Through an instantly recognizable aesthetic, an innate eye for colour, and his remarkable ability to capture the fundamental essence of his subject, Steve McCurry has carved a reputation as one of the most outstanding photographers of our time.
The unique quality of McCurry’s work lies in his skill in combining the intimacy of the immediate moment with a spectacular and arresting vision of the world – his photographs are at once both naturalistic and otherworldly. The Iconic Photographs collates McCurry’s very finest images – capturing scenes from far-flung corners of India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East – that transport the viewer to distant lands and witness the humour, tragedy, deprivation and courage of his subjects.
These pictures provide a glimpse into the everyday lives of normal people around the world. The acts of praying, sleeping, laughing, fishing, cleaning and sheltering – all the vagaries of human life – are elevated in poignantly beautiful stills; while stunning landscapes immerse the viewer in blazing sunsets, torrential rains, and dusty arid days. McCurry’s most famous portraits of serene monks, bearded elders, excitable school children and the striking ‘Afghan Girl’, are reproduced life-size so that the viewer can meet them eye-to-eye.
The Iconic Photographs transcends lifetimes and cultures, chronicling urban hustle and bustle, agricultural toil and the peaceful isolation of the wilderness in an unforgettable collection that spans an exceptional career.
