Sharbat Gula is an Afghan woman who was the subject of a famous photograph by journalist Steve McCurry. Gula was living as a refugee in Pakistan during the time of the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan when she was photographed. The image brought her recognition when it was featured on the cover of the June 1985 issue of National Geographic Magazine at a time when she was approximately 12 years old. Gula was known throughout the world simply as "the Afghan Girl" until she was formally identified in early 2002. The photograph has been likened to Leonardo da Vinci's painting of the Mona Lisa and is sometimes popularly referred to as "the Afghan Mona Lisa".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Girl
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Taking the topic one step further, what are your favourite 'iconic' photographs?
There are so many to choose from, but, for me, these are a few that come to mind:
Bob Carlos Clarke
(I've seen so many people try to replicate variations on this shot)
Christine Keeler, photographed by Lewis Morley
(Another popular one that people try to emulate)
Twiggy, photographed by Barry Lategan
'Fred with Tyres', by Herb Ritts
Lastly, a photographer that you may not have heard of, Eric Watson - who was responsible for much of the Pet Shop Boys album and publicity photography. Here's an iconic shot of Chris Lowe.
Over to you.....
(images linked via Google Images) http://www.google.co.uk/imghp?hl=en&tab=ii
![;-]](./images/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif "Wink"){kind=icon}
