Steve McCurry – Looking East Photo Exhibition
Steve McCurry’s Afghan Girl in Orlando’s History Center
Apr 11, 2009
Steve McCurry rose to fame with the picture of the Afghan girl refugee on National Geographic magazine’s cover in June 1985. The photo has appeared on Amnesty International brochures, posters, and calendars. The image reappeared on the cover of National Geographic’s special edition for their top 100 pictures of all time.
Afghanistan
Disguised in native dress McCurry took some of the first images of the conflict which escalated with the advent of the Soviet military presence. McCurry smuggled his exposed film over the border into Pakistan by sewing it into his clothes. His images were widely published and McCurry won the Robert Capa Gold Medal for Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad.
The Afghan conflict festered for years as the outside world seeks to contain Afghan’s internal conflicts. Unfortunately, the efforts were unsuccessful, indicated by the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York and the rise of Al-Qaeda’s terrorist influence from its Afghanistan sanctuary. With the Obama administration making a determined effort in Afghanistan making McCurry’s images very relevant.
Other Work
McCurry’s taste for international conflict continued and he covered the Iran-Iraq war, Beirut, Cambodia, the Philippines, the Gulf War, and Afghanistan. McCurry's work features world-wide in magazines and he is a frequent contributor to National Geographic.
Magnum Member
A measure of McCurry’s stature in the photographic worlds is his membership of Magnum Photos since 1986. The founders of this exclusive agency include legendary photographers Robert Capa and Henri Cartier-Bresson. Magnum Photos is a photographic cooperative of great diversity and distinction owned by its photographer members.
Sample Images
Of course we have the Afghan girl, actually taken at Nasir Bagh refugee camp near Peshawar, Pakistan 1984. The second is procession of Nuns, taken in Rangoon, Myanmar (Burma), 1994, showing McCurry’s mastery of color and composition. The third is villagers participating in the Holi Festival, Rajasthan, India, 1996. The fourth shows some of the beauty of the disputed India state, Kashmir. Finally, there is the almost Dali like image of fisherman from yet another troubled spot, Sri Lanka.
These samples show not only does McCurry have a grasp of the politics of the region but the exquisite photographic skills to capture the beauty and dignity of people in uncertain times.
When and Where
The Looking East exhibition runs from August 21 – October 4, 2009 and the collection includes iconic images, such as the green-eyed Afghan girl as well as poignant portraits of children, pilgrims, monks, miners, and travellers McCurry encountered on his journeys throughout Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Tibet, and Myanmar (Burma).
General admission is $9, seniors (60+) and students and military with valid I.D. are $7, and children ages 5-12 are $6. Historical Society Members, Orange County employees, and children 4 and under are free.
The Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando Florida is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
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