I've been looking through my Department Development Plan today and note with alarm that I'd rashly volunteered to create an entirely new 70-hour course for S2 pupils (year 9 equivalent) in Digital Photography. This has to be ready by August and time is now pressing a wee bit…
I've got a fairly good outline plan for the course which will be largely practical (using compacts and SLRs, taking photographs, photo editing and manipulation, colour vs b&w etc.) but I want to include some history lessons as well. I want to get across topics like composition and lighting and to try to inculcate an appreciation of what makes a good shot and a bit of knowledge about the famous photographic pioneers.
Of course, everyone has different ideas of what a good shot is and it's pretty subjective, but I'm looking for a wide range of iconic photographs from as many different genres as possible (portrait, action, reportage etc.).
I have some examples of my own to use (though they are pretty run of the mill) but I want some classic shots to use as well, so I'm throwing it open to STW to post the shots that they find inspiring.
Here's a bunch of the most iconic pictures going. Some of them are genuinely shocking, (as are some of the stupid comments posted at the bottom). I can't select the individual photos, but these should be required viewing by any aspiring photographer.
Ansel Adams is one of my all-time favourite photographers. He used 10×8 and full-plate cameras with black-and-white Land film, basically Polaroid film. You can't believe the sheer quality of his original prints, (the Land film had a negative), probably his most iconic is 'Moonlight, Hernandez, New Mexico". The depth of field runs from about two feet in front of the camera to the horizon, and you can clearly see the markers in a graveyard probably half a mile away. No grain in Polaroid film. I think the last time a print sold it went for £45000. Wonderful landscape photographer.
I've got a fantastic (cheap!) Ansel Adams print of the Sierra Nevada mountains with a horse picked out by the sunrise/sunset. Detail and lighting is stunning.
There is a photograph – and I don't know who took it – which is extremely powerful: Its a picture of a starving baby in (I think Cambodia) and there's a vulture watching her from about 10 yds away. I've only seen it once and it affected me terribly. The photogrpaher apparently gave up war photography right after he took it. Sorry I can't be more specific and please nobody post it but for the OP its worth trying to find.