Photographs

News and stories about photographs in Getty’s collections and exhibitions

Featured

The Man Who Photographed Ghosts

A black and white photograph of a man sitting in a chair with a "ghost" behind him.

Ghost photographer William H. Mumler duped the rich, profited, and got sued

The Personal, Political Photography of Ishiuchi Miyako

A young Japanese woman and man sit together, facing the camera, in a small apartment.

A rare photographic view into women’s history in post-war Japan

Capturing the Feeling of the Ocean on Paper

How an artist-scientist uses cyanotypes to inspire a love of marine life

Latest

  1. The Woman Who Shaped a Generation of American Ads

    woman leaning on a table behind a large camera, with a vase of flowers, bowl of fruit, and basket of bread on the table and photography lights above

    Photographer Barbara DuMetz reflects on over 40 years of championing diversity in commercial photography

    May 13, 2026

  2. Inside the Frame

    Three people sit on the trunk of a car along a city road.

    By pointing the camera at his friends, Jerry McMillan produced a portrait of the Los Angeles art scene as essential as any painting

    May 6, 2026

  3. Through the Camera’s Lens, Uncover LA’s Vital Role in the Civil Rights Movement

    Cover of book "Marching West" featuring protesters marching on a city street holding signs advocating civil rights during the Los Angeles Civil Rights Movement.

    With rarely seen photos, this book highlights the importance of photography in Los Angeles’s fight for equality

    Apr 13, 2026

  4. Is Your Favorite Painting Colored with Crushed Bugs?

    A large portrait of a man in a vivid red robe with a red frame hangs in a gallery setting, while a woman in the lower left of the frame points up at the man.

    Discover red’s rich—and sometimes secretive and violent—history

    Mar 10, 2026

  5. Getty Acquires Irving Penn‘s Cuzco Work

    A black and white negative film photograph of two small children dressed in tattered clothing and floppy hats, leaning against and joining hands atop a stool.

    Landmark donation includes 189 photographs from the artist’s 1948 project

    Feb 26, 2026

  6. “Let Me Get to Work"

    Black and white photograph of a person wearing a stylish outfit walking past a painted wall with an intricate illustration and the words, "think positive".

    Photographer Coreen Simpson reflects on five decades of documenting Black culture

    Feb 24, 2026

  7. Sights and Sounds of the Revolution

    woman with long braids wearing headphones, in a room with artwork on the walls and DJ equipment in the background

    KCRW DJ Novena Carmel discusses art and activism and crafts her own playlist inspired by the Black Arts Movement

    Feb 20, 2026

  8. Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955–1985

    Black-and-white image of a woman working in a factory surrounded by sewing implements. She smiles toward the camera with her arms stretched wide.

    New exhibition opens February 24–June 14, 2026

    Feb 9, 2026

  9. Take a Paul R. Williams Tour of Palm Springs

    A midcentury beige building stands with lush landscaping and palm trees against a blue sky and scattered clouds

    You can still visit four of the pioneering architect’s buildings today

    Feb 2, 2026

  10. Dress Code: Drag

    Black and white photograph of dark-skinned person with arms spread wide to reveal luxurious evening wear

    In the Johnson Publishing Company Archive, you’ll find photographs of 1950s' drag performers striking a pose at grand balls

    Feb 2, 2026