Photography Archives

The Stories Behind Some of the World’s Most Iconic Photographs

How nine photographers navigated floods, rubble, and suspicions of espionage to capture some of the most striking images of the last half-century.

Kate Wheeling, Francie Diep & Ted Scheinman

A Libyan coast guardsman stands on a boat during the rescue of 147 undocumented immigrants attempting to reach Europe off the coastal town of Zawiyah, 45 kilometers west of the capital Tripoli, on June 27th, 2017. More than 8,000 migrants have been rescued in waters off Libya during the past 48 hours in difficult weather conditions, Italy's coastguard said.

News in Brief

The Week in Photos: From the New York Subway to Ramadan in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

A round-up of images from Viewfinder, Pacific Standard's daily photo feature.

Pacific Standard Staff

A posed portrait of lesbian couple O (27, right) and D (23, left): "After [men attacked us for being lesbians], I felt even more strongly how dear D is to me, and how scary the thought that I could lose her. The worst thing that I felt was an absolute inability to protect the one I loved, or even myself. Yes, now I look back on the street and look at every passing male as a possible source of danger. I realized that there are defective people who can pounce on us just because we are lesbians. But every time, now when I'm in the street, when I take her by the hand, I do it consciously, it is my choice. D, hold my hand, this is my reward for your courage."

Social Justice

Breathtaking Photos From Countries Where It’s Illegal to Be Gay

An upcoming issue of Pacific Standard will include exclusive portraits from the photography series "Where Love Is Illegal." In time for Pride Month, here are some other images from the project.

Katie Kilkenny

News in Brief

Viewfinder: A Rescue on Libyan Waters

A Libyan coast guardsman stands on a boat during the rescue of 147 undocumented immigrants attempting to reach Europe off the coastal town of Zawiyah.

Pacific Standard Staff

Prisoners, many of whom claim to be juveniles, line up for dinner at Lira Prison, Poor birth records make it difficult for Ugandan prison officials to remove younger prisoners from adult facilities.

Field Notes: Dinner at a Prison in Lira, Uganda

Lira, Uganda: Prisoners, many of whom claim to be juveniles, line up for dinner at Lira Prison. Poor birth records make it difficult for Ugandan prison officials to remove younger prisoners from adult facilities.

Pacific Standard Staff

An underground fire, which locals say first started in an abandoned mine here in 1916, still burns as workers tap the remaining supply of coal.

Field Notes: A Look at India’s Coal Capital

Jharia, India: An underground fire, which locals say first started in an abandoned mine here in 1916, still burns as workers tap the remaining supply of coal.

Pacific Standard Staff