Change

This article proves how much the idea of beauty has change in a last few decades.  What before was  beautiful, curves and shape, now is  not acceptable in a  world of fashion and advertisement world that is being transfer into our day to day life. Why is it that we are so easily manipulated by the visual image? It seems that we all need to feel beautiful and desirable and it is very difficult  to resist the  outside pressure that we are being subjected to.  It is also sad that in contemporary world it is more important to fit unified image then to see that we all different and unique.

Heat

New York of 1930's/40's there was no air conditioning but summers were hot.  People try to deal with the unbearable heat the best way they could by sleeping on the fire escapes.  It is quiet unusual idea but if we consider how uncomfortable heat can be and the fact that trying to get a good night rest in this condition is impossible the  idea of seeping outside is quit appealing.  This picture was taken by Weegee famous crime photographer of 30's and 40's. This way of dealing with hot weather has been a subject of Arthur Miller essay 'Before air conditioning'  I find looking into the past very interesting way of realizing how much our lives progressed in a very short time.

Meltdown

The responsibility that comes with using a nuclear power is unthinkable.  As a example of how damaging can radiation be is Chernobyl.  On the 26th of April 1986 town in Ukraine experienced a full blast of rector Meltdown.  All was extincted from the face of the town the radiation spread through Europe spreading fear and unstoppable feeling of powerlessness.  A part from precautions there was nothing that can be done to stop the disaster. One more time the human  knowledge and power was proven useless in a situation where millions of life were at stake. The fact that we have access to something like nuclear power and that we can create dose not mean that we are able to control it to the point in which we can be absolutely sure that it will not go terribly wrong at some point.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/23/pictures-of-chernobyl_n_4987915.html




Chernobyl is still not recover from the explosion and most probably it will not be livable for a long time.  The important thing in my opinion is to keep in mind the power of nuclear force that we are using.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nuclear-disaster-at-chernobyl


https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDwQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DdS3WvKKSpKI&ei=HdAyU-D3HoTG7AavzICoAw&usg=AFQjCNHEcaeuIi4jha_PdQe7BM_Ry99sNw&sig2=s_bAmkZ4A-JI226B43EM4Q&bvm=bv.63738703,d.ZGU

Summer is in the neighborhood.

Summer 1940, New York, people trying to fight the heat by taking a cool swim in the Astoria pool near the Hell Gate bridge.  It is a rather unusual sight to see so many enjoying the simple pleasures in life.  In a busy town like New York people appear to find leisure on the doorstep. It is such a shame that today we do not often look for happiness in activities that are close to us.  It is so easy to miss the things are in close proximity.   The towns that we living in have things that are curious and exciting and yet we always seem to never visit them because their are so familiar to us.   

The man from the picture dies

    

The man who claim to be the solder in the picture died at 86.  http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/73598000/jpg/_73598752_73598751.jpg

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-26588030

Health and Safety?

 In contemporary world where we are contently being reminded about the danger of the surrounding us world it is impossible to even imagine work performance as shown on the picture above.  Even looking at this photograph gives me goosebumps.  It looks like those two man during their lunch break decided to show off how 'fearless' their are.  What is interesting that nowadays people still are prepared to perform that kind of  potentially lethal activity.  What is that make some of us seeking a danger.  Is it the need for adrenalin rush, necessity to show of in front of pears or maybe just simply lack of imagination? One think is clear that change of the awareness of the dangers in our world does not make any different to some that show unexplained need for the excitement.  This picture brings to mind Alan Robert, also known as the French Spider-man.  He does illegally climes the highest buildings in the world without any ropes or support risking his life.  He is an example that as before regardless how much knowledge we gain about danger and how much precaution we put in place to protect follow humans there always be people who will want to break the rules.





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwVhPNPJFG0

Need for a sun

Can you imagine, that this machine was used to provide an artificial sun tan?  How on earth did that work?  Considering that this machine was not for an individual use  but probably placed somewhere in the shop for public use.  How did people protect their clothing ?  All those questions and not a one answer but it is not the only invention that took time to evolve into its final, contemporary form.  However it is fascinating to see the first attempts and imagine that people did actually use them.  Thanks to photograph like that we are able to get a chance to get a flavor of the past and noticed how much life changed since then.

Is it relay him ?

When I first saw this photo I would never suspected the identity of the man in it.  Can you guess?

It is Charlie Chaplin at the at the age of 27.  He was an English comic who not only made movies but also star in them.  He was born on the 16 of April 1889 as Charles  Spencer.  He was a phenomenal performer that will always be remember but very often as a stage character he created.

Afternoon with my mother.

Spending time with  mum,Which one of us do not have those lovely memories?  The times when we were valuable and yet so feel so safe in the arms of our mum.  This vision can not be more associated with

childhood we are so often longing for as adults. The picture below however is an exact moment could't be more disturbing and contradicting for a contemporary viewer.

There it is a picturesque scene of joys of motherhood, ability t introduce child to a new things in life teach them about world and  life, it is exactly what this woman on the picture is doing. And yet it is so wrong. 

Lovely peaceful afternoon but what cot the attention of the family in the picture, atomic explosion!

How unthinkable is it today to even imagine that people were so unaware of the dangers of the nuclear weapon and how cruel and absolutely careless of the garment to let that kind of situation occur.  It was an atomic test in Las Vegas in 1953. This picture is not the only one of that kind showing how different knowledge of the world and world itself has changed.

How many people did pay the price for that knowledge is another subject matter.

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/2013/06/12/boom/

An ordinary life

 

 

 

 

Why is it that our perception of people who has proven to be extraordinary is so idealistic?  It is shocking to see someone like Winston Churchill, in his swimming costume performing an activity which is very common for very single one of us.  Is it because in our mind we associating people with their role so strongly that it is becoming a stereotypic view and in our mind we create a certain picture that if challenged by a collision with a everyday life becomes a challenge to our imagination.

 

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/churchill-family-on-holiday

 

 

British prime minister from 1940 till 1945.  In this Photo from 1922 presented in his swimming suit.  The image that in my opinion change a perception and challenges a viewer to think about iconic figures like Churchill in a more down to earth categories.

The secret

The tragic story of Car Nicholas the second and his family is an outcome of political struggles in early twentieth century Russia. The events that took place in summer of 1918 ended forever the powerful monarchy and started the long period in history in  which  the country was rolled by the Bolsheviks and Communist party. I have always had this naive perception that Russia under the monarch was somehow magical and full of secrets to discover.  The story of this family is very sad and leaves us with the feeling of sadness, loss and injustice; the struggle for power that destroys the life of innocents just to make sure that there will not be any remains of the old ideology for people to hold on to.

 In March 1917 family of Romanov's was abducted and put under house arrest near St. Petersburg. These  measures were not enough for the Bolsheviks that still felt threatened by the status of the Tsar and the possibility that his supporters may at some point revolt against arising new system of power.   On the 17th of July the Romanov's had been woken up and informed that for their safety they should move into the basement were they were shot by the Red Army soldiers.
The fact that the whole family including the children were shot in cold blood is extremely cruel. The reason that this crime interests so many people, and still is a popular subject of debates, is that we can see the family in one of the first movies and pictures enjoying everyday life. We can see them in their private setting which I think make us relate to them more.  They were not the Royal Family always posing, visible at the official events or a painting, but a family so different and yet so similar to many others.

There are a lot of legends connected to Romanov's death, like that one about princess Anastasia surviving and still living somewhere, or the one that the ladies in the family hid jewels under their clothing which then stopped the bullets from hitting them, all of which sounds rather unlikely.  The most shocking thing to me is the fact that people could do something so cruel and evil.  I can never understand how something like that could be even thought of. The most terrifying thing is that crimes against innocents happens all the time and even after so many years we are unable to stop them from happening.
The only thing we have to remind us are those photographs and movies that we have, the only thing that remains of the last Russian Royal Family.

The kiss !!!

It was not an ordinary warm, summer day, it was a significant event in history.   On the 14th of August 1945 Japan surrendered  finishing the The Second World War. The conflict that had been one of the most violent and cruel  times in human history. The war that was a long struggle against indescribable crimes of human against human but also  many stories of bravery courage and brotherhood. On this day in New York Times Square this picture was taken.  I always find pictures and paintings extremely interesting statements of time. I have read somewhere that certain indigenous  people were afraid of cameras.  They believed that it can steal their souls.  It may sound naive at first but it did stick in my mind as a perfect way to described what the images do. The fact is that long after we are gone pictures and painting, if well preserved, will remain to tell our story. Keeping part of us in it.  Like the picture of the soldier kissing a girl on this memorable day.

Up until now it is not entirely clear who they were we can not be sure of their identity.  A lot of individuals seem to be claiming that it was them in this picture that has been published by Life magazine as a part of the presentation of the celebration of that day.  What amazes me is that not everyone is familiar with the events that had taken place on the 14th of August but most of us did see this picture somewhere. The fact that after so many years we are still fascinated by it.  One of the possible stories was that the girl was a nurse and she was coming out from the station when the solder who was so overwhelm by the happy news that the War is finished, grabbed her and kissed her.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional/kissing-sailor-remembers-nurse-from-wwii-photo-lef/nL738/

We can find the personal accounts of the people who were potentially in this picture about the event:

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/13/from-photos-periphery-an-eyewitness-to-a-timeless-kiss/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

That kind of interest and  recreation of the image is for me a sign of something unique.  What makes us so fascinated about it?  I believe  that in regards to this picture there are a few factors; for one the fact that it gives us a opportunity to create our own narrative.  We can imagine and write our own story like for example, there he is, a hero who just came back to his sweetheart he has not seen for a long time.  It is a image that is full of passion and happiness.  It is a mystery and who does not like a bit of a mystery? A special one that gives an opportunity to relate it to love and romance? Is that not a perfect example of romantic adventure we would all like to experience?