World Famous Photos From LIFE Magazine And The Stories Behind Them

Published on 10/05/2022
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Bill Cosby, 1969

This photo is iconic, and anyone could recognize who it is by simply looking at it. It’s an uncharacteristically moody shot of Bill Cosby smoking a cigar.

Bill Cosby 1969

Bill Cosby 1969

While he was once regarded as the grandfather of the sitcom, in recent years his reputation isn’t so stellar, following multiple allegations of abuse. One must wonder if this photo does not now take on a slightly different meaning in light of what truths came to be known.

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A Multitude Of Hats, 1930

Here we have the photo that served as the first-ever cover for LIFE Magazine. It’s one by Margaret Bourke-White, who absolutely loved taking aerial photographs.

A Multitude Of Hats 1930

A Multitude Of Hats 1930

Here we can see a top shot of men in hats walking through New York City’s Garment District. Did you know that Bourke-White was the first credited female photographer to capture footage of the Second World War? She was also the first woman to go on an aerial combat mission.

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