IN THE LOUPE: Steve McCurry

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02 October 2011 Written by  Hermon Joyner
Steve McCurry Steve McCurry
© Ahmet Sel

Home and studio: New York City.

Website: stevemccurry.com.

Books: "Steve McCurry: The Iconic Photographs" (2011), "The Unguarded Moment" (2009), "In the Shadow of Mountains" (2007), "Looking East" (2006), "Steve McCurry: Phaidon 55" (2005), "The Path to Buddha: A Tibetan Pilgrimage" (2003), "Sanctuary" (2002), "South Southeast" (2000), "Portraits" (1999), "Monsoon" (1988), "The Imperial Way" (1985).

Awards: Leica Hall of Fame (2011); Prix LiberPress, Girona, Spain (2011); Abrogino d'Oro, Milan, Italy (2009); Lowell Thomas GOLD (2006); the International Photography Awards' Lucie Award for Photojournalism (2003); Photographer of the Year, PMDA Professional Photographer Award (2002); Photographer of the Year, American Photo magazine (2002); Robert Capa Gold Medal Award (1980).

Favorite Equipment: The Nikon D3x. "It's probably the best ‘35mm' camera I've ever used," he says. Lenses: 24-70mm f/2.8, 85mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.4.

Personal Projects: A book about Buddhism and one tentatively referred to as "Short Stories" — smaller-scale photo essays that he has done over the years.

Pet Peeves: "I'm always kind of mystified when you talk to a young photographer and you mention someone like Leni Riefenstahl or Walker Evans, and they've never heard of these people. How can you have a love and a passion for photography and not know the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson? How is that even possible?"

Advice for Aspiring Photographers: "It's important to look at work that has gone before. In my experience, in looking at the photographs of Dorothea Lange and Kertész and Walker Evans and Robert Frank, well, there's no better way to spend your time than to pore over these books."

Hermon Joyner
Story Author: Hermon Joyner

Hermon Joyner is a writer and photographer based in Portland, Ore. To view his work and read his blog posts on various subjects, visit  hermonjoyner.com
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