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).
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.
i wish i had those eyes..
ReplyDeleteReally great photos - Love the fisherman, imagine seeing that walking along the beach. Very, very cool
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing - Will pop in again very soon!
Mike.
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!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pics
ReplyDeletethat´s just stunning.
ReplyDeleteUgh, it's like those colors haven't existed outside of those photographs. Simply stunning.
ReplyDeleteThose hats are just absolutely outrageous.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's amazing. Really brings out the color in things like I've never seen the colors the same before
ReplyDeleteYes, the afghan girl is trully a classic
ReplyDeleteSome really really powerfull photos. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteit's like CGI effects, without lame computers! Thats pure talent on display...
ReplyDeleteHe makes photos like paintings. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures but that first one is the most striking and caused me to stare at it for a while.
ReplyDeletei remember reading that book years ago
ReplyDeletethese are so freaking beautiful
ReplyDeleteamazing photos
ReplyDeletethose eyes are truly captivating.
ReplyDeleteThis guy is really a master. These shots are all stunning.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos.
ReplyDeleteVery Very nice photos!
ReplyDeleteThis guy is an extraordinary photographer, some those pictures hardly look real.
ReplyDeleteHe takes some amazing photos! They almost look unreal.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics! The mans a great photographer
ReplyDeleteWow the eyes of the girl in the first pic. :OOOO Cant stop looking at her.
ReplyDeleteThat's some incredible work. I am speechless.
ReplyDeleteAstonishing... It's impossible to reach such a great depth with a digital camera.
ReplyDeleteTheres 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!
ReplyDeleteNice photos, the first girl has very nice eyes!
ReplyDeleteI've seen most of those in the NG magazine. Great stuff.
ReplyDeleteThose farmers look like they're from another world.
ReplyDeleteSo awesome, i want to get this good someday!
ReplyDeleteThat Afghanistan girl is pretty much a symbol of America's military action there. Not sure what kind of symbol, but whatevs
ReplyDeleteI really dig those unique hats. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThose eyes. Hard to believe it is altered somewhat.
ReplyDeleteAmazing stuff! Its amazing how different the cultures look.
ReplyDeleteMan, those pictures are amazing. This blog gets better and better each time I come here.
ReplyDeleteI love these photographs. He is truly talented.
ReplyDeletewow! Those are just awesome. I like the one with the little Tibetan monks.
ReplyDeleteWow fantastic photos. I wish I could take photos like that.
ReplyDeleteThese 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.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is some great photography.
ReplyDeletewow those sri-lankans look cool!
ReplyDeleteThese are iconic. I never knew who took them though. Thanks for the info!
ReplyDeletereallu amazing i love it when i saw see other sides of this world. everywhere i go there is always beauty! nice post.
ReplyDeleteWOW. I've litterally been staring at the girl. Thats sunning man.
ReplyDeleteLOL - the Buddist kid with a gun
Wow, this guy is fucking incredible! Thanks for sharing this man.
ReplyDeleteThat first photo looks like it was inspired by the classic National Geographic cover with the girl from Afghanistan.
ReplyDeleteIt probably takes quite a bit if time to be so good at taking pictures!
ReplyDeletegreat post bro!
amazing pics in here
ReplyDeleteWow, breathtaking pictures.
ReplyDeletethese are amazing photos
ReplyDeleteThat is so beautiful! Thanks!
ReplyDeletethose are some awesome pictures - cheers for sharing them
ReplyDeleteMan, those are some great photos. I'd love to have them in a bigger resolution.
ReplyDeleteVery powerfull
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. I remember seeing some of his photos in National Geographic magazine.
ReplyDeleteWow, that Sri Lanka fisherman picture is very excellent. The color balance and exposure given the sea, people, and sky, is so perfect.
ReplyDeleteJust makes you think about how big the world really is
ReplyDeletethe fishing shot is awesome.
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos. I like the Sri lanka photo, especially the colours!
ReplyDeletethe picture in the ocean is absolutely awesome.
ReplyDeleteI 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
ReplyDeleteNice photos man, I really liked them.
ReplyDeleteSo this is the famous man behind the lens.
ReplyDeleteThose photos are spectacular
ReplyDeleteYeah the farmers photo is very brightly coloured. Really like his work and talented eye.
ReplyDeleteFishermen shot is brilliant!
ReplyDeletebeautiful eyes
ReplyDeleteI love photography! You have my support!
ReplyDeletebeautiful
ReplyDeletethe girl on the have something to tell but i can't figure it out...
ReplyDeleteI really love his photographs, i remember reading an article in national geographic when they caught up with the girl with the eyes.
ReplyDeletethose are great photos!
ReplyDeleteamazing photos
ReplyDeleteher eyes dont sell me
ReplyDeleteThese 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.
ReplyDeleteamazing pictures.
ReplyDeleteReally, really awesome pictures. Really.
ReplyDeleteIs this the same guy that did that famous cover of national geographic?
ReplyDeleteeye transplants?
ReplyDeleteThe third picture made me smile. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteAw man I love how vivid the colour of her cloak is./.. Come check me out, alphabetalife.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteLove your blog style! Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteWow, stunning photos - subscribed :)
ReplyDeleteWOW This pictures are so awesome
ReplyDeleteNever been a fan of photos, but I can really see the beauty of these
ReplyDeleteThose eyes pierced my soul. It hurts.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures. Really found some to be inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI 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. :)
ReplyDelete-Wayward.
http://waywarddisposition.blogspot.com/
Just amazing.
ReplyDeleteFollowed.
bigunicorn.blogspot.com
Love the picture with the hats.
ReplyDeletegreat post!
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone else agree with me that those Yemeni farmers look kind of like that weird wizard character from Final Fantasy IX?
wow such an amazing photo, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! Thx for sharing :)
ReplyDeletegreat post. following you
ReplyDeletelove the cloak color.
ReplyDeleteThe magnum movement made a great work. Are you familiar with the work of Sebastiao Salgado? Remembers me of him.
ReplyDeleteLook at the colors in those photographs. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThey'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.
ReplyDeleteRay
The images seem more colorful than real life.
ReplyDeleteAmazing..
ReplyDeletethese are some awesome shots. very well posed and great contrast
ReplyDeleteThe first one is especially beautifull
ReplyDeleteso powerful, so so good.
ReplyDeleteVery powerful photos, moved me...
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Those photos means a thousand word!
ReplyDeleteNeed a new post bro! Waiting waiting! :)
ReplyDeletei like
ReplyDeletethat one with the guys fishing is epic.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine how much skill that would take
Picturesque to say the least.
ReplyDeleteWow, amazing.
ReplyDeleteWow, those eyes stand out so well
ReplyDeleteSome amazing photos here. I love the color contrasts. Followed.
ReplyDeletebeautiful, but she looks so sad I want to know why..
ReplyDeletevery nice pictures here...
ReplyDeleteAt first i thought it's a painting :) nice photos
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous at those eyes
ReplyDeleteThese colors don't look real to me. (Kodachrome and Ektachrome? Hello, Google!)
ReplyDeleteStunning pictures.
ReplyDeleteSuch a nice photo!
ReplyDeleteVery nice photos! Great blog.
ReplyDelete+1
I remember seeing that picture with the afghan girl a while ago, cool
ReplyDeleteWow, what a gift! All of those photos were amazing. The Yemen shot makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteWow, this are amazing photos!
ReplyDeletemccurry is fantastic, good choice for your blog :)
ReplyDeleteWow, these photos are amazing. They make you feel like you're really there.
ReplyDeletethe photos are cool
ReplyDeletedamn those are wondefull!
ReplyDeleteInsane photos!
ReplyDeletewow that is a breathtaking photo
ReplyDeleteWow, really nice pictures!
ReplyDeletevery good pictures!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shot, she has stunning eyes
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing picture!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos!
ReplyDeleteAmazing photos, damn. I love the fishermen, so awesome. The girl's eyes are great as well..
ReplyDeletekeep posting these great pictures! (+1)
beautiful.
ReplyDeletei wish i was good at photography..
ReplyDelete+1 follower
Sweet. Looking forward to some more photography.
ReplyDeleteAmazing photos, and that last one was very famous back in the day for appearing as a cover of a National Geographic!
ReplyDeleteVery good blog you got here, will be sure to take a peek once in a while
That's just amazing color in her eyes. Keep the good pictures coming
ReplyDeletewonderful eyes
ReplyDeleteGreat contrast, very well taken!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Keep it coming.
ReplyDeletethe girl really got famous from that one picture anywho this post is really cool these pictures are awesome thanks
ReplyDeleteWow, those are absolutely incredible.
ReplyDeleteAhh, so this is the guy who did that picture? I think it was in NatGeo or something.. Very famous picture.
ReplyDeleteOne hell of a post. Those are crazy.
ReplyDeleteAmazing photos, i'm really starting to enjoy your blog.
ReplyDeletewow great post! the one where they are chilling on the sticks is soooo cool!
ReplyDelete