Description

Steve McCurry has been one of the most iconic voices in contemporary photography for over three decades, documenting international conflicts, vanishing cultures, ancient traditions and contemporary society. Placing particular emphasis on individual frames, McCurry has produced some of the most recognizable photographs of the 20th century. His image of a young Afghan refugee with piercing eyes—the June 1985 cover of National Geographic—has become one of the most distinctive in photographic history. Speaking of his practice, McCurry has said: “What matters most is that each picture stands on its own, with its own place and feeling.” Pictured here, a shepherd of the Rabari tribe in Rajasthan fixes the camera with a piercing gaze.

A picture can express a universal humanism, or simply reveal a delicate and poignant truth by exposing a slice of life that might otherwise pass unnoticed

Steve McCurry
© Steve McCurry | Magnum Photos

Steve McCurry was born in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; McCurry studied film at Pennsylvania State University, before going on to work for a local newspaper. After several years of freelance work, McCurry made his first of what would become many trips to India.

Since then, McCurry has gone on to create evocative images in over six continents and countless countries, with scores of magazine and book covers, as well as solo global exhibitions.

His image of a young Afghan refugee with piercing eyes – the June 1985 National Geographic cover – has become one of the most distinctive in photographic history. McCurry has been a contributor to Magnum since 1986.

© Steve McCurry | Magnum Photos

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