Joe Rosenthal

Joe Rosenthal (1911–2006) was an American photojournalist whose singular vision captured some of the defining moments of the 20th century. After studying illustration and photography in San Francisco, he began his career at the San Francisco News before joining the Associated Press in 1944. While deployed with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, Rosenthal ascended Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945—where he photographed six Marines raising the American flag on Iwo Jima’s summit. That powerful image, instantly recognizable around the globe, earned him the 1945 Pulitzer Prize and became an enduring symbol of wartime courage and unity.

Throughout his five‑decade tenure at AP, Rosenthal covered conflicts in Korea and Vietnam, captured the first postwar presidential inaugurations, and documented countless human‑interest stories with an emphasis on clarity and emotional resonance. He was known for his technical mastery—often working in low‑light or fast‑moving situations—and his ability to find quiet humanity amid chaos.

In later years, Rosenthal mentored generations of photojournalists, lectured at universities, and received the National Press Photographers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. His legacy endures not only in the iconic flag‑raising photograph but in a body of work that exemplifies the power of photography to inform, inspire, and connect us all.