Steve McCurry: Life in Color


From Henri Cartier-Bresson and Annie Leibovitz, we continue this blog's series of noteworthy photographers, this time with photojournalist Steve McCurry and his works of vibrant color photographs.

Mr. McCurry's worked is featured most prominently in the National Geographic Magazine where his deeply moving images have brought attention to different conflict areas and places of poverty. Since his career began in the late 1970s, he has been to many places, notably in South and East Asia and in the Middle East.

Although many of his works were taken in the poorer areas of various countries, the images show a quiet dignity in the people he photographed. He sometimes attributes this to the unguarded moment where his subjects would show a different side to their character (this philosophy is not unlike Henri Cartier-Bresson's decisive moment).

While his patience and skill have undoubtedly contributed to the quality of his images, his clever use of color through the old Kodachrome and Ektachrome films he used also brought a different perspective to his subjects. His expertise in this area led him to have the honor of shooting the last roll of Kodachrome film before production stopped.

You can see that same special quality in the blue eyes and green veil of the Pakistani child's portrait above, or in the brown skin of the fishermen perfectly lined up against the pale blue-green sea and sky of Sri Lanka...


...or in the group of kids in their deep red frocks playing around in India...

...or in farmers in a green clover field framed against their earthen yellow homes and mountains in Yemen....


...all of these show just the right combination of that unguarded moment combined with superb exposure. 

Below, Mr. McCurry poses for a portrait by Tim Mantoani with a picture of the Afghan Girl, the image that made him famous among photographers worldwide.


You can find out more about Steve McCurry and his works of colorover at his website. He also has a blog over here, but be advised that it is very image heavy. Mr. McCurry has a number of books out, but these are probably the best ones to start your collection: Steve McCurry: The Unguarded Moment, Portraits, and Steve Mccurry: In the Shadow of Mountains.




Comments

  1. Really great photos - Love the fisherman, imagine seeing that walking along the beach. Very, very cool

    Thank you for sharing - Will pop in again very soon!

    Mike.

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  2. Steve McCurry's work is amazing. I have to check out more of his work. I love the vibrant green in the farmer's pic!

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  3. that´s just stunning.

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  4. Ugh, it's like those colors haven't existed outside of those photographs. Simply stunning.

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  5. Those hats are just absolutely outrageous.

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  6. Wow, that's amazing. Really brings out the color in things like I've never seen the colors the same before

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  7. Yes, the afghan girl is trully a classic

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  8. Some really really powerfull photos. Thanks.

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  9. it's like CGI effects, without lame computers! Thats pure talent on display...

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  10. He makes photos like paintings. Amazing!

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  11. Lovely pictures but that first one is the most striking and caused me to stare at it for a while.

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  12. i remember reading that book years ago

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  13. these are so freaking beautiful

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  14. This guy is really a master. These shots are all stunning.

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  15. This guy is an extraordinary photographer, some those pictures hardly look real.

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  16. He takes some amazing photos! They almost look unreal.

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  17. Great pics! The mans a great photographer

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  18. Wow the eyes of the girl in the first pic. :OOOO Cant stop looking at her.

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  19. That's some incredible work. I am speechless.

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  20. Astonishing... It's impossible to reach such a great depth with a digital camera.

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  21. Theres a photo of the afgan girl that was taken recently. They tracked her down and retook the piccture after many years. You should check that out!

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  22. Nice photos, the first girl has very nice eyes!

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  23. I've seen most of those in the NG magazine. Great stuff.

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  24. Those farmers look like they're from another world.

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  25. So awesome, i want to get this good someday!

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  26. That Afghanistan girl is pretty much a symbol of America's military action there. Not sure what kind of symbol, but whatevs

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  27. I really dig those unique hats. Well done!

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  28. Those eyes. Hard to believe it is altered somewhat.

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  29. Amazing stuff! Its amazing how different the cultures look.

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  30. Man, those pictures are amazing. This blog gets better and better each time I come here.

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  31. I love these photographs. He is truly talented.

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  32. wow! Those are just awesome. I like the one with the little Tibetan monks.

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  33. Wow fantastic photos. I wish I could take photos like that.

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  34. These are absolutely amazing. It breaks my heart to think that many of these beautiful women are forced to hide themselves from the world. Their eyes are so striking because that's all they can show anyone.

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  35. Wow, that is some great photography.

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  36. These are iconic. I never knew who took them though. Thanks for the info!

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  37. reallu amazing i love it when i saw see other sides of this world. everywhere i go there is always beauty! nice post.

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  38. WOW. I've litterally been staring at the girl. Thats sunning man.

    LOL - the Buddist kid with a gun

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  39. Wow, this guy is fucking incredible! Thanks for sharing this man.

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  40. That first photo looks like it was inspired by the classic National Geographic cover with the girl from Afghanistan.

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  41. It probably takes quite a bit if time to be so good at taking pictures!
    great post bro!

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  42. those are some awesome pictures - cheers for sharing them

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  43. Man, those are some great photos. I'd love to have them in a bigger resolution.

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  44. Great photos. I remember seeing some of his photos in National Geographic magazine.

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  45. Wow, that Sri Lanka fisherman picture is very excellent. The color balance and exposure given the sea, people, and sky, is so perfect.

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  46. Just makes you think about how big the world really is

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  47. Awesome photos. I like the Sri lanka photo, especially the colours!

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  48. the picture in the ocean is absolutely awesome.

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  49. I love Steve McCurry's work. Such a dedicated photographer and he's so good at what he is doing. I really liked it when he found that girl again back in 2002 and took her picture now that she is older. Incredible idea

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  50. Nice photos man, I really liked them.

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  51. So this is the famous man behind the lens.

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  52. Yeah the farmers photo is very brightly coloured. Really like his work and talented eye.

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  53. I love photography! You have my support!

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  54. the girl on the have something to tell but i can't figure it out...

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  55. I really love his photographs, i remember reading an article in national geographic when they caught up with the girl with the eyes.

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  56. These are some amazing, lifelike photos. You can almost feel like you're there looking at them. It's sad that Kodachrome has been replaced. Even in the digital age, nothing can quit capture things the same way.

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  57. Really, really awesome pictures. Really.

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  58. Is this the same guy that did that famous cover of national geographic?

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  59. The third picture made me smile. Very cool.

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  60. Aw man I love how vivid the colour of her cloak is./.. Come check me out, alphabetalife.blogspot.com

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  61. Love your blog style! Keep up the great work!

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  62. Wow, stunning photos - subscribed :)

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  63. Never been a fan of photos, but I can really see the beauty of these

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  64. Those eyes pierced my soul. It hurts.

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  65. Great pictures. Really found some to be inspiring.

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  66. I love all of the photos you've been posting. Man, I've seen this one around a few times. I don't know why but it always seems to make me emotional. Good work on the photographer for that though. :)

    -Wayward.
    http://waywarddisposition.blogspot.com/

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  67. Just amazing.

    Followed.
    bigunicorn.blogspot.com

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  68. I would agree that this guy probably has one of the best eyes in modern photography. He is like the Ansel Adams of the human face. That second photograph of the fishermen looks almost as though it was painted by Renaissance artist.

    Does anyone else agree with me that those Yemeni farmers look kind of like that weird wizard character from Final Fantasy IX?

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  69. wow such an amazing photo, thanks for sharing

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  70. The magnum movement made a great work. Are you familiar with the work of Sebastiao Salgado? Remembers me of him.

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  71. Look at the colors in those photographs. Wonderful!

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  72. They're beautiful photo's, the photo of the girl with the blue eyes is full of emotion. It reminds me of a Catholic/Chrisitian icon painting of a saint.
    Ray

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  73. The images seem more colorful than real life.

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  74. these are some awesome shots. very well posed and great contrast

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  75. The first one is especially beautifull

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  76. Very powerful photos, moved me...

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  77. Awesome! Those photos means a thousand word!

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  78. Need a new post bro! Waiting waiting! :)

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  79. that one with the guys fishing is epic.
    I can't imagine how much skill that would take

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  80. Wow, those eyes stand out so well

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  81. Some amazing photos here. I love the color contrasts. Followed.

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  82. beautiful, but she looks so sad I want to know why..

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  83. At first i thought it's a painting :) nice photos

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  84. These colors don't look real to me. (Kodachrome and Ektachrome? Hello, Google!)

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  85. Stunning pictures.

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  86. Such a nice photo!

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  87. Very nice photos! Great blog.
    +1

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  88. I remember seeing that picture with the afghan girl a while ago, cool

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  89. Wow, what a gift! All of those photos were amazing. The Yemen shot makes me smile.

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  90. Wow, this are amazing photos!

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  91. mccurry is fantastic, good choice for your blog :)

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  92. Wow, these photos are amazing. They make you feel like you're really there.

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  93. wow that is a breathtaking photo

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  94. Beautiful shot, she has stunning eyes

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  95. Amazing photos, damn. I love the fishermen, so awesome. The girl's eyes are great as well..
    keep posting these great pictures! (+1)

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  96. i wish i was good at photography..
    +1 follower

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  97. Sweet. Looking forward to some more photography.

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  98. Amazing photos, and that last one was very famous back in the day for appearing as a cover of a National Geographic!
    Very good blog you got here, will be sure to take a peek once in a while

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  99. That's just amazing color in her eyes. Keep the good pictures coming

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  100. Great contrast, very well taken!

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  101. the girl really got famous from that one picture anywho this post is really cool these pictures are awesome thanks

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  102. Wow, those are absolutely incredible.

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  103. Ahh, so this is the guy who did that picture? I think it was in NatGeo or something.. Very famous picture.

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  104. One hell of a post. Those are crazy.

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  105. Amazing photos, i'm really starting to enjoy your blog.

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  106. wow great post! the one where they are chilling on the sticks is soooo cool!

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