Steve Mccurry: A Contemporary Photographer Robert Anderson IPFW J210 Fall 2016 Ben Weller

Glossary Photographic styles [3 – 4] Overview of career [5] Early life [6] India [7 – 8] Afghanistan [9 – 11] Last Roll of Kodachrome [12] Controversy [13 – 14] Significance [15] References [16]

Photographic styles He mainly photographs people and documents them in their natural lifestyle His main works are of color prints Usually has a longer term documentary style spanning over years and even coming back to photograph what has changed. Defines his work as visual storytelling Dust storm in Rajasthan, 1983

Portraits are one of his most recognizable and influential styles of photography. He says that he likes to sit and talk with the people before he actually photographs them, it is a way for them to relax and do what is natural for them. The camera disappears from their mind and it lets him capture their soul and who they are. Right photo: Maqbool Andrabi an engineer in Kashmir, 1999 Middle: Yoiung Rinpoche in Karantaka, 2001 Left: photo of an elder in Tibet

Career overview Steve Mccurry has worked as a photojournalist for more than 30 years His works span over six continents Photographed many international conflicts Has work in National Geographic, and currently is affiliated with magnum photos Has received countless awards for his photos His works have shown that patience can be key for photos Carrying of their Hindu god Ganesh into the sea for an immersion ritual in Mumbai, 1993

The beginning Born in Philadelphia February 24th, 1950 Graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree from the College of Arts and Architecture in 1974 Started out working for a newspaper for two years First trip to start his freelance career was to India A young Steve Mccurry treading through monsoon waters in India

The trip that started it all Steve Mccurry first started his career out in India, inspired by the works of Margaret Bourke- White and Henri Cartier-Bresson. He went there in 1978 with only a few possessions, a bag of clothes and a bag of film, and a one-way ticket. He spent two years in India during his first trip, although he only planned to stay for six weeks. Since his first trip to India he has been back a countless of times, he say that it is his favorite place to photograph. He has even published a book with most of his works. In one of his interviews he said ”No matter how much the country is changing, there’s something about India that makes you feel like you’re stepping back into another time and age,” he says. “This ancient spirit is alive and vital in a way it is ceasing to be in other places.” “So many of the great photographers had worked there, and it was obvious that I needed to start a body of work on India,” he says. “I intended to go for six weeks, but stayed for two years.” West Bengal, 1983

Pictured below is a boy in mid flight running through the alleys of Rajasthan, 2007 Pictured above is a father and daughter traveling on the Dal Lake in Kashmir, 1996

Afghanistan conflict He crossed over the Pakistan border into Afghanistan, this was before Russia invaded. He had to dress up in native clothes so that he could get by the border. To get back across the border with his film he had to sew it into his clothing. He was taking photographs amidst a lot of hostile territory and was award the Robert Capa Gold Medal for Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad for the courage he had. This trip was not the only trip he had into hostile territory, nor would it be his last for Afghanistan, but it was the beginning of his career to being a well known photographer. Kabul, 1979

Afghan Girl Afghan girl is perhaps the most well known photos Steve Mccurry has ever taken, this photo has been featured on National Geographic's cover in June of 1985. The amazing photo that was taken by him features an afghan refugee from the war. The most noticeable thing about the photo is the girls brilliant green eyes. He captured her perfectly. People can see the war torn distraught look on her face and just the emotion coming from those eyes expresses it all. When he took this picture he did not know who she was, no one knew who she was. She was just an anonymous girl amidst a refugee camp.

Finding afghan girl In 2001 Steve Mccurry went back to Afghanistan to find the Afghan girl. He wanted to find out who she was and get her name. The afghan girl’s name is Sharbat Gula. The photo he took of her grown up, she was between 28 and 30, also made it on the cover of national geographic in 2002. She still had the sea green eyes that gave out so much emotion. Yet Steve Mccurry said that when they talked her expression was flat. If you want to watch the documentary the title is called Search for the Afghan Girl it is on YouTube in segmented videos. Sharbat Gula, Afghan Girl

The last roll In 2009 Kodak was going to discontinue the production of the Kodachrome 64 film roll. Kodachrome was the roll of filmed that helped to pioneer color photography by making it easier to produce color photos Mccurry’s Afghan Girl was shot with Kodachrome 64 Mccurry used the last production Kodachrome 64 roll to shoot iconic portraits. You can watch a documentary of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUL6MBVKVLI Top photo: Robert De Niro photographed in New York Bottom photo: A photo of a tribal elder in India

Controversy Steve Mccurry has had a lot of controversy over his photographs. There have been a few of his photographs that have been physically altered and quite a few that have been staged. Steve Mccurry has said that he is photographing visual stories and that is his way of doing things. He has admitted that he has altered his photographs and staged some of them, this is controversial because how many of his photographs are true to what he is capturing. Top: Original photo Bottom: Edited photo

The photo above, which was featured on a National Geographic cover, is one of the photos that has been staged by Steve Mccurry. The first time he took this photo it was not sharp enough, so he had the conductor roll the train back and do it again so he could take a better photo. The photo to the left had his friend’s wife in it, and the luggage cases are actually empty.

significance in todays photography Steve Mccurry helped to show that photography is about connection with the subject To take a good photo there needs to be patience and observation He has taken many images from war zones and helped bring to light the human impact it has The last roll of Kodachrome 64, that was produced, was used by him He shows that by taking photos of what interests you, you can produce amazing photographs. The man himself, Steve Mccurry

References Alexander, Scott. "Steve Mccurry: The Ground Zero Photographs". American Photo. N.p., 2012. Web. 1 Oct. 2016. Beardsley, Abigail. "Steve Mccurry". Pabook2.libraries.psu.edu. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Oct. 2016. "Botched Steve Mccurry Print Leads To Photoshop Scandal". PetaPixel. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Oct. 2016. Dunne, Carey. "Photojournalist Steve Mccurry’S Romanticized Visions Of India". Hyperallergic. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Oct. 2016. "Eyes Of The Afghan Girl: A Critical Take On The 'Steve Mccurry Scandal'". PetaPixel. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Oct. 2016. Joyner, Hermon. "Steve Mccurry: Perfecting The Art Of Observation". Photomediaonline.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 2 Oct. 2016. Lowry, Rachel. "See India Through Steve Mccurry's Lens". TIME.com. N.p., 2015. Web. 1 Oct. 2016. Newman, Cathy. "A Life Revealed". Nationalgeographic.com. N.p., 2002. Web. 1 Oct. 2016. "Photographer Steve Mccurry Biography -- National Geographic". Nationalgeographic.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Oct. 2016. "Steve Mccurry – Profile - Photowings". PhotoWings. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Oct. 2016. "Steve Mccurry's Portrait Of India Is A Feast For The Eyes - BBC News". BBC News. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Oct. 2016. Wosk, Julie. "Photographing Devastation: Three New York Exhibits Of 11 September 2001 On JSTOR". Jstor.org. N.p., 2016. Web. 1 Oct. 2016.