The most iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning photos of all time

A single photograph can freeze history in place, capturing grief, triumph, courage, and moments the world never forgot. These Pulitzer Prize winning images didn’t just document events; they shaped how generations remember them. Here are six iconic photographs and the powerful stories behind them. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

Burst of Joy (1974): After years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, Lt. Col. Robert Stirm returned home. Slava Veder captured the exact moment his daughter sprinted toward him with open arms on the runway. The image radiated pure emotion and became one of the defining photos of the Vietnam era. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

Coretta Scott King (1969): Moneta Sleet Jr. photographed Coretta Scott King with daughter Bernice during Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral. The quiet grief on their faces spoke volumes. The photo later made Sleet the first Black male photographer to win a Pulitzer Prize. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

Falling Man (2002): Photographed by Richard Drew during the September 11 attacks, the image became one of the most discussed and emotionally difficult photographs in modern history. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

Kiss of Life (1968): Rocco Morabito happened upon a dramatic emergency involving two utility workers in Florida. His photo showed J.D. Thompson giving mouth-to-mouth to colleague Randall Champion while suspended high above the ground. The split second image captured courage in action. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima (1945): Captured by Joe Rosenthal during World War II, this image of U.S. Marines raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi became one of the most iconic photographs ever taken. It won the Pulitzer Prize the same year and quickly became a symbol of wartime sacrifice and victory. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

Serious Steps (1962): Paul Vathis captured President John F. Kennedy and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower walking together at Camp David after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion. Heads bowed in conversation, the photo perfectly reflected the weight of a difficult political moment. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )