Untold Stories Behind Steve McCury's Photographs

Were going to show you a picture, and we are sure that you will recall seeing it somewhere or the other. Its absolutely iconic. And if you havent seen it before, you must have been living under a rock because theres just no excuse! Okay, enough with the ranting. Here it is:

Seems familiar? This portrait known as Afghan Girl originally appeared on the cover of the June 1985 issue of the National Geographic magazine. The photograph was taken in a refugee camp near Peshawar, Pakistan. Her striking eyes and solemn expression took the world by storm. The man behind this famous photograph is called Steve McCurry.

McCurry has extensively covered armed conflicts and their human consequences throughout his life. He has won several awards for his dedication and his exceptional courage and he deserves every single accolade. He has covered the Iran-Iraq War, the Afghan Civil War, the Gulf War among many other conflicts and his work is absolutely amazing.

If you look at his pictures, you will notice that his most common subject is the human face. With time, you realise that these arent just images, they are succinctly put together stories. That takes some real talent.

Street photography is always about the here and now. Its when you have curiosity about the world, its cultures and its people, that you can become a good street photographer. You have to be completely immersed in the present to take a worthwhile picture. Steve McCurry brings a world to life with his photographs: each wrinkle, each scratch and every expression tells a remarkable story. An individuals journey of life was never so beautifully captured.

Steve McCurry asks, When was the last time you went out for a walk for its own sake without an agenda? This is not just an important question, dear readers. Its a dogma to live by.

Steve McCurry and his photographs teach us a very important lesson. Your travels should not be about the destination; its the journey and the myriad people you come across that are just as important. If youre not curious, you will never learn anything from your voyages. They will all be for naught. Every vacation will be just that: a break that you will take nothing away from. Nothing of real value or consequence, surely. What a dull and dreary life that would be! Take a page out of Steve McCurrys book (Well, he actually has one and its called Untold: The Stories Behind the Photographs if youre interested in reading more about this legendary man and his work). Dont just see. Notice! Live! Experience!

Remember that each and every person you meet during your journeys has an untold story. It only takes a photograph to bring it out. Forget selfies or ussies, whatever the kids are calling it these days, for once in your lifetime and take some photographs that you will be proud to show your friends and families; photographs that have real value and tell stories. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

All Mentioned Photos Can Be Found Here