As you stroll through this limited-time exhibit in the Imagine Exhibitions Gallery at the Venetian, visceral imagery immerses you in different eras and cultures, weaving together stories from just about every corner of the globe.
The exhibit features 50 of the most celebrated photos from National Geographic's 125-year history. Steve McCurry's famous snapshot of Sharbat Gula, a schoolgirl in an Afghan refugee camp, hangs next to a second image of Gula (taken 17 years later) at the back of the 6,800-square-foot gallery. Other highlights include Nick Nichols' iconic image of Jane Goodall and chimpanzee, Thomas Abercrombie's never-before-seen view of Mecca and Brent Stirton's jarring shot of Congolese men somberly recovering the body of an endangered gorilla who was viciously executed.
Many images were captured in an instant. Others took days or even weeks to accomplish. Nichols' photo of a 300-foot tall California Redwood tree is comprised of 84 images, utilizing help from seven people, tethering ropes between trees and a pulley system.
Visitors will in some cases see the sequence of images made in the field before and after the ultimate shot. Documentary videos provide insight into these iconic photographs and the photographers who dedicated their lives to shooting them.
Photo credit: National Geographic
