“What is important to my work is the individual picture. I photograph stories on assignment, and of course they have to be put together coherently. But what matters most is that each picture stands on its own, with its own place and feeling.” by Steve McCurry.
Photograph by Steve McCurry
(http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photographers/photographer-steve-mccurry/)
(http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photographers/photographer-steve-mccurry/)
In class, this week, we were introduced briefly to the basics of what makes, or in fact, what it takes to be a photojournalist. First, let’s break down the term ‘photojournalist’.
Now, we all know what a photographer is; a person who captures scenes or art professionally to produce a visually aesthetic as well as meaningful photograph. We also do know what a journalist does – summarising an event or an occurrence into text, making sure the reader is intrigued and informed. Put those two together and you get a profession which combines the skills of both the professions stated above, which is to produce aesthetically pleasing and intellectually-stimulating photographic pieces of information which appeal to the public audience, also known as, photojournalism.
Now, we all know what a photographer is; a person who captures scenes or art professionally to produce a visually aesthetic as well as meaningful photograph. We also do know what a journalist does – summarising an event or an occurrence into text, making sure the reader is intrigued and informed. Put those two together and you get a profession which combines the skills of both the professions stated above, which is to produce aesthetically pleasing and intellectually-stimulating photographic pieces of information which appeal to the public audience, also known as, photojournalism.
Sounds easy? Think again. It actually takes a lot to become a photojournalist, let alone a good one. Let’s take the famed ‘Afghan Girl’ photographer, Steve Curry as our example for today.
McCurry's famous photograph, "Afghan Girl," on the cover of National Geographic
(http://photowings.org/steve-mccurry-biography/)
McCurry's photographs are known to portray moments of daily life be it struggles or joy. In essence, McCurry's photographs work as a tool of communication among people from all walks of life and also between the world and humans. McCurry’s works have made many impacts in the world. One of his best-known photographs, the “Afghan girl”, has successfully raised awareness on refugee issues by capturing a portrait of a young refugee (Sharbat Gula) whose eyes tell the story of hardship and suffering. As Michael Zhang (2012) noted, “…On the subject of married women, cultural tradition is strict. She must not look—and certainly must not smile—at a man who is not her husband. She did not smile at McCurry. Her expression, he said, was flat. … (Cathy Newman, 2002)”. This picture does not only tell story of the refugees living hard lives in Afghanistan, but it also pictures how women are oppressed in a patriarchal country. This is because women in rural parts of Afghanistan are not allowed to have any emotional contact with guys other than their husbands.
McCurry's "Afghan girl" photograph has successfully informed the society on an invisible issue that is happening around them. This significant photo creates a bridge between feminists and the society to converse with each other. In most countries, women’s voices are often ignored and their problems are seen as norms; even the feminists find it hard to inform people on women’s issues. Therefore, McCurry’s photographs work as a tool to help pass the messages of the subordinates to the superiors.
Besides that, McCurry influences photographers to follow his footstep by being a good role model. From an interview with McCurry by Graeme Green (2012), he said, “I’m not saying “How can I make this beautiful?” Of course, we all see things in different ways. We all have different sensitivities to things like shape and form and light. It’s how you use photography; you tell a story and put a vision out there of what you’re trying to portray.” According to McCurry, taking photographs is not about how beautiful the photos should be taken, but it is about how the photographs can tell story of the vision in the photographer’s mind. It is very important for a photojournalist to know the purpose behind why he is taking a photograph and not merely blindly taking photos everywhere with no sense of direction. McCurry has become a good icon who has these important criteria, making him the influential photojournalist he is today.
In terms of his style, mention McCurry in the photojournalism industry and you will hear that he is known for his affinity for capturing photographs which are rich and dynamic in colour that show life.
As of today, McCurry has been a photojournalist for over 30 years. His unique photography skills, together with his passion to produce photographs which evoke emotions, has made him the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Robert Capa Gold Medal, the Magazine National Press Photographers Award, for Olivier Rebbot Award (twice in his lifetime), and four first prize awards in the World Press Photo contest. McCurry's work has also been published in every major magazine in the world and frequently appears in National Geographic.
From spending his days in war-torn areas to capturing the lifestyles of the often neglected community in the world, McCurry has undoubtedly sacrificed a large part of his life to pursue his dreams of being a good photojournalist. But what stands him out from other photojournalists is not just his technical expertise and determination to tell a story, rather, it is his insistence of capturing emotions and displaying what makes us humans that makes him unique.
To conclude, it can be simply said that, in our opinions, Steve McCurry represents the epitome of what a good and respectable photojournalist should be like.
References:
Steve McCurry. (2015). Retrieved from http://stevemccurry.com/biography
Time Light Box.(n.d). Retrieved from http://lightbox.time.com/2013/08/28/30-years-20-passports-untold-stories-of-steve-mccurrys-photographic-life/#1
National Geographic (2015). Retrieved from
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photographers/photographer-steve-mccurry/
Steve McCurry. (n.d). Retrieved from http://photowings.org/steve-mccurry-biography/
Zhang, M. (2012, Nov 14). Afghan Mona Lisa: The Story of the Girl Whose Eyes Captivated the World. PetaPixel. Retrieved March 6, 2015, from http://petapixel.com/2012/11/14/afghan-mona-lisa-the-story-of-the-girl-whose-eyes-captivated-the-world/.
Green, G. (2014, Sept 2). Steve McCurry on conflict zones, the Afghan Girl, James Foley and whether photos are worth risking your life for. Curious animal. Retrieved March 6, 2015, from http://www.curiousanimal.com/steve-mccurry-interview/
(http://photowings.org/steve-mccurry-biography/)
Steve McCurry is an American editorial photographer who was born in Philadelphia. He graduated from the College of Arts and Architecture at the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in cinematography. After working for a local newspaper for two years, he then travelled to India to freelance. It was when he was there in India that he discovered his passion and interest for this fulfilling and dynamic field of photojournalism.
Throughout his career, McCurry has covered many areas of international and civil conflict, including the Gulf War and those in Beirut, Cambodia, the Philippines, the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, and Tibet. He stands out among his peers with his signature style of producing photographs which focus on the human consequences of war, meaning not only showing how war is reflected on the landscapes but also on the human face.
McCurry's photographs are known to portray moments of daily life be it struggles or joy. In essence, McCurry's photographs work as a tool of communication among people from all walks of life and also between the world and humans. McCurry’s works have made many impacts in the world. One of his best-known photographs, the “Afghan girl”, has successfully raised awareness on refugee issues by capturing a portrait of a young refugee (Sharbat Gula) whose eyes tell the story of hardship and suffering. As Michael Zhang (2012) noted, “…On the subject of married women, cultural tradition is strict. She must not look—and certainly must not smile—at a man who is not her husband. She did not smile at McCurry. Her expression, he said, was flat. … (Cathy Newman, 2002)”. This picture does not only tell story of the refugees living hard lives in Afghanistan, but it also pictures how women are oppressed in a patriarchal country. This is because women in rural parts of Afghanistan are not allowed to have any emotional contact with guys other than their husbands.
McCurry's "Afghan girl" photograph has successfully informed the society on an invisible issue that is happening around them. This significant photo creates a bridge between feminists and the society to converse with each other. In most countries, women’s voices are often ignored and their problems are seen as norms; even the feminists find it hard to inform people on women’s issues. Therefore, McCurry’s photographs work as a tool to help pass the messages of the subordinates to the superiors.
Besides that, McCurry influences photographers to follow his footstep by being a good role model. From an interview with McCurry by Graeme Green (2012), he said, “I’m not saying “How can I make this beautiful?” Of course, we all see things in different ways. We all have different sensitivities to things like shape and form and light. It’s how you use photography; you tell a story and put a vision out there of what you’re trying to portray.” According to McCurry, taking photographs is not about how beautiful the photos should be taken, but it is about how the photographs can tell story of the vision in the photographer’s mind. It is very important for a photojournalist to know the purpose behind why he is taking a photograph and not merely blindly taking photos everywhere with no sense of direction. McCurry has become a good icon who has these important criteria, making him the influential photojournalist he is today.
As of today, McCurry has been a photojournalist for over 30 years. His unique photography skills, together with his passion to produce photographs which evoke emotions, has made him the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Robert Capa Gold Medal, the Magazine National Press Photographers Award, for Olivier Rebbot Award (twice in his lifetime), and four first prize awards in the World Press Photo contest. McCurry's work has also been published in every major magazine in the world and frequently appears in National Geographic.
From spending his days in war-torn areas to capturing the lifestyles of the often neglected community in the world, McCurry has undoubtedly sacrificed a large part of his life to pursue his dreams of being a good photojournalist. But what stands him out from other photojournalists is not just his technical expertise and determination to tell a story, rather, it is his insistence of capturing emotions and displaying what makes us humans that makes him unique.
To conclude, it can be simply said that, in our opinions, Steve McCurry represents the epitome of what a good and respectable photojournalist should be like.
References:
Steve McCurry. (2015). Retrieved from http://stevemccurry.com/biography
Time Light Box.(n.d). Retrieved from http://lightbox.time.com/2013/08/28/30-years-20-passports-untold-stories-of-steve-mccurrys-photographic-life/#1
National Geographic (2015). Retrieved from
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photographers/photographer-steve-mccurry/
Steve McCurry. (n.d). Retrieved from http://photowings.org/steve-mccurry-biography/
Zhang, M. (2012, Nov 14). Afghan Mona Lisa: The Story of the Girl Whose Eyes Captivated the World. PetaPixel. Retrieved March 6, 2015, from http://petapixel.com/2012/11/14/afghan-mona-lisa-the-story-of-the-girl-whose-eyes-captivated-the-world/.
Green, G. (2014, Sept 2). Steve McCurry on conflict zones, the Afghan Girl, James Foley and whether photos are worth risking your life for. Curious animal. Retrieved March 6, 2015, from http://www.curiousanimal.com/steve-mccurry-interview/
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