PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE WEEK: Steve McCurry
| Source: Steve McCurry |
Steve McCurry has produced some of the most iconic images from the last 50 years. Known for photographs that showcase the vibrance and intimate humanity of divers cultures around the world.
McCurry was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1950. He studied cinematography at Pennsylvania University and then went on to work at a local Newspaper. After two years, McCurry traveled to India for the first time. McCurry fell in love with the experience of traveling with a camera.
“There’s a contemplative or meditative quality to photography which I find to be a sort of peaceful state. I love being able to travel the world, and experience different cultures and landscapes.”-Steve McCurry
It was on that first trip to India, that McCurry made his way to Pakistan and connected with a group refugees from Afghanistan. Russia had just invaded Afghanistan and the boarders were being restricted. The group of refugees helped smuggle McCurry into Afghanistan where he spent months immersed in the Afghan culture documenting the their way of life and the unfolding conflict. When McCurry made the journey out of the country, he had to sew his spent roles of film into the hems of his clothing to avoid having them confiscated at the boarder.
McCurry would make many more trips to Afghanistan, one of which he would take the photo of the refugee “Afghan Girl” that would make the cover of the June 1985 National Geographic Magazine and become one of the most famous photos of all time. This photo raised a great deal of awareness about the refugee crises and established McCurry as a staple in travel photography and photojournalism. Seventeen years later, McCurry and a team from National Geographic, would locate and reconnect with the “Afghan Girl,” whose name is Sharbat Gula. The story of Sharbat Gula brings up complex questions about the role of photo journalists in the world--and all photographers--but, that is for another blog post... if you are curious about some other perspectives on the story (and ethical thoughts about taking photos and journalism), you can watch Tony Northrup’s YouTube video.
Steve McCurry has traveled and photographed the world and its cultures extensively--he continues to do so to this day. His photographic style is so iconic that numerous photographers--including myself-- have attempted to emulate his captivating images. McCurry has an ability to connect with a subject is such a way that their photographs emit the raw, intimate and complex, mysteries of humanity. Many of McCurry’s photos feature a subject staring at and through the camera (and into the viewers soul); this is an attribute that even his earliest photographs seem to portray. I love the photos with intense eye contact and I find them to be the strongest examples of his work. Despite the captivating gazes, my favorite photo by McCurry is of someone looking away from the camera--running away, in fact.
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| Source: Steve McCurry “Boy in Mid Flight” |
I love this image. I think that there are many other images by Steve McCurry that are more “powerful” or tell a more complex story in a more impactful way. But, as far as just liking an image, it is this one for me. I love the variety and vibrance of color, the red hand prints, and a kid cruising down the narrow ally of what is probably an old and magical town. I like that this image leaves me with more questions than answers. My imagination and curiosity are activated. I fell in love with photography because of the mystery and wonder that can be found when both taking and viewing photographs. Studying this image fills me with both wonder and curiosity at the mystery, as does many of McCurry's photos.
Steve McCurry set the bar for a genre of travel photography that the majority of travel photographers and photojournalists are still trying to live up to. If you would like to see more of Steve McCurry’s work, you can find it at his website.
References:
https://youtu.be/C0plNvaR0bg
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