An Afghan refugee girl is the face of the South Florida Museum's latest exhibition: "National Geographic's 50 Greatest Photographs."

  • Images of everyday human life from around the world
  • Exhibitions shows stories behind the pictures
  • Exhibition on display through Jan. 18, 2018

As the world would learn 17 years after the June 1985 magazine cover photo, the child’s name was Sharbat Gula.

"It's probably the most recognizable of all the National Geographic photographs," said Jeff Rodgers, the South Florida Museum Curator.

The only question is really how did National Geographic whittle down their extensive collection of photographs from the past generations down to 50?

The exhibition shows stories behind these pictures.

"The captions are not telling you the story of the picture, the way it did in the magazine," Rodgers explained. "It's telling you the story of the photographer and how they caught this particular image."

There are images of everyday human life from around the world: celebrations and suffering. There are also images of animals in peril because of human impact on their world—poaching and pollution.

Also included in some displays, like one of primatologist Jane Goodall at work, are the pictures snapped before and after the image the photographer ultimately chose for publication.

It's a glimpse into how these photographers and this magazine connect readers to the world around them.

The exhibition in on display through Jan. 18, 2018.

The well-known photo National Geographic photo of Dr. Jane Goodall, along with proofs of photos taken on the shoot that were not published. (Virginia Johnson, staff)