"Victory Kiss at Times Square ", Nov.4, 2008. Photograph by Anthony Almeida.
Usually when someone comes up to you at an at fair and tries to present their work, it's at the least bad timing and at the worst a presumptuous intrusion. The point of a fair is so clearly for dealers to sell work that it's obviously inappropriate. Sometimes, however, someone comes up to you in a nice way - as did Anthony Almeida - who said he enjoyed my blog and gallery and had one picture he thought I might like.
Well, he'd certainly done his homework because this is absolutely a kind of picture I like. It's visceral, engaging, romantic, historic, well composed, and the 8x10 inch print he gave me was sharp as a tack. I asked for further information and got this reply:
Hi James,
This photo was taken at Times Square, on Election Night, Nov. 4, 2008, during the four second interval of "the kiss". At about eleven o'clock, when the crowd realized that Obama was victorious, a roar, like rolling thunder ensued. Soon after, my vantage point allowed me to capture the jubilation of the crowd on the bleachers in the foreground, as well as the historical event unfolding on the jumbotron. After reflecting on the image of the kiss, which lasted only a few seconds, framed by transient bill boards, I somehow felt it had somehow sealed a far reaching event long in the making.
I've been an active photographer and teacher of photography for almost 40 years. I originally studied with Lisette Model; although much of my work is quite diversified, most of it deals with humanistic themes. "Circles of the Heart"is a thirty five year photo essay which celebrates the beauty and diversity reflected by individuals from all cultures. The new spirit of humanism ushered in by Barack Obama's Presidency is, in a sense, a validation of so much of what my work has been striving to achieve.
He shoots and writes from the heart. You've got to love this guy!
12 comments:
Wow, what a good shot.
A wonderful capture. Historic and wonderful.
such an inspiring shot! I have difficulty creating a photo that has focus for the eye, despite the chaos around it.
Ocassionally you come across the result of the right photographer and subject at the right time.This is true of Anthony Almeida's "Victory Kiss" in Times Square .It immediately reminded me of another victory kiss in Times Square at the end of WW II,the sailor kissing the nurse, both personal and historic, one a celebration of the end of the war against Nazi fascim,current one a symbol of victory over centuries of prejudice in our country.Anthony's bio. statement elaborates what is framed in his picture within a picture:In the US we practice what we preach although it may take a long time to get there..History,romance,drama ,message in a magical moment(how did he do that in ambient night light,hand-held)recorded forever,the way only an artist could ,for us individually and posterity..I would like to see more of his work..Renman59
Now that is art. Not just a picture. Anthony created art here.
You are NOT an art dealer! You're much too human for that. What's going on??
I just got chills.
What a moment...the feeling so artfully captured.
Looks like a movie billboard, something about real Passion.
It also reminds me about the "Gone with the Wind" Poster. Rhett & Scarlett snogging away. :-)
One day this image will be what comes to mind when when future generations think of Barack Obama.
Fabulous! As a boy I was told that a photograph is a single moment in time captured as seen through the lens by the photographer's eye... What a fine example of capturing an historic event at the perfect moment.Simply fabulous!
Words are inadequate to describe the beauty of Anthony Almeida's "Victory Kiss". It evokes such depth of feeling and goes beyond the historical significance of the moment. I could see this photograph hanging proudly in every home and office in America. Mr. Almeida is truly a genius.
Is that the artists real name?
Anthony Almeida?
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