KQED's Forum What’s a Photograph That Stands Out in Your Mind?
Apr 28, 2025
Kathy Ryan, the former director of photography at The New York Times Magazine for 37 years, shares her wealth of experience in visual storytelling. She discusses how photographs shape our understanding of history, including monumental events like 9/11 and the COVID-19 pandemic. Ryan explores what makes a photograph impactful in today's image-saturated world, emphasizing emotional resonance and the role of captions. Personal anecdotes reveal the transformative power of images in collective memory, while she reflects on the challenges faced by modern photojournalists.
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9/11 Cover Memoiral Creation
- The 9/11 "Remains of the Day" cover was created under tight deadlines with a concept to memorialize the event.
- Two beams of light image became the memorial symbol reenacted annually.
Bedrooms of the Fallen
- Ashley Gilbertson photographed bedrooms of fallen soldiers to show the war's impact on families.
- Bedrooms became shrines, richly revealing young lives lost through personal belongings.
Portrait of Vulnerable Child Refugee
- Lindsay Adario photographed displaced children in crisis zones, capturing vulnerability rather than drama.
- A powerful portrait of a boy in South Sudan highlighted fragility amid conflict.