Photographer George Pickow's finest shots – in pictures

George Pickow in front of the lens Photograph: Steve Guglielmo

American folk singer Pete Seeger, circa 1960 Photograph: George Pickow/Michael Ochs Archives

Nina Simone at the microphone, circa 1960 Photograph: George Pickow/Getty Images

A photographer lies in the bottom of his boat in order to capture an action shot of a speedboat flying overhead at the Cypress Gardens racecourse, Florida, in 1956 Photograph: George Pickow/Hulton Archive

Shot of a beagle – the popular breed used as either a house pet or as a hunting dog – circa 1955 Photograph: George Pickow/Hulton Archive

Having passed through the arch leading to the Basilica at Fátima in Portugal, a pilgrim, with her own jug of water to be blessed, makes her devotions. Behind her another pilgrim, who has travelled over 200 miles, is helped along on her knees. Shot dates from around 1950 Photograph: George Pickow/Hulton Archive

Basque men performing a variation of an old war dance in 1955 Photograph: George Pickow/Hulton Archive

A pottery worker's daughter in Stoke-on-Trent, the centre of the British ceramics industry, circa 1950 Photograph: George Pickow/Hulton Archive

A group of Mexican voladores in bird costumes making their descent from an 80ft-high pole. The six men are evenly spaced and appear to be flying, although they are all attached to a rotating platform on the pole's peak by ropes tied to their waists Photograph: George Pickow/Hulton Archive

Irish road bowler Flor Crowley leaps in the air, watching the trajectory of the ball he has just thrown Photograph: George Pickow/Hulton Archive

Record producer Al Bennett and the family pony share a joke in 1955 Photograph: Three Lions/Hulton Archive

Blues singer Mance Lipscomb entertains all ages in 1960 Photograph: George Pickow/Michael Ochs Archives

Jai alai, a Basque ball game played in a court with the player wearing a basket-like glove or cesta to catch the ball. Using his left hand to guide and help support the cesta, a player contorts like a dancer to try and catch the ball Photograph: George Pickow/Hulton Archive

Young members of Israel's Givat Brenner kibbutz on their way to pick a tomato crop, circa 1950 Photograph: George Pickow/Hulton Archive