Steve McCurry

   The World of Steve McCurry 

By: Connor Albaugh 

    Steve McCurry is one photographer in the history of photography that cannot go unannounced. Before this blog, I did not hear of or understand the magnitude of Steve McCurry’s name or the work he created let alone he was born in the same state as I was. About 3 hours from here in Philadelphia, PA, an artist was born that many people idolize as one of the most iconic and individually talented photographer in history. Following the same path as many kids take, Steve finished school and went to college obtaining a major in cinematography at Penn State (McCurry). From there, his life changed. Working for small companies including a newspaper, his life took a turn for the better where he would capture some of the greatest pictures that exist to this current day. He spent time across the country in various continents capturing excellent media and historic battles, notably in his trips he took to India (McCurry). After much time spent in India, he found himself crossing the Pakistani border and had was later smuggled by Afghanistan people into their home country where he would embark on an incredible journey of success. Mind you, Steve didn’t have much and simply relied on a suitcase of clothes and a camera where he caught a multitude of different backgrounds, landscapes, people, and emotion. In a time of distress and panic, Afghanistan was experiencing a Russian invasion which made public interactions very dangerous (McCurry). His ability to photograph images of children, conflicts of a war, different people and their expressions, and current life in Afghanistan is truly remarkable. His most prized posession happens to be a photo of an “Afghan Girl” which embodies power and strength during a time of uncertainty and fear. This image was so famous it even made its way onto the National Geographic magazine in 1984. Not only did Steve McCurry capture this image, but he managed to take pictures of abstract sceneries across the world and important events that have occurring in our history, such as the terrorist attacks of 9/11. 

    Steve McCurry and his work is very fascinating. His dedication to his work and his willingness to continue capturing media and other environments that showcase different perspectives and meaning motivates me as a photographer. When I first started taking photos, I emerged myself and let my creative spirit take hold of my camera and the things I would be willing and able to shoot. My dad was the man who first introduced me into photography and just how exciting and rewarding it was to see things differently. Additionally, this piece of art, especially one image, can tell a 1000 words more or less depending on what you wanted to get out of a specific photo. This is exactly like Steve and his drive to take photos that show different emotions and attitudes. Believe it or not, all of his images that I have been able to see are all visually appealing. There is something about each and every one of his photos that make them pop to the viewer at hand. One thing he does is he surrounds himself with a certain environment he is in and attempts to emulate their way of life. They famously call him “the wandering soul” (FeatureShoot). His ability to live and act like the community or place he is in helps to bring more depth and paint a better picture of his experiences and how he feels while he takes pictures in these settings. The style Steve uses to capture these images are just as important as his focus on certain populations and their behaviors. He captures most of his photographs in a shallow depth of field which allows there to be more focus on the main subject and less on the surrounding details of the photo. However, he still manages to include these aspects of each photo with equal emphasis although things like buildings or trees may be out of focus. 

    For example, in the photo above, “the collapse of the World Trade Center was captured from the top of a roof at Washington Square Park and Fifth Avenue in New York City” (Magnum). On September 11, 2001, a group of people known from the terrorist group ISIS hijacked planes and flew them into these buildings. It was a very sad and happened to be attack on the United States to send a very clear message. While viewing this photo, you see that this was taken by Steve McCurry. The fact that he was able to see this in person and photograph this at the exact moment that our country would change for the worst is incredible. You can see the shallow depth of field in this image with such pristine. He likely used a larger lense and allows the view to focus on the destruction of the building. The colors in this image, such as the grey from the smoke, indicating a feeling of irritability and depression. I like how he was able to get the pieces of the building falling from the severed trade center. It allows for the viewer to see just how much damage is done in little time and how a plane can cause an explosion. His use of leading lines from the high standing of the buildings leads you to the focal point of the destroyed trade center and there is a prominent and yet faded blue sky as smoke rises from the building. With people dying by the second for the heat of the burning plane fuel and in desperate need of initiative for direction, the colors are only one aspect of the image. Steve McCurry’s ability to capture other buildings in front of and in the background of the focal point is exquisite. The shadow seen on the front of the building in the back right of the photo symbolizes the thickness and overwhelming presence of the smoke and debris generated from these planes and just how overpowering it is. His image conveys a tone of shock and awe, especially because it happened in our own country. At this point, people had no idea what was going on and didn’t know what to do or where to go. The perspective gained from this roof top is so significant and unique in the eyes of Steve McCurry. He may have purposefully selected this location or ended up here by mistake. Regardless of his intention, there is a lot of detail and background emotion that can be taken away from this photo. In the eyes of a viewer, I am appalled and drawn back by this explosion. It almost seems too good to be true and scary because I was born three months after this terrorist attack on our country. Many good working people and players in different fields of law enforcement lost their lives trying to help people who had fallen or needed guidance. This photo should otherwise be taken seriously and pays as a respect to the people who witnessed this event as well as a memory people may not want to revisit from the past. One thing I would have liked to see more of is a closer view of the tower. This would have helped me to get a closer look at the details farthest away from the eye and how the tower broke apart once the planes had made impact. Also, an emphasis on the colors of the buildings and the sky would help to reveal and portray a “morning-like” feeling before tragedy and panic ensued. 

    On a closing note, the image displayed at the top of this blog is one of many examples showing how talented and how aware Steve McCurry is as a photographer. He spent many years in school and in the real world bettering his craft and capturing images people would live to remember. His style and his ability to be in the right places to create visual masterpieces that tell more than a story is incredible. The detail he is able to obtain through the lense of a camera is so important and shows what one can do when they put their minds to something. He is so passionate and creative with his work that each and every one of his photographs display something different and convey a certain story through his location, his angle, and his overall composition. In my journey through photography, he is someone I can look up to and learn from as I continue to learn and produce different approaches to certain photos. As a college student, I am enjoying the perks of having a camera available to capture the world at my fingertips because I can express myself through the photos I can take. There is always something to photograph, and you never know how something might turn out with just a little bit of hunger and inspiration to explore! 

Link to photo: https://www.magnumphotos.com/nyc14176-2/

Link to website for photo: https://www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/steve-mccurry/

Website #1: https://www.stevemccurry.com/bio

Citation: (McCurry) 

Website #2: https://www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/steve-mccurry/

Citation: (Magnum)

Website #3: https://www.featureshoot.com/2018/11/40-years-of-remarkable-photos-by-steve-mccurry/

Citation: (FeatureShoot)