As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” and these nine photographs perfectly illustrate that sentiment. While some of these images may seem uneventful at first glance, their backstories are chilling. These photos capture more than just a moment; they carry the terrifying truths hidden beneath the surface. Here are a few seemingly ordinary but spine-tingling photos and the stories behind them.
1. David A. Johnston, the American Volcanologist
This picture shows David A. Johnston, a volcanologist from the United States, sitting comfortably in a folding chair. But only 13 hours after this photo was taken, on May 18, 1980, the Mount St. Helens volcano erupted, claiming 57 lives, including Johnston’s.
Johnston was the first person to report the eruption, but before he could warn others, he was swept away by the volcanic lateral blast. His final words were, “Vancouver! Vancouver! It’s happening!” To this day, his body has never been found, though the remains of his USGS trailer were discovered in 1993. 
2. Father and Daughter in Omagh, Northern Ireland
This photograph was taken just before the deadly Omagh bombing in Northern Ireland on August 15, 1998. The red Vauxhall Cavalier on the right was rigged with a bomb, which exploded, killing 29 people, including the photographer. The father and daughter in the image survived the blast, and the camera was later found in the rubble.
3. Harold Agnew Holding the “Fat Man” Atomic Bomb Core
In this striking image, physicist Harold Agnew is seen holding the core of the “Fat Man” atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. This small, lunchbox-sized object would soon claim the lives of 80,000 people. The thought that such a devastating weapon was once in the hands of a single person is nearly unfathomable.
4. A Girl from a Concentration Camp Drawing “Home”
This photo, taken by David “Chim” Seymour in 1948, shows a girl named Teresa who was raised in a concentration camp during WWII. The photograph was taken when she lived in a children’s home for those with emotional disorders in Warsaw.
In 2017, researchers believed they had identified Teresa. During the German Air Force’s bombing of Warsaw, her home was destroyed, and a piece of shrapnel injured her brain. She and her 14-year-old sister fled Warsaw, walking for three weeks in search of safety. She later lived in a psychiatric hospital near Warsaw from the mid-1960s until her death in 1978.
5. The Lightning Strike Moment
In this seemingly carefree photo, brothers Michael and Shaun McQuirk are laughing as they pose with their hair standing on end. However, just seconds after this photo was taken, they were struck by lightning. On August 20, 1975, the siblings were hiking with their sister Mary in Sequoia National Park in California. Fortunately, they both survived the strike.
Michael McQuirk later recalled, “We thought it was funny at first. I took a photo of Mary, and she took one of Shaun and me. Then I raised my right hand, and the ring on my finger began buzzing loudly enough for everyone to hear. Suddenly, I collapsed, and Shaun curled up on the ground, his back smoking.”
6. A Tragic Seaside Moment
In the spring of 1954, Los Angeles Times photographer John Gunter was at his beachside home when he heard commotion coming from the shore. He grabbed his camera and rushed to the beach, capturing this heartbreaking image of a couple embracing. The couple’s 19-month-old son had wandered from their yard to the beach and drowned. Later, the baby’s body was found a mile offshore.
7. The “Grandcamp” Ship Explosion
This haunting photo was taken on April 16, 1947, showing the “Grandcamp” ship docked with firefighters from the Texas City Volunteer Fire Department trying to extinguish a fire in the cargo hold. However, the ship was carrying 2,200 tons of ammonium nitrate.
Minutes after this photo was taken, the ship exploded, causing one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in human history. All but one of the firefighters in the photo perished instantly, and around 500 people lost their lives in total.
8. The Eyes of Hatred
This is an unsettling photograph of Nazi propagandist and politician Joseph Goebbels in September 1933, shortly after discovering that his photographer was Jewish. The photographer, Alfred Eisenstaedt, had initially taken a few cheerful photos when Goebbels was in a good mood. However, upon learning the photographer’s heritage, Goebbels shot him a glaring, hateful stare.
9. John Lennon’s Final Autograph
This is a famous image of former Beatle John Lennon signing an album for a fan named Mark David Chapman. Just six hours after this photo was taken, Chapman shot and killed Lennon outside of his New York City apartment. Lennon was signing a copy of his album Double Fantasy at the time.
