Unconditional Surrender

[Chris Dodkin]

Canon 5D2 and 85mm f1.2

"Unconditional Surrender" is a 25-foot sculpture that brings to life a famous black and white image of a sailor kissing a young nurse in Times Square, New York City, on August 14, 1945.

It's currently on display at Tuna Harbor Park in San Diego - but is soon to be moved to Sacramento, so I popped downtown today to reconnoiter the area for a proper shoot within the next few weeks.

I'll be shooting it earlier in the day when the light is at the right angle to illuminate the statue!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

And to give you an idea of scale...

Kodak Moment

 

[Brian Moore]

You don't get a sense of the scale of that thing in the first fotie at all, Chris. The second one really puts it in perspective.

 

[Darren Bradley]

I know art is a matter of personal taste and all... but I have to admit that I - for one - will be VERY happy to see that thing carted away.

 

[Pete Askew]

I really like that second shot Chris. The juxtaposition of the elements is spot-on I reckon and the fact that the woman is walking (or at least has her legs crossed) adds a nice bit of implied motion that sets of the two static elements at treat.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Thanks Pete - the tourist was doing the usual 'walk and shoot', so I opened up to f1.2, focussed on her, and snapped the shot when she got to the right point.

Catching her all curvy was just luck, or masterful timing of course!

I'm going to go back in the early morning, and shoot with the 300mm from way back to really compress perspective - hopefully I'll get something interesting to post...

 

[Brian Moore]

I'm with Darren on this. I just hope they don't bring it north.

 

[Davie Hudson]

I'd have that in my back garden if they'd let me

 

[Pete Askew]

Have you got a big pond then Davie? Oh, you mean the statue!!

 

[Brian Moore]

I'd have that in my back garden if they'd let me

I'm no surprised, Davie! LOL.

 

[Davie Hudson]

it's a classic image, the neighbours might not like it but I don't care....

 

[Chris Dodkin]

You can buy one is styrofoam from the original artist Davie - they're only $542,500 each!

 

[Paul Lange]

I'll think I will settle for the blow up statue version of the woman instead. How much do they cost? More flexible than styrofoam apparently, so I have heard anyway......................

 

[Glen Roberts]

I'll think I will settle for the blow up statue version of the woman instead................

Now what could you possibly want with an inflatable woman???

The last one my mate had kept going down so he took it back to the shop and they charged him double..!!!!