Photographer Steve McCurry reveals travel highlights and tips
Steve McCurry, who photographed the iconic Afghan Girl portrait, reveals his travel hotspots and why he now shoots on an iPhone.
American photographer Steve McCurry’s passion for travel and visual storytelling was sparked early in his career when he went to India for the first time. He has returned to the subcontinent many times in the ensuing decades. One of those trips led to his most famous photograph, taken after he crossed the border into Pakistan and visited the Nasir Bagh refugee camp in 1984. The Afghan girl, a portrait of nine-year-old Sharbat Gula, her vivid green eyes framed by a tattered red headscarf, graced the cover of National Geographic and helped to raise awareness of the plight of Afghans under the country’s brutal occupation by Soviet forces.
In the intervening years McCurry has turned his lens on all corners of the globe, capturing humanity’s joy, sorrow and everyday existence, along with wildlife and domesticated animals interacting with their keepers. He has won multiple awards for his work, including the Robert Capa Gold Medal and the Centenary Medal for Lifetime Achievement from the Royal Photographic Society in London. His images have been collated in more than 20 books, the latest of which is the soon-to-be-released Devotion, capturing humankind’s spirituality and reverence in its myriad forms.
Since 2017, McCurry has been in a creative partnership with Silversea Cruises, joining the operator on voyages to the likes of Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands. It has been a synergetic relationship that enables him to share his talents and tales with passengers while also taking him to parts of the world he might not otherwise reach.
What I hope viewers take from seeing my photos
One of the interesting things about photography and the pleasure of looking at pictures is that we can come up with our own interpretation, our own fantasy about what a picture means. I think ultimately we each have our own narrative of any work of art. Another person will not see an image the way I do. Just as I will never interpret an image the way another person will. It’s all such an intuitive and personal experience.
My first taste of international travel
When I was 19 I went to Europe for a gap year. I stayed in Stockholm and Amsterdam, working odd jobs to pay for food and a place to stay. I left The Netherlands for an overland trip to Istanbul. While I was in college I took off two terms and went to Africa and Latin America. The desire to travel and push back the boundaries has always been an important element in my life.
The film that inspired me
Lawrence of Arabia inspired many of my travels, but especially my trip to Wadi Rum. The landscape there in Jordan is epic. That is the main reason I’ve always loved that film, along with the characters’ drive and tenacity in their heroic struggle. It is a visual tour de force.
The place I love to photograph
I find myself returning to Italy over and over again. Its beauty, culture, history, people, art and food are the best. Umbria is one of my favourite regions. It’s a combination of rich traditions, poetic landscapes and charming villages you wish you lived in. It’s such a welcoming region, full of great food and wine, as well as one of the best jazz festivals.
My ideal holiday
I still like to go to some place that’s comfortable – good hotel, good food, relaxed. I don’t like to go to a beach and sit. I’d rather go to London or Paris or Rome or some place that has some charm or character. It doesn’t have to be urban – I could go to the Grand Canyon or Phoenix or Tucson, Arizona – somewhere you feel comfortable and have a relaxed experience.
Favourite destination to sail with Silversea
The Galapagos. I’ve travelled there with Silversea three times; it’s a time capsule and an inspiring place. There is such a variety of birds, from albatrosses to blue-footed boobies to the frigate bird. Being able to walk among them is an incredible experience. Being able to observe the behaviour of them in such close proximity is like nothing else.
The best point-and-shoot camera for amateurs
When I’m not using my Leica SL2, I use my iPhone. It is great for capturing quick moments while travelling.
Most memorable meal I’ve had on the road
There are so many places that it’s hard to pick just one, but maybe Massimo Bottura’s restaurant, Osteria Francescana, in Modena, Italy.
What I always pack
I just take the essentials. I carry my camera equipment with me in the cabin and the things I check are things that don’t matter if they are lost. If my bag does not arrive at the destination, I can still work, and buy what I need.