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3/25/10
Sailor and Girl Kissing in Time Square by: Alfred Eisenstaedt
A kiss. Alfred Eisenstaedt took one of the most world-recognized photographs of
a kiss. A kiss is a common occurrence throughout the world. Whether it is a cultural
greeting kiss, the first kiss shared between newlyweds, or a simple kiss goodnight from a
parent; the kiss is a familiar occurrence. If a kiss is such an ordinary action why does
this photograph stop people in theyre tracks? Why is it so well known? The choices
Eisenstaedt made when taking this picture causes an emotional response in the viewer.
This subjects in this picture were not placed in the positions the viewer sees them in
Instead it is Eisenstaedts placement of his camera angle along with the specific setting
that make for this photograph to stand out from the norm.
A full uniformed sailor passionately puts his arms around a woman in all white.
He sways her down in the middle of the street with a kiss. The setting of this picture is a
key component to its fame. After your eye sees the sailor it is immediately drawn to the
background scene. Located in the center of what is a busy street, the lines of people
surrounding the two kissing not only draw your eye to the center of the photograph, but
also to the back of the picture; the buildings. You then realize that this is located in the
center of Times Square. This Passionate picture was taken in Times Square on V-J Day
(victory over Japan day) August 14, 1945. There look to be hundreds of people in the
street, yet the focus of this shot is the two kissing. By having all of the commotion
present in the photo it makes the two kissing that much more intriguing. It does so
because then as a reader you realize how extravagant this kiss must have been. The two
kissing are not wearing anything out of the ordinary from everyone else in the street, so
why are they so noticeable? This puts the two kissing into perspective because in order to
have been able to stand out in that crowd, they really were to have to been doing
something extraordinary.
The Camera angle causes the sailor and woman to be the main focus of this
picture as well. They are front and center and at the viewers eye level. By making them
at eye level it gives the feeling that you are there. It makes you feel that you are one of
the other hundreds of people in the street watching this happen. By making the viewer
feel as though they are there it build the pathos of this picture. It allows the viewer no
matter how old or young they are to be able to relate to this exact moment in history.
Because they are so up close and eye level it also allows for the viewer to daydream. It
puts you in this photograph and makes you wonder what it would be like to have been
there. It causes the viewer to wonder, who is this man and womanit makes them
wonder if the two kissing ever knew that someone was taking the photo. A smile
overcomes your face when you view this shot. It is as if you are feeling the same passion
as the surrounding people in Times Square.
The body language given off by the sailor and woman are extremely passionate.
Her back is arched and hand thrown to the side. She gives off the strong vibe that she
had just been swept off her feet. The sailor has his arms wrapped around her and his full
attention seems to be on her. Not only are the sailor and woman passionate, but all of the
surrounding people are as well. The surrounding bunches of people whose facial
expressions are within view all seem to be focusing the on two kissing. Theyre faces are
bight with joy and excitement. Whether it being from the victory over Japan, or from
witnessing what became the worlds most famous kiss, these people are definitely joyful.
Because the viewer only witnesses joy when looking that this photo that is what will
translate to the reader. The feelings of this picture immediately are passed through the
picture to whoever lays eyes on it.
When the viewers eyes hit this photograph, not only do emotions overflow their
mind, but the contrast of colors pops as well. Eisenstaedt choice of shooting this couple
had to do with the couples contrast with one another. The sailor wearing all black, and
the woman in all white causes your eye to immediately be drawn to them. No matter the
placement they would stick out. Yes, Eisenstaedt used camera angles to make the picture
more powerful, but just the contrast alone added to this excitement. If the viewer takes a
closer look they also notice that the sailor has a touch of white to his outfit, his hat. The
colors of the two become intertwined as he wraps her around his arms.
When the viewers eye wanders the picture it tends to look to the back of the
photograph. This occurs because of the existing lines located in the picture. On the street
to the left of the couple are trolley lines running down the street parallel to the couple.
This generates the viewers eye to follow these lines to the back of the photo. To add to
these lines there are people walking along these lines almost as if in a formation around
the couple. The buildings add even more attention to the lines of the photographs as for
they go parallel along with the people on the street.
Eisenstaedt captured the spontaneous vibe of the couples passionate kiss. If he
would have moved the camera more to the left or more to the right it would not have
captured the same emotions and the power of the picture would have decreased. This
picture was a candid and not set up, but Eisenstaedt knew exactly what his own
placement of his lens would do to benefit this moment.
This photograph presents many different qualities that contribute to why it has
become so well know. The pure mystery of it all also plays a contribution to its fame.
Alfred Eisenstaedt lets your imagination wander when viewing this photograph . The
simple caption beneath it explaining that this sailor ran through the streets kissing most of
the woman that entered his path makes you wonder even more. The Kiss on V-J day will
always be remembered.
There may be nothing like a dame, but there's something about a sailor--Alfred
Eisenstaedt's famous V-J Day photo of a sailor sweeping a nurse off her feet in a jubilant
kiss has a prominent place in our common imaginations.
Alfred Eisenstaedt (December 6, 1898[1] August 24, 1995) was a German American
photographer and photojournalist. He is renowned for his candid photographs, frequently
made using a 35mm Leica M3 rangefinder camera. He is best remembered for his
photograph capturing the celebration of V-J Day. Learn More about him here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Eisenstaedt
V-J Day was "Victory over Japan Day". Learn more about it here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V-J_Day A excerpt from this article appears below.
Works Cited
"Alfred Eisenstaedt's V-J Day Kiss." Alfred Eisenstaedt's V-J Day Kiss. 2010.
Web. 25 Mar. 2010. <http://images.google.com/imgres?
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