Philadelphia born artist Steve McCurry is one of the world’s leading contemporary travel photographers. His origins lie in photojournalism, having freelanced for some years for the local paper after graduation from Pennsylvania State University.
He is best known for the famous image of the ‘Afghan Girl’ – one of the most iconic photographs to have appeared on the cover of National Geographic, since becoming widely used on Amnesty International brochures, posters, and calendars.
Much of his travel consisted of politicised commissions such as this, and he has famously covered the Iran–Iraq War, Lebanon Civil War, the Cambodian Civil War, the Islamic insurgency in the Philippines, the Gulf War and the Afghan Civil War, as well as having been present at the collapse of the World Trade Centre towers. However, his original passion for travel photography was ignited after a year living in India.
His focus is almost invariably on the human subjects within his compositions, and it is for this sensitivity that he has become so sought out and renowned; the landscape or landmarks secondary to his exploration of the human condition. Works demonstrate his deep fascination with and affection for the country of India, its people, and their way of life.
