The Stories Behind 7 of 2024's Most Captivating Photos From Getty Images

Photogs share tales of Taylor Swift, NASA, Chappell Roan, Djokovic and more

From Travis and Taylor’s iconic Super Bowl kiss to a Banksy rhino to the eerie sight of Mount Fuji sans snowcap, we share 7 of the most memorable photos culled from Getty Images this past year. The photographers who took them provide commentary.

LAS VEGAS – FEB. 11: Travis Kelce kisses Taylor Swift after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Ezra Shaw: After the Super Bowl was finished, I was tasked with finding Taylor Swift on the field. She was ushered out with a lot of security guards, and then she was quickly led into a gated pen with the Chiefs. This was very different compared to the standard security guards that I deal with at any sporting event. The Chiefs were being awarded the Super Bowl trophy, and as a sports photographer, that is one of the most important pictures to get after the game. I left my spot by Swift to see if I could get a picture of the trophy presentation. But then I realized that a picture of her with her boyfriend Travis Kelce would probably be more important. I elbowed my way back as close to Swift as I could get, and when Kelce came off the stage he came right over and gave her a big kiss. And I was lucky enough to be in a great spot for that moment. I was able to lift my camera up over her security guard standing directly in front of me and compose my picture with the screen on the back of the camera, compared to the traditional viewfinder. This would have been a nice picture of any of the players kissing their girlfriend or wife after the game. But the fact that it was Taylor Swift brought it up another level because of all of the media attention she has received over the past year.

LONDON – AUG. 12: A painting of a rhinoceros purportedly by Banksy adorns a wall in the Charlton district. Banksy claimed credit for this artwork with an Instagram post. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)

Photographer John Phillips: As you know, when it comes to anything related to Banksy or pop-up art, timing is everything—you want to get a photo before it’s removed or, worse, vandalized, and you are also competing with everyone’s smart phones. This was on the last day of a Banksy spree, and the Getty Images team had been tracking the artist’s daily murals with social media sleuthing. When they had learned the location on this day, I was asked to photograph the artwork. Unfortunately, speed wasn’t on my side, as I had two little ones to manage. However, the location was only a few miles away. So, after convincing my 3-year-old that we were going to see a rhino, we made our way there. We arrived a bit later than I’d hoped, but it worked out better than expected. The last rays of sunlight were hitting the street, thanks to the tall buildings around it, and more people had arrived because news of the artwork’s location was spreading.

The area itself was a bit of a mess—industrial waste, broken car parts, scraps, plastic and rubbish scattered all over the road and sidewalk. What surprised me was the number of families who showed up, especially considering the location was off the beaten path—nowhere near a station or easily accessible. Still, people were steadily arriving to take photos or selfies with the work. My goal was to capture both the artwork itself and the contrast between the happy families and the gritty street. I’ve always been a fan of Banksy’s work, and I’m thrilled I got to see this one in person. My daughter always wants to join me when I head off to work, and she was happy for this unique experience.

YAMANAKAKO, JAPAN – OCT. 31: A swan stands on a beach of Lake Yamanakako. Iiconic Mount Fuji had yet to receive any snowfall this year, marking the latest date without snow since records began 130 years ago. Typically, the mountain’s snowcap forms by early October, but unusually high temperatures this summer delayed its arrival, raising concerns about climate change’s impact on weather patterns. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

Photographer Tomohiro Ohsumi: I was hesitant to pitch this topic but worked with one of the APAC News editors from Getty Images to discuss the relevance. We believed this isn’t just a local story important to the region around the mountain, but also a topic of global interest, highlighting changes in weather patterns. Typically, Mount Fuji is renowned for its iconic image—a majestic mountain with its peak covered in snow. However, without the snow, it looked like an entirely different mountain, and I was struck by the realization that it is, in fact, an active volcano brimming with powerful natural energy. I visited a lake overlooking the mountain before sunrise. As the sun began to rise, swans gathered in a sunny spot, and I captured this serene yet stark moment. This topic serves as an example of visual news content.

PARIS – AUG. 5: Gold medalist Rebeca Andrade of Brazil, and Americans Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles—who won silver and bronze, respectively—celebrate on the podium at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Photographer Elsa: I follow a lot of the athletes on their social media accounts. Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles were talking about how much they admired Rebeca Andrade of Brazil. When I saw that Rebeca had won the gold medal in the floor exercise, I had a feeling that they would do something to show their appreciation and respect. I was assigned a lot of different events during the Olympic Games. On this day, I was joining our gymnastics photographers, who had been covering the event the entirety of the Games. My role was to find other angles to round out our coverage. As photographers at Getty Images, we arrived several days before the Olympics began to explore the various venues. Because of this, I knew exactly where I needed to go. Without that prior knowledge, I am not sure I would have made it in time to capture this moment. The medal ceremony happens very quickly after the individual event, and there was no time to search for the perfect spot.

What I love about this image is that it embodies the Olympic spirit–not only athletes supporting each other but women supporting each another.

LOS ANGELES – JAN. 30: The retired NASA Space Shuttle Endeavour, covered in protective white wrapping, is lifted into place to be affixed to the giant orange external tank and twin solid rocket boosters at the California Science Center. The process is installing the shuttle into a vertical launchpad position in a full 20-storystack for eventual display. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Photographer Mario Tama: I was thrilled to cover this story, as it brought me full circle from photographing one of the launches of Space Shuttle Discovery nearly 20 years ago. Back then, I witnessed the shuttle’s powerful ascent into space from about 10 miles away—a moment I’ll never forget. This time, I had the privilege to photograph Endeavour up close, even if it was wrapped in protective covering. Around 10 p.m., a 450-foot crane began hoisting the shuttle into the air above Exposition Park, ever-so-slowly raising it over the walls of the future Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center. For those of us who grew up experiencing the triumphs and tragedies of the Space Shuttle program, it’s inspiring to know that future generations will soon have the opportunity to marvel at Endeavour in launch position right here in Southern California.

PARIS – JUNE 3: Novak Djokovic slides at the net for a forehand against Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina in a fourth round match during of the French Open at Roland Garros Stadium. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Photographer Clive Mason: I can’t lie, I feel quite lucky to have captured this frame. It was such a quick moment, and it’s one of a sequence of six. All have their own merits, but this is the standout. To capture one of the all-time greats playing such an unusual shot and to show his athleticism was a real buzz. It’s so easy during a long tennis match to let your concentration wander or miss something. Many stars have to align—a little bit of luck plays a part in capturing an image such as this. After I’d finished shooting the rest of the point, I was afraid to look at the image on the camera screen for fear that the autofocus may have jumped onto the net and not on Novak’s face, which would have obviously been devastating. I was also very lucky that the angle I was working at meant you could actually see his face; a slightly different angle, and his face could quite easily been obscured by the net. It’s such an unusual frame to capture, but Novak has been known to play this type of shot before but rarely. The orange/red hue of the clay somehow makes the image pop a bit more than if it been shot on grass with a white outfit.

ELMONT, N.Y. – SEPT. 11: Chappell Roan attends the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards at UBS Arena. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV)

Photographer Mike Coppola: Prior to the VMAs, I never had the chance to photograph Chappell Roan, so I was curious to see what she would be like in person. She had a presence about her when she walked out of a veteran musician. I appreciated the confidence she brought to the carpet, like she was always destined to be there—and the theatrical costumes helped as well. I purposely used a prism for her photo. She had that aura about her, and I felt like she just needed a prism to go along with her look that night. I attempted to take her glaring look and extend it with color and direction. I used this on other artists as well, but it fit best for her in my opinion. I like the images that I take to be a little different and enhance the subject if needed. Her hair, her gaze and overall presence really bring this image to life.