Constative
21+ Images of Iconic Places and People Shown from a Different Perspective
Posted: March 28, 2024 | Last updated: March 28, 2024
21+ Images of Iconic Places and People Shown from a Different Perspective
Some images are so seared into our brains that we can picture them with closed eyes. However, unless you’ve ever seen some of these places or things in person, you’ve only ever seen them from one particular angle. What happens when that camera gets turned, and you see something you know very well from a different viewpoint? It helps you learn a bit more about the background story of these iconic images and places and helps you see the bigger picture.
#1: Bert and Ernie
If you loved Sesame Street as a kid, there’s a good chance you thought of some of these puppets as your closest friends. They are so loveable that it can be easy to forget that they aren’t really alive. Have you ever wondered what the force behind their lifelike movements is?
Your favorite Sesame Street friends ran on human power! This picture shows just how their creator, Jim Henson, got down and dirty with his creations. In case you ever wondered, Bert and Ernie were completely human-powered! Even their hands were just human hands disguised as puppet hands. Notice how it took two puppeteers to operate Ernie!
#2: Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions. But, if you’ve never been one of the 13 million annual visitors to this natural wonder, you’ve undoubtedly seen photos of this iconic location. You may think that you know what the falls look like, but even if you’ve explored them in person, you’ve probably never seen them like this!
This picture shows the backside of Niagara Falls from inside a tunnel on the Canadian side of the falls. The popular tourist spot is accessible from both sides of the Canadian border, in Ontario and Buffalo, New York. This view is open to the public on a special tour called Journey Behind the Falls.
#3: Ghostbusters’ Marshmallow Man
Do you remember the awe you felt the first time you watched Ghostbusters and saw the enormous Marshmallow Man rampaging through New York City? It was pretty impressive, considering it was the early 80s. Did you ever wonder how the filmmakers pulled that off? He almost looks like perhaps he was one of those giant Thanksgiving Day parade balloons, but that wasn’t the case.
Instead of being several stories tall, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man was, in reality, the size of a human. They made him appear larger-than-life by placing him on a small-scale recreation of Manhattan. It’s all about perspective and tricks of the eye. Creating such a detailed landscape must have taken a lot of time and work.
#4: The Pyramids of Giza
There is no denying that the Pyramids of Giza are one of the world’s greatest wonders. Likewise, we would argue that pizza is also a world wonder. However, for some reason, it just does not seem right that a person can sit inside a fast-food pizza place and enjoy the view of this phenomenon of mankind.
As sacrilegious or surreal as it seems, this image is absolutely real. Now, you can travel all the way to Egypt only to enjoy questionable pizza and breathtaking views. We wonder how the ancient pharaohs would feel about this arrangement. After all, they never got to taste delicious pizza, so there’s a chance they might think this is fantastic!
#5: Jupiter’s Southern Pole
Jupiter is best known for being our solar system’s largest and most orange planet. We are used to seeing this giant planet represented as simply a big orange ball, but of course, there’s more to it than what we see. For example, what would it look like if we could get a closer view of the planet?
Fortunately, science has improved at exploring these distant planets from afar. The Juno spacecraft was able to get pretty close and take some truly spectacular photographs from angles we’ve never seen before. Did you ever wonder what Jupiter’s south pole looked like? We haven’t either, but now we’re utterly fascinated!
#6: Behind The Famous Album Cover
The cover of Abbey Road is so iconic that you can probably picture what it looks like with your eyes closed. It has such a natural feel that most people probably think of it as something that happened organically: the Beatles members were crossing a road, and somebody just happened to snap their picture.
Of course, it’s never as simple as that. A lot of planning went into capturing that image. First, a location had to be scouted, clothing had to be carefully picked out, and then arranging the actual photo shoot. Whenever you’re working in public, you always need to worry about interference from bystanders. The photographer employed the local police to stop car and foot traffic during their photo shoot!
#7: Do You Recognize the Man in the Picture?
Believe it or not, public television painter Bob Ross didn’t always look like the happy little hippy he was on his show. Instead, the man best known for painting happy little trees was a struggling artist at one time. So, we wonder what his life was like back when he was a clean-cut young man without his iconic perm.
Ever the pragmatic Bob decided to perm his hair at some point because it was easier to care for and cost less money than regular maintenance. We know his curly mop was somewhat of a calling card for him, but we’re partial to his totally retro hairstyle. What a difference a few years can make!
#8: Columbia Pictures Logo
You’ve likely seen this logo hundreds of times since it was introduced to many famous movies. But, if you’re anything like us, you’ve never given it much thought. At best, we would have thought this image was an artist’s painting based on his imagination. However, we never imagined that the image would come from real life!
In 1924, a model named Jenny Joseph posed for a studio artist to create the introduction for Columbia Pictures. She later confessed that she had no clue that she would go on to become the face of such an iconic image, but she got a kick out of seeing it every time she went to the movies.
#9: A Frog’s Slimy Underbelly
If we told you that this was a living creature, what would you guess it was? Our guess would have been an alien, but we would have been entirely wrong. What you’re looking at right now is a little frog! What might seem like pink bubbles are the frog’s toes. Awww! They’re so stinking cute!
If he had not been sticking to a glass surface, we might have never gotten this unique and amazing view of his little belly. Thank goodness for these opportunities to see things from nature that aren’t customarily viewed this way. That reminds us, have you ever seen those photos of cats sitting on top of glass tables? Priceless!
#10: The Sphinx
While visiting the Pizza Hut in Giza, you’ll likely be tempted to visit the famous Sphinx. However, there’s a lot more to this mythical creature than what you see from the front. For example, did you know that the Sphinx has a tail? This photographer decided to walk around the Sphinx’s back and discover what there was to see.
The photograph doesn’t show that there is a tunnel inside the Sphinx’s backside. The passage was discovered in the 1920s but then covered over and forgotten until it was rediscovered in 1980. Nobody knows precisely what the tunnel is for, but some theories suggest that it is a passage to an unfinished tomb.
#11: Giddy Up!
Once every generation or so, a sitcom takes the world by storm. Typically, there will be a character on this TV show that is popular for their dramatic entrances, followed by loud cheering from the audience. The Fonze from Happy Days was that character in the 70s, and Kramer from Seinfeld was the 90s version.
Kramer was famous for his wildly energetic, often chaotic, appearances and how he burst into Jerry’s apartment. This picture shows the actor who played Kramer, Michael Richards, getting ready to make his dramatic appearance. You can see him off-set, already preparing his body for the manic arrival! We can’t imagine how exhausted Michael Richards must have been after every Seinfeld taping!
#12: The Back of King Tut’s Head
In 1925, Howard Carter made history when he discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamun. The discovery was so significant because his tomb is the most complete example we have today of an ancient Egyptian royal burial. For the first time in modern civilization, we finally got a good look at the opulence and detail-rich world of the pharaohs.
For example, take a look at the back of King Tut’s mask. Most people are familiar with the face of his burial mask, but few have seen its back. Most people have probably never wondered what it looks like, and if they did, likely did not expect to see this! Look at the tremendous detail that went into this piece of art that was never intended to be seen by other humans.
#13: People Reacting to The Challenger Disaster
In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger launched out of Cape Canaveral, Florida, on what was to be a historic trip to space. Aside from the regular crew members, a school teacher was on board. Tragically, 73 seconds into its flight, the Challenger exploded before viewers on TV and many who were there in person.
The photos of the explosion are heartbreaking but seeing these rare pictures of attendees reacting to the nightmare unfolding is unspeakably gut-wrenching. The world was utterly shocked to see this tragedy unfold in real-time; these poor people who witnessed it live remind us how devastated everyone felt at the time.
#14: Witnessing A Volcano Erupt
Volcanos have a reputation for complete destruction and chaos. They are often evoked as something to be terrified of; after all, people long thought a volcano eruption caused the extinction of the dinosaurs. The images captured in Pompeii, for example, are very vivid. So, humans have good reason to fear this natural disaster.
In 1980, Mount Saint Helens erupted in Washington state. It was deadly – 57 humans died – but this was minor compared to many other volcanic activities. Still, it was a shocking event. One photographer managed to capture a hiker’s reaction as he watched this explosion. His physical response tells us all that we need to know about the emotion of that moment.
#15: Watching a Disaster Unfold
Some of us remember the day of 9/11 vividly, and others may have tried to block it. On that day, something changed in the world. People all over the world were glued to their screens as they heard about the horrors of the 9/11 terror attack. What about the residents of NYC? Some of them saw the buildings collapse not through a TV screen but first-hand.
This image captures the onlookers on the streets of New York as they watched the Twin Towers collapse on 9/11. You can see the shock and horror on their faces, and honestly, we wouldn’t expect them to react any other way. This was a traumatic day for many people; can you imagine being so close to the scene and watching everything unfold?
#16: Hiding in Plain Sight
One of the most famous sculptures in existence is undoubtedly the David by Michelangelo. He created his masterpiece between 1501 and 1504, at the height of the Italian Renaissance. This statue remains so well-known and studied to this day because of its flawless beauty but also its magnitude – it towers over 5 meters!
So, during World War II, many people were worried about the fate of classic art pieces if their buildings should be bombed. Since so much valuable treasure was being destroyed, they encased David in a protective tomb of bricks. Whether this fortress was ever tested is unknown, but at least they did manage to save him for future generations to admire.
#17: Batman and Robin
The Batman show from the 1960s was a new experience for TV viewers. Finally, fans were able to watch comic book characters in vivid color pull off amazing feats while defeating villains in every episode. Each episode was fast-paced and somewhat humorous and most importantly – always fun. Kids and grown-ups alike loved it.
Today’s superhero depictions are drastically different, but they owe the 1960s Caped Crusader a debt of gratitude. Special effects were new in the world of television for this show, and they had a lot to figure out. The effects look cheesy today, but at least it was a lesson in what not to do for today’s superheroes!
#18: Alien Off-Duty
The sci-fi thriller movie Alien was a huge success that spawned many sequels over the years. And it’s no wonder; it was the perfect mix of horror and science fiction, sparking millions of imaginations. Once audiences caught a glimpse of a xenomorph, the idea of terrifying aliens stalking us took root.
These creatures are so terrifying in the films that there is no way to imagine them as anything else. However, this behind-the-scenes photo from the set of Alien 3 casts these villains in a new light. Do these otherworldly monsters have feelings, too? Do they get tired after hours of shooting? No, it turns out this is just one of the actors taking five.
#19: Statue of Liberty in Fragments
The Statue of Liberty sits in New York Harbor, welcoming all to the shores of her country. She’s a symbol of freedom and bravery and also of protection. She was a gift from France, designed by French sculptor and painter Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. However, most people don’t realize that her official name is Liberty Enlightening the World.
Most people also don’t realize that because of her enormous size, Lady Liberty could not be constructed in one piece and shipped across the ocean that way. So, instead, Barthold made her out of several components that would be assembled once she was in her final destination. These pictures depict several of the pieces scattered around Paris.
#20: Will Ferrell in Elf
Movie magic is everywhere in films, and sometimes, it can be a very simple trick. It doesn’t always have to be big-budget special effects. For example, in the beloved holiday comedy Elf, the filmmakers needed to find a way to portray Will Ferrell as a grown human man next to tiny holiday elves. Their solution was so simple that it’s brilliant.
The filmmakers employed a technique called forced perspective. If you’ve ever heard painters talk about perspective in their works, you get the idea. For Elf, all the cameraman needed to do was place Buddy the Elf closer to the camera, with everybody else further back, and it created the illusion that Will Ferrell was a giant next to the rest of the actors.
#21: Behind the Wheel
The Price Is Right is the longest-running game show on television. Even if you don’t regularly watch the show, you must be familiar with the premise and what its iconic wheel looks like. Many people would be thrilled for the opportunity to stand next to the giant wheel and even more for the chance to give it a spin!
However, here’s what the glamorous set piece looks like from behind. Hmm, it’s pretty disappointing to see it this way. It’s a good thing that most contestants stay in front of the wheel; otherwise, they may get disillusioned with the process. Although, if they won a cruise around the world, we doubt anything could disappoint them!
#22: Watching from Afar
In 1969, the world changed forever when Neil Armstrong walked on the surface of the moon. It filled all mankind with a new sense of wonder for the unknown and respect for the far reaches of space. Most of the planet watched him take those first tentative steps, but they also watched as his shuttle lifted off a few days before.
How many of those observers wondered about his family? Here’s a rare photograph that shows how they saw Neil off on his epic adventure. Instead of watching the launch in a control room or with a bunch of important government suits, they watched it from a nearby pier. Where would you be to watch your father change the world?
#23: Star Wars Opening Crawl
Star Wars is a massively influential movie today, so it can be difficult to recall that when it was first made, it was just like any other untested studio movie. It, too, had a budget to stick to and did not have massive special effects. (Yes, today is a very different story!)
So, in order to achieve the now-iconic opening crawl of text, the filmmakers needed to resort to some fancy footwork. Rather than some digital screen work, visual effects photographer Richard Edlund used a tilted hand camera rather than some digital screen work to slowly pan down the introduction. It is a simple way to achieve the shot, but we would have never expected it from such a futuristic movie!
#24: Inside The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is an ornate freestanding bell tower constructed in the 12th-14th centuries. It is such an impressive work of architecture and so gorgeous that we suspect it would have been a tourist attraction even if it stood like a regular tower. But unfortunately, its foundation was not solid, so it began sinking, causing it to lean sideways.
Looking at its very decorative exterior, it’s tempting to imagine that the inside is just as beautiful. But check out the inside photo! Unfortunately, the interior is nothing but a plain tube; it’s very dull and disappointing if you ask us. If you want to experience the whole Tower, you can buy a ticket to climb inside the building. That would be a neat experience!
#25: A Front-Facing Toucan
Toucans are brightly colored birds that call the rainforests of South America their home. Their enormous, radiant beaks set them apart from all the other birds. To best get a view of their beaks, photographers usually capture them in profile. How else can we see how impressive they are?
So, it feels very odd to see a toucan head-on! We get a vague idea that it has a large beak, but we don’t fully appreciate its enormous size. However, from whichever angle you’re looking, you must admit this is one gorgeous bird. Imagine what it would be like to see them at your bird feeder each morning!
#26: Partial Washington Monument
Today, the Washington Monument graces the National Mall in Washington DC, towering over the city at 555 feet in tribute to our first president, George Washington. It’s in the shape of an Egyptian obelisk, a traditional way of honoring deceased leaders. The monument was proposed after Washington’s death in 1799 but blocked by the opposing political party.
The monument was finally approved in 1848, and enslaved people began the building process. However, the money for the project ran out in 1854 and so it stood there only partially built for 23 years. The construction relied on donations for supplies, and those donations ran out until interest was revived in 1877. Fortunately, the building could proceed this time without the help of slave labor.
#27: Overhead Image of The Statue of Liberty
Lady Liberty was finally constructed in New York Harbor in 1876, one hundred years after the signing of The Declaration of Independence. It took a lot of work to make each component of this enormous sculpture and then ship each part across the ocean from France. Then she needed to be put together!
It must have been breathtaking to behold The Statue of Liberty for the first time as she towered over the entrance to the new home of so many immigrants. We are betting that many people shed tears when they first saw her on Ellis Island. However, they weren’t as lucky as we are to be able to see this rare view of her from overhead!
#28: Mona Lisa From Behind
The Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Art students and critics have studied, analyzed, and debated it for centuries. Leonardo da Vinci painted this masterpiece during the Italian Renaissance with oils on wood. This portrait of a Florentine silk merchant’s wife is easily the most recognized painting ever.
These days it hangs in The Louvre art museum in Paris, where millions of visitors flock to see it every year. It is an amazing experience to see a centuries-old masterpiece in person for the first time; guests are rarely disappointed. However, most don’t realize what a mess this art looks like from the back! The other side of the Mona Lisa looks like a messy piece of wood. Who knew?
#29: An Iconic Lion
The film was really beginning to take off in the late 1920s. Hollywood’s first talkie (a movie with sound) premiered in 1927, and all studios eagerly jumped on board. MGM Studios wanted even to add sound to their intros, and they wanted it to be spectacular. So, naturally, that would involve a live lion roaring at the camera.
Nearly a century later, MGM studios still feature a roaring lion in its introduction. But have you ever thought about how they captured that iconic clip? This picture shows that moment in 1928; these two technicians are trying to film and record a lion roaring. He looks like just another cooperative actor; we just hope they were able to keep him happy during the shoot.
#30: Lunch on a Skyscraper Beam
Do you recall that very famous photo of construction workers eating their lunch on a large metal beam suspended high over the city? It seems such a dangerous way to eat a meal that most people probably assume it’s just designed to look like they’re above the city. But they really are!
This daring photographer named Charles Ebbets scaled the construction site of the future Rockefeller Center in 1938 and captured some of the workers on their lunch break. They sure look comfortable on that beam, and Charles looks quite at home, too. We wonder if he had any clue that he was about to take such an iconic image.
#31: Making a Music Video
Queen is undoubtedly one of the world’s most talented and versatile rock bands. Their music spans just about every type of sound you can think of, including a barbershop quartet-type song! But, perhaps their best-known song is the bonkers Bohemian Rhapsody; what the heck are they singing about?
To top off the bizarre nature of that song, they filmed a music video for it, which does nothing to shed any light on the matter. However, it was one of the first music videos filmed, and we can’t get enough of it. The hazy close-ups of the band suit this song perfectly, and we just love getting this candid shot of the group getting ready to film.
#32: Aerial View of the Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a performing arts center located on the shore of Sydney Harbor. It hosts many world-class theatrical performances, but that isn’t what it’s best known for. Instead, the Sydney Opera House is known worldwide thanks to its masterful and unique modern architectural design.
However, looking at this iconic building from overhead, we would have never guessed what building we were looking at. This photo hardly resembles the classy structure we so often associate with Australian culture. Now we can’t help but wonder what many other famous structures look like from unusual angles!
#33: Full View of The Taj Mahal
Most people have never been lucky enough to visit the Taj Mahal, but we’ve all seen photos of its beautiful grandeur. It looks like a building out of a fairy tale. Where else would you see a beautifully carved ivory marble building, perfectly situated at the head of the most magnificent reflecting pool?
The pictures don’t often show us much outside that popular view, so most people assume that the rest of the area around the Taj Mahal is just as sculpted and clean-looking. Unfortunately, however, that isn’t true. The city it’s located in is called Agra and is rather primitive with little infrastructure. So wide-angle pictures show a very different setting than most people would imagine.
#34: The Most Iconic Coffee Shop
Friends is one of the most-watched TV shows of all time. Its popularity is so tremendous that even more than 25 years after it debuted, it’s still run in syndication in countries all around the world, in nearly as many languages. Even people who aren’t rabid fans of the show are familiar with its iconic set.
However, in all 236 episodes of Friends, we never once saw this view of the Central Perk coffee shop! We don’t think there was a single episode where we didn’t see the gang’s favorite hangout spot. Even so, we would never have been able to picture it quite like this.
#35: Outside It’s Sewer Tunnels
Stephen King has been terrifying audiences for decades through his books and films. His story It was published in 1986 and is still capturing the imagination of horror fans. A few movies have been made about his creepy clown killer, Pennywise and always attracting new readers and viewers.
The story’s climax takes place in the sewers under the cursed city. However, rather than hauling actors and crew into actual sewers, the film studio constructed their own. We’re impressed with the size and complexity of the design! And we suspect the cast and crew were grateful to not be forced to muck about in actual sewer sludge.
#36: Stage View
Most of us spend our lives as a TV audience instead of being the ones in front of the cameras. However, that means we don’t get to see the bigger picture of what the setting of these television shows really looks like. Things are rarely as glamorous as we think they are from the other side of the screen.
We aren’t sure what stage this is, but it looks like something fancy. Perhaps they held a glitzy awards show here. Of course, you would expect the backstage of the Academy Awards to be just as posh as the front of the theater, but we suppose it makes sense that the back is pretty bare. Most people don’t get to see it, so why make it fancy?
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