a life behind the lens

Steve Mccurry has been one of the most revered figures in contemporary photography for more than 30 years. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mccurry studied cinematography at Pennsylvania State University before going on to work for a newspaper. After two years, he made the first of what would become many trips to India. From there, he crossed the border into Pakistan and then into Afghanistan, where he embedded himself with the Mujahideen on the eve of the Russian occupation. His images were among the first to show the world the brutality of the Russian invasion. Since then, Mccurry has gone on to create a body of work that spans conflicts, vanishing cultures, ancient traditions and contemporary culture, and has been recognised with the Robert Capa Gold Medal, National Press Photographers Association Magazine Photographer of the Year award, and four first prizes in the World Press Photo contest.