An Afghani girl glances at you, her green eyes large and unapologetic for her torn clothing. An Indian woman holds her toddler while standing in the rain; she taps on the fogged over window of a car begging for alms. A young Indian boy, his face painted a clotted red, leans against a white post. This is the world of internationally acclaimed photographer Steve McCurry, who will be speaking at 6 p.m. Nov. 17 in CUB 220. This event is free for everyone.
You’ve probably seen some of the photographs without realizing the name of the man behind the camera lens, but now Pullman residents have the unique opportunity to see McCurry in person as he lectures on the most famous photographs of a decades-long photojournalism career. McCurry has traveled the world taking photographs, many of which have appeared in National Geographic.
Even for someone who knows nothing about photography, McCurry is fascinating. While the pictures he has taken are everything from beautiful to eye-opening to political, McCurry’s personal story is just as interesting. Many of his visits to foreign countries have involved a certain level of secrecy and disguises, and the events he has photographed are some of the most internationally significant of the last few decades.
McCurry’s photojournalism career began with his coverage of the Soviet war in Afganistan, where he disguised himself in native dress and sewed his film into the fabric of his clothes. After winning the Robert Capa Gold Medal for Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad, McCurry went on to cover a multitude of other international conflicts, including the Gulf War and the Iran-Iraq War.
In the span of his career, McCurry has been portrayed in the TV documentary “The Face of the Human Condition,” has won a series of awards, and his work has been showcased internationally. The New York based photojournalist offers workshops in New York as well as two week photography workshops overseas.
If you are interested in experiencing the collection before McCurry’s WSU appearance, visit the CUB Art Gallery. The gallery is open to the public from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday to Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday to Sunday.