50 am

A similar question came up in a teacher newsgroup I follow, but I am curious to see what people here think. What is the single most important image ever taken?

To expand on it, I'll break it into two categories: scientific and social.

You get 1 pick for each category (none of this hedging "I think it is either this one or this one or this one. Pick one. That's what makes this so interesting and hard).
For science, what single image confirmed, conveyed, destroyed, or expanded human knowledge more than any other?
For social, what image led to long-term change, growth, or understanding more than any other?

Also, briefly explain why you chose what you did.

Enjoy!

kbadr · Post by **kbadr** » December 4th, 2006, 10:54 am

You're asking for photographs?

Wesley · Post by **Wesley** » December 4th, 2006, 11:07 am

Social I'm going to have to think upon, but in science only three images immediately jump to mind (actually 5, but 2 events each produced 2 images). Since I have to pick one, I'll go with the one image that stands alone in my mind:

Rosalind Franklin's X-ray diffraction photo of DNA

This simple little image essentially opened up all of modern genetics, revealing to Watkins and Crick the shape of DNA and how it replicated. Thus, it opened up the greatest understanding of ourselves (and all life for that matter) we've ever known. If you know me, you know how easy it would be for me to pick a space picture and say it taught about the origin of the cosmos itself, but on a deeper level I believe if we don't understand ourselves first that other knowledge is all but meaningless. So, this is my personal pick for number one scientific image of all time.

Wesley · Post by **Wesley** » December 4th, 2006, 11:09 am

kbadr wrote:You're asking for photographs?

More or less, though I'd accept a computer generated image if a direct picture is unavailable. I'm not looking for "art" though (artisitic interpretations of events via paintings, statues). I'm looking for captured moments in time that changed a world forever.

kbadr · Post by **kbadr** » December 4th, 2006, 11:17 am

I'll have to think about this a lot, but I *really* hope that this isn't it in 20 or 30 years:

deroosisonfire · Post by **deroosisonfire** » December 4th, 2006, 11:20 am

Wesley wrote:This simple little image essentially opened up all of modern genetics, revealing to Watkins and Crick the shape of DNA and how it replicated.

ummm . . . actually it was watson.

that was the first image that popped into my head. but i have to think a little bit more before i give my final answer.

arthursimone · Post by **arthursimone** » December 4th, 2006, 11:30 am

Sounds like you're asking for pictures that actively *changed* history rather than pictures that simply *archived* an event that changed history. You're basically asking for an example of where media coverage blew something out of proportion.... propaganda, right?

Wesley · Post by **Wesley** » December 4th, 2006, 12:08 pm

cutest biologist in texas wrote: ummm . . . actually it was watson.

So it is! Now that's embarrassing! I know that, but I was typing fast. And it was early. And the coffee hadn't kicked in yet! I swear! I knew I should hve picked something I knew more about like the Hobble Deep Space Field.

Mr. 100% wrote:Sounds like you're asking for pictures that actively *changed* history rather than pictures that simply *archived* an event that changed history. You're basically asking for an example of where media coverage blew something out of proportion.... propaganda, right?

Most important picture ever taken. Interpret how you will. Maybe the photo itself led to change, maybe the event it was chronicaling did, but there is something about the photo/image that makes it the most perfect use of that medium...ever.

gene · Post by **gene** » December 4th, 2006, 12:11 pm

Two birds with one stone:

scientific:Lots of scientists have been created or inspired by this photo. Its understandable by non scientists. Its great PR for science.

social: Expresses a hopefulness and sense of unity not done before.

York99 · Post by **York99** » December 4th, 2006, 12:11 pm

Scientific: http://www.raindrop.org/rugrat/fun/cark.gif

York99 · Post by **York99** » December 4th, 2006, 12:13 pm

Social: http://www.muw.edu/studentlife/scgl/ima ... l_club.jpg

valetoile · Post by **valetoile** » December 4th, 2006, 9:52 pm

justin york, i hate you for distorting my screen and making me side scroll. I hate side scrolling!

sara farr · Post by **sara farr** » December 4th, 2006, 10:25 pm

The first picture of Earth from outter space. It made the world realize that we are all one people, that we share this planet, and that we have to work to live together in peace & harmony with eachother, and our environment.

DollarBill · Post by **DollarBill** » December 4th, 2006, 11:35 pm

This is sort of lame of me, but what if the most important picture is classified and has only been seen by a few people. Like some spy-photo that prevented a nuclear war or something.

arthurina · Post by **arthurina** » December 5th, 2006, 12:36 am

the Mona Lisa!! beauty in art!!