STEVE McCURRY (USA 1950)

PHOTOGRAPHE

FR

Steve McCurry est né à Philadelphie en Pennsylvanie. Il est une des figures emblématiques de la photographie contemporaine depuis plus de trente ans. Steve McCurry a étudié la cinématographie à la Pennsylvanie State University. Après l’obtention du diplôme, il rejoint un journal et fait son premier voyage en Inde avec sac à dos et appareil photo. C’est après plusieurs mois de voyage qu’il a traversé la frontière au Pakistan. Dans un petit village, il a rencontré un groupe de réfugiés d’Afghanistan qui l’ont fait passer clandestinement de l’autre côté de la frontière, car les occupants russes interdisaient l’accès aux journalistes occidentaux. Vêtu d’un costume traditionnel, portant une longue barbe et accompagné de Moudjahidines, McCurry a fait son chemin au-délà de la frontière pakistanaise avec des pellicules photo cousues dans ses vêtements. Les images de Steve McCurry ont été parmi les premières à montrer au monde entier la brutalité de l’invasion russe. Depuis, Steve McCurry a continué à créer des images inoubliables dans de nombreux pays à travers le monde. Son travail couvre les conflits, les cultures en voie de disparition ou contemporaine, les anciennes traditions tout en mettent en évidence l’élément humain. Ces éléments sont bien représentés par La Fille afghane, photo reconnue dans le monde entier. Steve McCurry a obtenu plusieurs prix dont des plus prestigieux, tels que le Robert Médaille d’or Capa, Prix national des Photographes de Presse et le Prix de la World Press Photo.

EN

Steve McCurry has been one of the most iconic figures in contemporary photography for over thirty years. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1950. McCurry studied cinematography at Pennsylvania State University. After graduation, he worked for a newspaper. After two years, McCurry made his first trip to India to freelance. Traveling with little more than a bag of clothes and film, he made his way across the subcontinent, exploring the country with his camera. It was after several months of travel that he crossed the border into Pakistan. In a small village, he met a group of refugees from Afghanistan who smuggled him across the border into their country, just as the Russian invasion was closing the country to Western journalists. Emerging in traditional dress with full beard and weatherworn features after months embedded with the Mujahideen, McCurry made his way over the Pakistan border with his film sewn into his clothes. McCurry’s images were among the first to show the world the brutality of the Russian invasion. Since then, McCurry has gone on to create unforgettable images in six continents and numerous countries. His body of work spans conflicts, vanishing cultures, ancient traditions and contemporary cultures alike – yet always retains the human element that made his celebrated photo of the Afghan Girl such a powerful image. McCurry has been recognized with some of the most prestigious awards including the Robert Capa Gold Medal, National Press Photographers Award and an unprecedented four first prize awards from the World Press Photo contest, amongst dozens of others. Selected Individual Exhibitions From the Last Few years