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?
