No introduction needed? In photography I guess Steve McCurry is as famous as Rolling Stones is amongst rock fans. An institution. Member of Magnum Photos of course. Long standing contributor to National Geographics. Ropert Capa gold medal. The list goes on.
His image of the Afghan girl spiralled him into fame a long time ago, and the circumstances in which the image was taken has recently just added to the myth and the fame.
But back to planet earth and this book. It is quite large measuring approx 28 by 38 centimeter and contrary to what I had expected, it is not a hardback. Despite this, there is still a premium feel to the book, as each image is given a full page with the opposite page simply listing the location of the shoot.
You’ll find 120 images all shot in South and Southeast Asia. All portraits: Men, women and children. There is very little text in the book – normally you’ll find some curator introducing a photo book with 3-4 pages of intellectual perspectives to the photographers work and how the specific collection in the book came about. Not here. Apart from some few notes on the cover the the book, you will only find 120 wonderful images. The Independent is quoted for writing that “his images often dance on a knife-edge between sensuality and tragedy, sentiment and anguish”.
My label on McCurry’s work is “intense”. It is a part of the world where the colours are intense as well as the people. McCurry’s photography work is of course technically impeccable, but add to that the ability to capture people in exactly that split second where they reveal something more than just a headshot. And then of course travelling a part of the world that has fascinated him ever since he crossed the Pakistan border for the first time, many, many years ago.
If you like portraits, if you like a good coffee table book and if you like South and Southeast Asia, then this book is an absolute must. It is priced around 25 pounds here in 2023 and if you ask me, it is worth every penny.
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