Steve McCurry is an American editorial photographer best known for his iconic photograph “Afghan Girl,” which first appeared in National Geographic magazine.
This opening line from McCurry’s Wikipedia entry introduces a photographer I deeply admire—one whose influence has inspired me, alongside figures like Don McCullin, to one day find myself in his shoes.
Not only do I find his images inspiring, but McCurry’s personal story also motivates me. The fact that he managed to get into Soviet-occupied Afghanistan in 1979 speaks volumes about his determination, and of course, he is the man behind the modern “Mona Lisa” of photography. Is there a more famous portrait that isn’t of a celebrity? His contribution to the world, both through photography and his unique ability to capture humanity, is immense.
This blog post, however, focuses on McCurry’s “One-Minute Masterclasses” available on the Phaidon website.
A “review” might be too grand a term, but the simple, yet powerful nuggets of advice shared in these videos are priceless. They offer insights that many of us already know but often forget in the rush of our daily work.
Steve McCurry is living proof of the importance of the basics:
- Treat your subjects as fellow humans
- Say “Hello!” or interact on a human level
- Watch and wait – if you spot a great background, wait for the subject to appear
Every photographer should watch these videos every six months. It takes just 10 minutes of your time, but the lessons will make you a better photographer—and a better person.
Bibliography
Steve McCurry (2015) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_McCurry (Accessed: 15 December 2015).
Steve McCurry’s One-Minute Masterclass | photography | agenda (no date) Available at: http://uk.phaidon.com/agenda/photography/video/2011/october/26/steve-mccurrys-one-minute-masterclass/ (Accessed: 15 December 2015).
