black and white: then to now 'PASSION!'

There's 'passion' then there's 'PASSION!'. This photo showing two

different couples on Kyiv's main street flirting (or more) with each other

well illustrates the point. One might be tempted to yell 'get a room!' to

the couple, left, but housing is expensive and in short supply, which in

part accounts for such public displays of affection (PDAs). Your ratings

and critiques are invited and most welcome. If you rate harshly or very

critically, please submit a helpful and constructive comment; please

share your photographic knowledge to help improve my photography.

Thanks! Enjoy! John (Oh, and they left with the man carrying the

woman on his back, away and down stairs, just one more Ukrainian

wonder!)

Lovers in Ukraine kiss.

A lot.

In public.

This is not Saudi Arabia, Iran or some Sharia law country where one gets lashed to death for going for 'home base' or even just a gentle peck on the cheek.

This is Ukraine where the differences between men and women are well understood, recognized and respected.

There is a transition, during extremely hot weather (above), when women are allowed to switch from high heels (right) to flip flops, usually not allowed, but then Kyiv is more cosmopolitan than the regional cities and towns where high heels are more de rigueur for beautiful young women 'on the prowl' for a mate. (and that is a correct description of what happens -- find a mate by age 20, reproduce and have grandkids for grandma by age 21 or get nagged by grandma).

No fooling.

It's like America in the '50s and early '60s, except with 'free love' from the Hippy Movement thrown in.   But no long hair (everyone has well groomed hair).

I think being beautiful when young and cutting and combing one's hair when young may be part of the Ukraine Constitution.  Somewhere up there around Articles I or II.

;~))

john

John (Crosley)

Busy street :)

This street, almost a park, is the center of Kyiv (Kiev).  When it's not like this, minus the wrapped leg, it's either snowing or covered with ice.  The remaining six to eight months it's either thronging with lovers and others or people are at home thinking of being there.

Sometimes I think that a major part of Kyiv's population started conception on these sidewalks, with the latter part to be consummated somewhere not so far away, but in some unknown and unknowable place.

I'm not even sure that's a theory; possibly it is a fact.

PDA could be Kyiv's motto (Public Display of Affection).

As a photographer, I couldn't be happier; a stroll in Kyiv's center almost guarantees photos of well-dressed, handsome couples smooching or more!

john

John (Crosley)

Great catch, John. Very well seen.

I thought I had seen all sorts of embraces, until I saw this from a distance and immediately put camera and zoom tele to eye, and had to step backward it was too close for a contextual photo.

I fired, and immediately they swiveled, the leg became unwrapped, and it was an ordinary embrace.

Whew!

I got it, just in time.

No planning, time to focus or compose.  This is somewhat of a crop; I had to put this in 'context' to make the comparisons.

Lens cap removal or changing a lens would have meant no photo.

That's the way it is on the street.

Thanks, Vadim.

john

John (Crosley)

Yes, there is really passion in this one! Good job!

Id didn't last long; just long enough for me to realize my best lens for capturing this on one of two cameras was way too long for a contextual shot so I had to back up substantially which I did posthaste.

I walked  backward and luckily didn't fall down steps or off an embankment!

I get excited when I see something really unusual, such as this.

Then suddenly, they turned, smooched a bit more, nothing extraordinary, then he carried her (yes, he carried her) off.

(Photos of that are on my hard drive but only one per situation, almost always.)

Thanks for commenting.

john

John (Crosley