Steve McCurry
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Steve McCurry (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1950) is an American photojournalist best known for his evocative color photography. Capturing the essence of human struggle and joy, in the finest documentary tradition, is one of his artistic trademarks. McCurry has covered many areas of international and civil conflict, including the Iran-Iraq war, Beirut, Cambodia, the Philippines, the Gulf War, and continuing coverage of Afghanistan. McCurry's work has been featured in every major magazine in the world and frequently appears in National Geographic magazine. He has been a member of Magnum Photos since 1986.
McCurry's career was launched when, disguised in native garb, he crossed the Pakistan border into rebel-controlled Afghanistan just before the Russian invasion with rolls of film sewn into his clothes. Some of these images were later published around the world as among the first to show the conflict there. His coverage won the Robert Capa Gold Medal for Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad, an award dedicated to photographers exhibiting exceptional courage and enterprise.
Although McCurry shoots both in digital and film, his admitted preference is for transparency film. Based in New York, McCurry offers weekend workshops for interested photographers who wish to have their work critiqued by him.
A high point of McCurry's career was the photo titled "Afghan Girl" of the previously unidentified Afghan refugee girl. The image itself was named as "the most recognized photograph" in the history of the magazine and her face became famous as the cover photograph on a June 1985 issue of National Geographic magazine. She has also became a famous face on Amnesty International brochures, posters, and calendars. The identity of the "Afghan Girl" remained unknown for over 15 years until McCurry and a National Geographic team located the now woman, Sharbat Gula, in 2002.
