Product Description

Born in Philadelphia, Steve McCurry studied history and cinematography at Pennsylvania State University before working as a freelance photographer in India. He is best known for his evocative colour photography, which has captured stories of human experience that, in the finest documentary tradition, cross boundaries of language and culture. His career was launched when he crossed the Pakistan border into rebel-controlled Afghanistan just before the Russian invasion to take the first pictures of the conflict. Since then many of McCurry’s images have become modern icons. A high point of his career was the rediscovery of an unidentified Afghan refugee girl, which many have described as the most recognizable photograph in the world today. His coverage won him the Robert Capa Gold Medal for Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad, an award dedicated to photographers exhibiting exceptional courage and enterprise.

McCurry has covered many areas of international and civil conflict, including the Iran-Iraq war, Beirut and the Gulf War. But his travels have also taken him to southeast Asia and the spiritual temples of Angkor Wat and Cambodia, made known to many through his memorable images for National Geographic magazine. A member of the international photo agency Magnum Photos since 1986, he is the recipient of numerous awards including Magazine Photographer of the Year, awarded by the National Press Photographers Association. This was awarded in the same year in which he won an unprecedented four first prizes in the World Press Photo Contest. He has won the Olivier Rebbot Memorial Award twice.

This monograph on McCurry follows a chronological order, identifying major themes and examining key works; a beautifully produced, affordable introduction to one of the leading figures in photography today.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #942128 in Books
• Published on: 2005-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 74 pages

About the Author
Anthony Bannon Director of George Eastman House, International Museum of Photography and Film in Rochester, N.Y., Dr Anthony Bannon serves on boards for the New York State Council for the Humanities, Smithsonian Council and the Santa Fe Center for Photography. He has curated a show on McCurry's Tibetan works and his publications include Photo Pictorialists of Buffalo, winner of the American Photographic Historical Society's merit award, and the essay 'On Interpretation' (Image, vol. 39, no.3-4).

Customer Reviews

Great Book
Although you may have seen many of these images before, I would consider this to be 'The Best of Steve McCurry.' I thoroughly enjoyed that there is a description of how many of the images were taken, not from a technical photography perspective, but under what circumstances Steve made them. It gives you a deeper appreciation of each subject and the effort that went into how he gets such incredible shots. Bottom line: I have just about everything Steve has ever done---this is the best!

A joy to the eye of an art lover
Aazing photographer... his photos are like paintings. text is also nice.
A 5 stars... no doubt!

Very powerful
Very powerful pictures, I'm so jealous. I wish I could produce such pictures, just once in a while.
Nice introduction to Steve McCurry, at an affordable price.