Photo of the day: Afghan Girl
Each photograph is not just the result of the photographer's work, but a whole story captured in the frame. Some photos become symbols of protest, others of support and hope. Through the lens of photographers, we can see pain, joy, hope, and despair, feel the spirit of the times and the atmosphere of change. That's why HD magazine launched the "Photo of the Day" section, where we talk about the most outstanding and significant photos in history.
The photo was taken by Steve McCarry in 1984 at the Nasir Bag refugee camp in Pakistan. In the photo is Sharbat Gula, a 12-year-old girl who fled Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan War (1979-1989).
Her piercing green eyes, full of both fear and strength, captivate and seem to tell the story of her people. The photo was first published on the cover of National Geographic in June 1985 and immediately became iconic, symbolizing the suffering and endurance of refugees.
For a long time, her identity remained unknown. Only in 2002 did McCarry, along with the National Geographic team, find it in Afghanistan. She lived in poverty, didn't know that her photo had become famous, and had never seen it before.
Sharbat got married at the age of 13 and had several children. In 2016, she was arrested in Pakistan for forgery of documents, but then released and deported to Afghanistan. In 2021, after the Taliban came to power, she took refuge in Italy.
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