If these images convey an underlying message, photos have immense power. Their ability to evoke emotion without words should not be underestimated. 

But what makes a successful photograph? Authenticity is one element, according to celebrity photographer Mark DeLong. It should make the viewer feel like they are in the same space as the still image. 

Most of these images are random occurrences from daily life, snapped from a person’s smartphone. They exude a sense of originality, which DeLong says is another trait of a successful photo. 

“One of the most effective ways to create a meaningful photographic image is to take a picture of a subject in a way that no one has ever seen before,” he wrote in an article for his website.

As proof of Barnard’s statement mentioned in the intro, the Washington Post’s director of photography, MaryAnne Golon, once presented a photo story in China without saying a word. As she told Time Magazine, the audience took it all in and “fell quiet in all the right places.” 

“After the last frame, we all just beamed at each other. It was so thrilling,” Golon recalled.

At the end of the day, a photograph is an immortalized moment—a captured minute that preserves a memory forever. National Geographic’s director of photography, Sarah Leen, said it perfectly: “It can defeat time.” 

“Images can keep the memory of a loved one alive, hold a moment in history for future generations, be a witness to tragedy or joy.”

Now, we’d like to hear from you. Which of these photos is the funniest for you? Are there any that stood out for reasons other than humor? Let us know in the comments!