National Geographic's most recognizable photo: Afghan Girl

Agent: This photo was taken by Steve McCurry, a National Geographic photojournalist, in 1984.
Act: The photograph shows the plight of Afghans during the Soviet Invasion. It conveys the fear and anguish that this 12 year old girl feels, and reveals the human side of war and destruction. It also shows the strength of an Afghan woman, a strength and identity that is rarely revealed as a photographed face, because their faces are so often covered. It argues that these women do have an identity and that it should be captured and appreciated.
Agency: The photograph was published on the cover of National Geographic in June 1985, complementing a story on the Afghan refugees. The photo was edited and printed large enough to cover the front page, allowing the features of the photo subject to be accentuated and provocative. The woman's piercing green eyes show the trauma she has had to face, and her tattered garment shows the struggle of her two-week flee. The way she is hunched over and peeking out of her shawl give the audience a feeling that we have caught her in a moment; that it is a raw and candid glance and that she is almost telling us a secret. The warm color of her skin and garment also reveal her culture and gives the photo an exotic feel.
Scene: The photograph was taken at a refugee camp in Pakistan in 1984. After the Soviet invasion of Afganistan, during which this young girl's village and family were destroyed, she was forced to make the two week trip to the camp on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Her name is Sharbat Gula. The audience of this photograph is any reader of National Geographic, someone who is interested in the story behind the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan or even just any consumer who sees the photo on the cover of the magazine.
Purpose: The photojournalist aims to reveal the struggles that these Afghan refugees have had to face. He wants to tell their story. He says that when he saw the girl's face, he jumped on the chance to capture her emotion, since he rarely gets to photograph Afghan womens' faces. McCurry says,“This portrait summed up for me the trauma and plight, and the whole situation of suddenly having to flee your home and end up in refugee camp, hundreds of miles away." The photograph also had a monetary motive behind it, both for the photographer and the magazine. They hope to sell copies and win recognition and awards for their work.

I have always been obessesed with this photo. I think it is one of the most stunning faces I have ever seen. Breathtaking.