A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of going to see Steve McCurry at the Southbank Centre. Steve McCurry is a photojournalist who has been working for 30 years in countries such as Afghanistan, India and in his home country photographing the aftermath of September 11. His most famous photograph is the Afghan Girl, an image that came to represent the trouble in Afghanistan and has been reproduced all over the world. Her haunting eyes capture both beauty, and the horror of war.
The lecture was based on his new book 'Untold: the Stories Behind the Photographs', and looked at some of his images, and the stories behind how he captured them. He also gave little tips on how to capture an image, taking in the surroundings and people around him.
What I like about McCurry's photography is to me it makes me feel better about the human race. Even photographs taken in times of war and trouble bring over a sense of beauty and hope, even if there is a feeling of sadness. In many of the portraits the individual looks straight down the camera lens, making the images feel very personal, like you're looking into someone else's world. The photographs are special as they show normal people around the world going about their lives, and it's a privilege to be given a glimpse through McCurry's lens.
After the lecture I was able to get the new book signed by Steve McCurry, and I was little star struck! He seemed a very nice guy, and was really patient with the long queue of fans waiting. I thanked him for his wonderful blog, which I recommend to anyone. Each blog is based on a theme (books, trees, prayer etc) and is a mixture of McCurry's photographs and famous quotes. I find it really uplifting, and a highlight to the week.
http://stevemccurry.com/blog
I also recommend his website, which contains many of his images, as well as upcoming events and exhibitions:
http://stevemccurry.com/
