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Some photographs are like storybooks — at first, they seem simple, but as your eyes are drawn deeper and deeper into them, you start noticing little details that when put together, make up a compelling narrative.

The composition of the shot, the facial expressions of the subject, everything can contribute to the plot that the image is trying to tell.

So we at Bored Panda decided to put together a collection of such images and invite you to get lost in them. Think of it as an exercise for your imagination.

#1

This Woman Adopted This 20-Year-Old Cat From A Shelter Because She Didn't Want Him To Spend The End Of His Life Alone In A Cage

This Woman Adopted This 20-Year-Old Cat From A Shelter Because She Didn't Want Him To Spend The End Of His Life Alone In A Cage

lorenzothecat Report

#2

My Cab Driver Tonight Was So Excited To Share With Me That He’d Made The Cover Of The Calendar. I Told Him I’d Help The World See

My Cab Driver Tonight Was So Excited To Share With Me That He’d Made The Cover Of The Calendar. I Told Him I’d Help The World See

the_Diva Report

Using images to tell a story, or simply photojournalism was made possible by printing and photography innovations that came around the middle of the 19th century.

Although early illustrations had appeared in newspapers, such as an illustration of the funeral of Lord Horatio Nelson in The Times (1806), the first weekly illustrated newspaper was the Illustrated London News, first printed in 1842. It presented the illustrations with the use of engravings.

The first photograph to be used in the illustration of a newspaper story was a depiction of barricades in Paris during the June Days uprising taken on 25 June 1848; the photo was published as an engraving in L'Illustration on 1–8 July 1848.

#4

Someone Placed A Small Stick On Each Of The Dog Graves In This Cemetery

Someone Placed A Small Stick On Each Of The Dog Graves In This Cemetery

zherper Report

#5

Man's Best Friend

Man's Best Friend

Hf8uz Report

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Jyri Hakola
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The hilarious detail is that the dude is wearing a NASA T-shirt in both pics

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During the Crimean War, the ILN pioneered the birth of early photojournalism by printing pictures of the war taken by Roger Fenton.

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Fenton was the first official war photographer and his work included documenting the effects it had on the troops, panoramas of the landscapes where the battles took place, model representations of the action, and portraits of commanders, which laid the groundwork for modern photojournalism.

Other photographers of the war included William Simpson and Carol Szathmari.

#6

Our Neighbor Betty Just Turned 100 Years Old. We Got Her Balloons

Our Neighbor Betty Just Turned 100 Years Old. We Got Her Balloons

mreastvillage Report

#8

My Dog Hurt His Foot While Swimming. He Is Fine But He Was Pouting So My Cat Decided To Comfort Him

My Dog Hurt His Foot While Swimming. He Is Fine But He Was Pouting So My Cat Decided To Comfort Him

yournewbestestfriend Report

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#9

He's Done It! Finally The Last Day And Cancer Free. I Couldn't Be Prouder

He's Done It! Finally The Last Day And Cancer Free. I Couldn't Be Prouder

PanduhCake Report

At the time, photos were used to mainly enhance the text rather than to act as a medium of information in its own right. However, this began to change with the work of one of the pioneers of photojournalism, John Thomson, in the late 1870s.

In collaboration with the radical journalist Adolphe Smith, he began publishing a monthly magazine, Street Life in London, from 1876 to 1877. The project documented the lives of the street people of London in photographs and text and established social documentary photography as a form of photojournalism.

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Instead of the images acting as a supplement to the text, he pioneered the use of printed photographs as the predominant medium for the imparting of information, successfully combining photography with the printed word.

#10

Ever Since My Niece Saw Toy Story, She Shouts, “I’m Leaving!” And Then Peeks At Her Room Like This

Ever Since My Niece Saw Toy Story, She Shouts, “I’m Leaving!” And Then Peeks At Her Room Like This

finestjun Report

#11

Every Day Has Its Dog

Every Day Has Its Dog

Caopanheirolabra Report

#12

The Company Owner Decided To Stop Paying His Drivers So One Of Them Parked Their Semi On The Owner's Ferrari And Just Left It There

The Company Owner Decided To Stop Paying His Drivers So One Of Them Parked Their Semi On The Owner's Ferrari And Just Left It There

FantasyFlyer3 Report

#13

My Friend Had Her Daughters At A Zoo When She Heard, "Ma'am, There's A Lemur On Your Baby"

My Friend Had Her Daughters At A Zoo When She Heard, "Ma'am, There's A Lemur On Your Baby"

Musicats78 Report

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Al B. Wright
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love it how the baby is still deep asleep. Or maybe just cool with lemurs.

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In 1887, flash powder was invented, enabling journalists such as Jacob Riis to photograph informal subjects indoors, which led to the landmark work How the Other Half Lives—documentation of squalid living conditions in New York City slums in the 1880s.

By 1897, it became possible to reproduce halftone photographs on printing presses running at full speed.

#14

My Grandpa Is a 93-year-old WWII Vet Surrounded by Vets From Different Generations Telling Them His War Stories. He Was So Happy They Wanted to Listen It Made His Week

My Grandpa Is a 93-year-old WWII Vet Surrounded by Vets From Different Generations Telling Them His War Stories. He Was So Happy They Wanted to Listen It Made His Week

caitlind136 Report

#15

My Very Favorite Picture Of My Father. He's The One That Set The Camera's Timer

My Very Favorite Picture Of My Father. He's The One That Set The Camera's Timer

LovelySweet1789 Report

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#16

My City Has Begun To Change Any Russian-Related Public Road Names To Reference Ukraine Instead

My City Has Begun To Change Any Russian-Related Public Road Names To Reference Ukraine Instead

Pricey182 Report

The "Golden Age of Photojournalism" is often considered to have started roughly around the 1930s and lasted until the 1950s. It was made possible thanks to the development of the compact commercial 35mm Leica camera in 1925, and the first flash bulbs between 1927 and 1930, which allowed next-level flexibility in taking pictures.

#18

Most People Think Japan Is A Relatively Trash-Free Country, But That’s Not Always The Case. Today, Me And My Friends Tried To Clean Out The Forest. All This Only Took 4 Hours

Most People Think Japan Is A Relatively Trash-Free Country, But That’s Not Always The Case. Today, Me And My Friends Tried To Clean Out The Forest. All This Only Took 4 Hours

mrskyekun Report

#19

I Had To Cut Down A Tree In My Yard And Now I Feel Bad

I Had To Cut Down A Tree In My Yard And Now I Feel Bad

wer190 Report

#20

The Kid Was Desperately Trying To Tie Up A Tie And Failing To Do It Himself. Fellow Passenger Asked If He Needed Help

The Kid Was Desperately Trying To Tie Up A Tie And Failing To Do It Himself. Fellow Passenger Asked If He Needed Help

Loozar Report

#21

This Is Why You Need To Put Your Cart Back In The Corral When You're Finished With It

This Is Why You Need To Put Your Cart Back In The Corral When You're Finished With It

SchuminWeb Report

Henri Cartier-Bresson is often regarded as the father of modern photojournalism; in 1937 he covered the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth for the French weekly Regards.

He focused on the new monarch's adoring subjects lining the London streets and took no pictures of the king.

#22

My Dad Bought A Cactus To Discourage Mingus From Getting On The Counter. Here's Mingus With The Cactus

My Dad Bought A Cactus To Discourage Mingus From Getting On The Counter. Here's Mingus With The Cactus

mristre Report

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#23

Took My Autistic Brother Out For Ice Cream Today For The First Time In Months

Took My Autistic Brother Out For Ice Cream Today For The First Time In Months

AminAcer Report

#24

A Story Of Confusion

A Story Of Confusion

Tittiesandtacos87 Report

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Sheila Stamey
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dog in back is like " dude how do you get all the chicks?" ( I'll see myself out)

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The "Golden Age of Photojournalism" ended in the 1970s when many photo magazines found that they could not compete with other media for advertising revenue to sustain their large circulations and high costs. Still, those outlets taught journalism much about the photographic essay and the power of still images.

#26

Sign Was Necessary

Sign Was Necessary

makinmuffins Report

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glowworm2
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one of my favorite photos. The cat’s name is Carrot and his owners are well aware of his fridge shenanigans.

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#27

These Coins Stopped A Bullet And Saved My Great-Grandfather's Life During World War I

These Coins Stopped A Bullet And Saved My Great-Grandfather's Life During World War I

Fadawah Report

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Bernd Herbert
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That man on the coins: king leopold 2 of Belgium was one of the worst human beings ever. He was responsible for millions of deaths and many other atrocities

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#28

Our Firstborn Just Came Home From The Vet With A Probable Cancer Diagnosis. Came Into The Living Room To Find My SO Watching Her While She Sleeps

Our Firstborn Just Came Home From The Vet With A Probable Cancer Diagnosis. Came Into The Living Room To Find My SO Watching Her While She Sleeps

bunzarelli Report

#29

I Tried To Take A Photo Of My Ice Cream. Greedy Seagull Photobombed It

I Tried To Take A Photo Of My Ice Cream. Greedy Seagull Photobombed It

Se7enOne Report

However, since then, photojournalism and documentary photography have increasingly been accorded a place in art galleries alongside fine art photography. Luc Delahaye, Manuel Rivera-Ortiz, and the members of VII Photo Agency are among many who regularly exhibit in galleries and museums.

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#30

My Father’s Chair Falling At A Coast Guard Change Of Command

My Father’s Chair Falling At A Coast Guard Change Of Command

jonbees Report

#31

We Found My Wife’s Phone In The Toilet Yesterday. We Weren’t Sure Which Of Our Three Kids Put It There. Until My Wife Scrolled Through Her Pictures Today

We Found My Wife’s Phone In The Toilet Yesterday. We Weren’t Sure Which Of Our Three Kids Put It There. Until My Wife Scrolled Through Her Pictures Today

footeperu Report

#32

Found This Old Picture Of My Dad From Back In 1976. I Feel Like The Picture Captures An Awful Lot And Tells A Story

Found This Old Picture Of My Dad From Back In 1976. I Feel Like The Picture Captures An Awful Lot And Tells A Story

ventface Report

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#35

We’re Off To A Great Start With The New Puppies

We’re Off To A Great Start With The New Puppies

rotflolosaurus Report

#36

We Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends

We Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends

mynameisktb Report

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Iampenny
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG, it's the bottom half of the Town Musicians of Bremen (Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten) in real life ;)https://en.wikipedia...band.500pix.jpg

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#37

This One Picture Has So Much Raw Emotion

This One Picture Has So Much Raw Emotion

TastyTurtleDick Report

#38

Photograph From 1946, When There Was No Ultrasound And Everything Was A Surprise

Photograph From 1946, When There Was No Ultrasound And Everything Was A Surprise

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#39

The Definition Of Sworn Enemies In One Picture

The Definition Of Sworn Enemies In One Picture

Tuplad Report

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François Carré
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I adopted a big old cat two years ago, it was not a planned rescue and the only place we could accommodate him is a room next to my mother's. Problem is, in her room lives her cat, who is also big and old. These two ones hate each other and we had to set up a complicated schedule so that they can live their lives separately, and go out without ever meeting each other. But they still happen to yell at each other through the closed door between the two rooms. That's kind of ridiculous.

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#40

One Picture, One Story

One Picture, One Story

Azabach Report

#41

Burning Their Russian Passports As A Form Of Protest For Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine

Burning Their Russian Passports As A Form Of Protest For Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine

wrapityup Report

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Al B. Wright
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Love these people for this. I often joke in my comments but when I was younger I would have in all probability tarred all Russians with the same brush in the current situation. However wisdom comes with age, and it seems more obvious now with that more rounded outlook that many of them despise their own government just as much as the rest of us. Those people deserve our support too, just as we all stand with the people of Ukraine, because standing up to Putin in their own country is also incredibly brave.

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#42

Turns Out I’m Not Very Good At Online Shopping

Turns Out I’m Not Very Good At Online Shopping

garbagecannot8 Report

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#43

Everything You Need To Know About My Cat In 1 Image

Everything You Need To Know About My Cat In 1 Image

jeswise Report

#44

Moments After Santa Got Kicked In The Balls. Santa Had A Vasectomy Last Week. I’m Santa

Moments After Santa Got Kicked In The Balls. Santa Had A Vasectomy Last Week. I’m Santa

Jimothy_Riggins Report

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Al B. Wright
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As he reflected later, moments like that made Santa sure the vasectomy was the right choice.

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#45

My Dog Son Not Impressed With My Human Son's Stamina After Herding Him For An Hour

My Dog Son Not Impressed With My Human Son's Stamina After Herding Him For An Hour

JohnOfA Report

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Mad Haberdasheress
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Verified. Shelties and Collies will run your humans into the ground without blinking, lol!

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#46

Turned My Back For A Minute, And She Peed In 20 Cups Of Uncooked Rice

Turned My Back For A Minute, And She Peed In 20 Cups Of Uncooked Rice

TheLoxFox Report

#48

The Picture Tells The Whole Story, Really

The Picture Tells The Whole Story, Really

toupee Report

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Rannveig Ess
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A bit of trivia I have to spew - the whip was the first man made object to break the sound barrier. Most people, when asked this, say a jet or rocket.

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Smilodon, a Bad Cat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, you are correct. I had professional training, and still am very careful and wary. Just a slight miscalculation can cause a life altering injury. To get it right, however, is very rewarding.

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Patrick Hayes
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the tip of the whip is traveling at the speed of sound. That crack you hear, when done right, is a sonic boom. I am afraid he was not paying attention in physics class or watching enough youtube!

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V Bingham
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even Experienced Whip masters get themselves every now and again..lol

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Vyxsin
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Indy's chin scar is way cooler than your forehead welt.

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Ellie McGrath
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another successful “playin a game of Whack! F%#k! here… WHACK! F%@K!”

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Crystal Thomas
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No the picture does not tell the whole story. What is the story? BDSM gone wrong?

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#49

One Picture Has Never Encapsulated My Life As A Parent More

One Picture Has Never Encapsulated My Life As A Parent More

Captain_Davey Report

#50

This Picture Tells A Story

This Picture Tells A Story

KevlarYarmulke Report

Note: this post originally had 129 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.