Photos capture incredible memories throughout our lives. Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and overseas trips are just some of the occasions when people get snap-happy. It’s not just our personal lives either, with professional camera operators shooting images of celebrities and famous events throughout the world. They can also catch horrible moments after they have happened. There are many famous photographs showing the aftermath of catastrophic events. But what about those photos taken before disaster struck? 

There are many incidents where people’s last moments have been caught on film. These harrowing images depict the minutes before tragedy struck. From the final image of the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger to a photo of a bear that killed the photographer who took it, these are the most haunting photos taken before disaster struck. 

1. The Ill-Fated Space Shuttle Challenger

NASA

This is the final photo of the crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger before they perished during takeoff. On January 28, 1986, just 73 seconds after launch, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded over the Atlantic Ocean. All seven astronauts on board were killed. What’s worse, the families of the crew were all in attendance, as was a throng of media, who witnessed the destruction of the shuttle in real-time. 

The disaster resulted in the space program going on hiatus for 36 months. The positive to come out of all this was the establishment of the Office of Safety, Reliability, and Quality Assurance.

2. Hollywood Legend James Dean

@GroovinWithAPict/Reddit

James Dean’s life was cut short at the tender age of 24. The next big thing in Hollywood was as cool as they come. He oozed charisma and sex appeal, both on and off the camera. A known motor enthusiast, Dean drove a Porsche 550 Spyder he nicknamed ‘Little Bastard.’