Through the prism of time: how the most recognizable girl in the world has changed
Through the prism of time: how the most recognizable girl in the world has changed

Video: Through the prism of time: how the most recognizable girl in the world has changed

Video: Through the prism of time: how the most recognizable girl in the world has changed
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Afghan Girl: Then and Now
Afghan Girl: Then and Now

30 years ago on the cover of a magazine National Geographic a photograph of an Afghan girl with extraordinary green eyes was printed. This picture has become the most recognizable in the entire history of the publication. Many readers wanted to know how the girl's fate had developed, but, unfortunately, the photographer did not even ask her name. And only, many years later, an expedition was organized in search of her, which was crowned with success.

Photo of Sharbat Gula, taken in 1984
Photo of Sharbat Gula, taken in 1984

1984 photojournalist edition National Geographic Steve McCurry (Steve McCurry) was engaged in collecting material about the Afghan-Soviet war. Walking through the Nasir Bagh refugee camp, the photographer came across a tent in which the children were studying. With the teacher's permission, Steve took some pictures of the children. Especially his attention was attracted by a 12-year-old girl with green eyes.

Afghan Mona Lisa on the cover of National Geographic
Afghan Mona Lisa on the cover of National Geographic

The shooting process took only a few minutes and without any additional lighting. When, upon his return to Washington, the photographer developed the film, he was delighted with how beautiful the picture was. Appearing on the cover of the magazine, the photo immediately flew around the world. Since the child's name was not known, she was called simply "Afghan girl", and a little later Afghan Mona Lisa.

Afghan girl 17 years later
Afghan girl 17 years later

15 years later, after the photo was published, an expedition was organized to Afghanistan with the aim of finding the girl, if she could survive. The search was crowned with success and in 2002 she was found in the mountains on the Afghan-Pakistani border. Her name is Sharbat Gula (Sharbat gula), translated from Pashto it means “flower sherbet”. At that time, she was about 30 years old (the girl does not know the exact age). With her husband's permission, she opened her face and allowed herself to be photographed. Time and hardships have left their mark on the appearance of a woman. But the eyes remained the same. A look that pierces the very heart. All this time Sharbat Gula did not even realize that she was a symbol of the struggle for freedom and independence, and her face is known to the whole world.

Afghan-Pakistani border
Afghan-Pakistani border

Typically, photographers who take such masterpiece shots stay on the other side of the lens. Tim Mantoani decided to correct this misunderstanding and created the Behind Photographs photo project. He filmed photographers and their most famous works with Polaroid cameras.

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