Steve McCurry is an American photographer who gained international acclaim for his arresting portrait of a young refugee known simply as Afghan Girl.
Originally published on the cover of National Geographic in 1985, the photograph shows a young Pashtun orphan, later identified as Sharbat Gula, who was living in a refugee camp near Peshawar, Pakistan, during the Soviet Union’s occupation of Afghanistan. The image is emblematic of McCurry’s work, which has brought him to war zones across the globe. Rather than focusing on the violence of the battlefield, McCurry seeks to capture the human face of conflict, distilling what is universal and recognizable in each portrait.
McCurry was born in Philadelphia and attended Penn State University, graduating cum laude with a degree in theater arts in 1974. After several years working at a newspaper in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, he left to work as a freelancer in India, where he honed his skill for capturing unguarded moments in daily life. Just prior to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, in 1979, he crossed the border from Pakistan into Afghan rebel–controlled territory, wearing native garb to disguise himself, with rolls of film sewn into his clothing. The photographs he took there were among the first in the world to document the conflict, and his work was awarded the Robert Capa Gold Medal for “photographic reporting from abroad.”
Over the course of his career, McCurry has documented daily life alongside conflicts in Cambodia, the Philippines, the former Yugoslavia, Beirut, Iraq, Afghanistan and Tibet. Though his photos depict serious and sometimes frightening situations, his ability to connect with subjects and capture something of their personalities allows his images to transcend the documentarian distance of wartime journalism. The results are real portraits that happen to be set in tough situations. Welder in a Ship Breaking Yard, Mumbai, India (1994), for instance, reveals only the subject’s eyes, but they’re so intently fixed on McCurry’s lens that they seem to express volumes. Monk Running on Wall (2004) shows a young monk defying gravity as he skitters along an exterior wall of the Shaolin Monastery in Henan, China, over the heads of his friends. Like a Baroque painting, McCurry’s picture captures a moment of dynamic action that reveals something instantly recognizable in a subject from another part of the world.
Find original Steve McCurry photography on 1stDibs.
$7,000
Intha Fisherman, Burma, 2011 - Steve McCurry (Colour Landscape Photography)
By Steve McCurry
Located in London, GB
Intha Fisherman, Burma, 2011 - Steve McCurry (Colour Landscape Photography) Signed and numbered on photographer's edition label on reverse Digital c-type print 20 x 24 inches From...
C Print
Camel and Oil Fields - National Geographic, Kuwait, Landscape, Fire
By Steve McCurry
Located in Denton, TX
20 x 24 in. Edition of 30 Printed on FujiFlex Crystal Archive Supergloss Paper. Signed on print verso by Steve McCurry, and inscribed with image, serial and edition number. A signed...
Digital
Train Station, Agra - National Geographic, India, Cityscape, City Scene
By Steve McCurry
Located in Denton, TX
20 x 24 in. Edition of 30 Printed on FujiFlex Crystal Archive Supergloss Paper. Signed on print verso by Steve McCurry, and inscribed with image, serial and edition number. A signed...
Digital
Boat Covered in Snow in Sankei-En Gardens, Japan, 2014 - Steve McCurry
By Steve McCurry
Located in London, GB
Boat Covered in Snow in Sankei-En Gardens, Japan, 2014 - Steve McCurry Signed and affixed with artist's edition label and numbered on reverse Digital c-type print Printed on 20 x 2...
C Print
Steve McCurry 'Kathmandu Valley Harvest'
By Steve McCurry
Located in New York, NY
C-Prints printed on FujiFlex Crystal Archive Super Gloss Paper 20 x 24 inches Signed and numbered edition of 10 with certificate of authenticity Steve McCurry (American, b.1950) is ...
C Print
Steve McCurry 'Hilltop View of Chefchaouen'
By Steve McCurry
Located in New York, NY
C-Prints printed on FujiFlex Crystal Archive Super Gloss Paper 40 x 60 inches Signed and numbered edition of 10 with certificate of authenticity Steve McCurry (American, b.1950) is ...
C Print
Haraz Mountains, Yemen - National Geographic, Landscape
By Steve McCurry
Located in Denton, TX
20 x 24 in. Edition of 30 Printed on FujiFlex Crystal Archive Supergloss Paper. Signed on print verso by Steve McCurry, and inscribed with image, serial and edition number. A signed...
Digital
Moonrise in Mumbai
By Steve McCurry
Located in New York, NY
Steve McCurry Moonrise in Mumbai, 1994 Printed Later C-print 20x24 inches Edition of 30 Also available in 30x40 edition of 15 40x60 edition of 10
C Print
Moonrise in Mumbai
By Steve McCurry
Located in New York, NY
Steve McCurry Moonrise in Mumbai, 1994 C-print 20x24 inches Edition of 30 Also available in 30x40 edition of 15 40x60 edition of 10
C Print
Iceberg by Steve McCurry, 2019, Digital C-Print, Landscape Photography
By Steve McCurry
Located in Denton, TX
Iceberg by Steve McCurry is a 20 x 24 inch digital C-print, printed on FujiFlex Crystal Archive Supergloss Paper. This photograph features a giant iceberg floating in the middle of t...
Digital
Taj and Train, Agra, India, 1983 - Steve McCurry (Colour Photography)
By Steve McCurry
Located in London, GB
Taj and Train, Agra, India, 1983 - Steve McCurry (Colour Photography) Signed and affixed with photographer's edition label and numbered on reverse Digital c-type print 20 x 24 inche...
C Print
Steve McCurry 'Moonrise in Mumbai'
By Steve McCurry
Located in New York, NY
Steve McCurry Moonrise in Mumbai, 1994 C-print 20x24 inches Edition of 30 Also available in 30x40 edition of 15 40x60 edition of 10
C Print
Market Vendors on Dal Lake, Kashmir, 1999 - Steve McCurry (Colour Photography)
By Steve McCurry
Located in London, GB
Market Vendors on Dal Lake, Kashmir, 1999 - Steve McCurry (Colour Photography) Signed and numbered on photographer's edition label on reverse Digital c-type print 20 x 24 inches Ed...
C Print
Wadi Rum, Jordan, 2019 - Steve McCurry (Colour Photography)
By Steve McCurry
Located in London, GB
Wadi Rum, Jordan, 2019 - Steve McCurry (Colour Photography) Signed and numbered on photographer's edition label on reverse Digital C-type print 20 x 24 inches Edition of 30 Al...
Digital
Stepwell, India, 2002 - Steve McCurry (Colour Landscape Photography)
By Steve McCurry
Located in London, GB
Stepwell, India, 2002 - Steve McCurry (Colour Landscape Photography) Signed and affixed with photographer's edition label and numbered on reverse Digital c-type print 20 x 24 inches ...
C Print
Mingun Pagoda, Mandalay, Burma, 1994 - Steve McCurry (Colour Photography)
By Steve McCurry
Located in London, GB
Mingun Pagoda, Mandalay, Burma, 1994 - Steve McCurry (Colour Photography) Signed, affixed with photographer's edition label and numbered on reverse Digital c-type print 20 x 24 inch...
C Print
Blue Mosque, Mazar I Sharif, Afghanistan, 1991 - Steve McCurry
By Steve McCurry
Located in London, GB
Blue Mosque, Mazar I Sharif, Afghanistan, 1991 - Steve McCurry Signed and numbered on photographer's edition label on reverse Digital c-type print 20 x 24 inches Edition of 60 ...
C Print
Fishermen, Weligama, South Coast, Sri Lanka, 1995 - Steve McCurry
By Steve McCurry
Located in London, GB
Fishermen, Weligama, South Coast, Sri Lanka, 1995 - Steve McCurry Signed and affixed with photographer's edition label and numbered on reverse Digital c-ty...
C Print
$5,500
Camel Caravan, Southern Afghanistan, 1980 - Steve McCurry (Colour Landscape)
By Steve McCurry
Located in London, GB
Camel Caravan, Southern Afghanistan, 1980 - Steve McCurry (Colour Landscape) Signed and numbered on photographer's edition label on reverse Digital C-typ...
C Print
Colourful Prayer Flags, Tibet, 2005 - Steve McCurry (Colour Photography)
By Steve McCurry
Located in London, GB
Colourful Prayer Flags, Tibet, 2005 - Steve McCurry (Colour Photography) Signed and affixed with photographer's edition label and numbered on reverse Digital c-type print 20 x 24 in...
C Print
Moonrise in Mumbai, India, 1994 - Steve McCurry (Colour Photography)
By Steve McCurry
Located in London, GB
Moonrise in Mumbai, India, 1994 - Steve McCurry (Colour Photography) Signed and numbered on photographer's edition label on reverse Digital c-type...
C Print
Clover Gatherers in Wadi Hadramawt, Yemen, 1999 - Steve McCurry
By Steve McCurry
Located in London, GB
Clover Gatherers in Wadi Hadramawt, Yemen, 1999 - Steve McCurry Signed and numbered on photographer's edition label on reverse Digital c-type print Printed on 20 x 24 inch paper Edi...
C Print
Price Upon Request
Golden Bridge, Da Nang, Vietnam
By Steve McCurry
Located in Greenwich, CT
Golden Bridge, Da Nang, Vietnam, 2019 Digital C-Print Printed on FujiFlex Crystal Archive Supergloss Paper Edition of 15, signed and numbered verso, accompanied by a Certificate of A...
Photographic Paper, C Print
Price Upon Request
Hilltop View of Chefchaouen
By Steve McCurry
Located in Greenwich, CT
Steve McCurry Biography American, b. 1950 Steve McCurry has been one of the most iconic voices in contemporary photography for more than 30 years, with scores of magazine and book c...
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Woman in Canary Burqa
By Steve McCurry
Located in New York, NY
Steve McCurry Woman in Canary Burqa, 2002 C-print 20x24 inches Edition of 30 Also available in 30x40 edition of 15 40x60 edition of 10
C Print
Price Upon Request
Tibetan Flags
By Steve McCurry
Located in Greenwich, CT
Tibetan Prayer Flags blowing in the wind. Edition of 10
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Easter Island
By Steve McCurry
Located in Greenwich, CT
Photograph of the famous Moai by the Rapa Nui people. Edition of 15. Additional sizes available.
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Tibetan Prayer Flags, Tibet
By Steve McCurry
Located in New York, NY
Tibetan Prayer Flags, Tibet, 2005 c print 24 x 20 inches edition of 30 signed and numbered on label on verso Steve McCurry has been one of the ...
C Print
Boat Covered in Snow in Sankei-en Garden, Yokohama, Japan
By Steve McCurry
Located in Greenwich, CT
Red boat amid a snowy landscape Edition of 10
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Jodhpur Cityscape
By Steve McCurry
Located in Greenwich, CT
Photograph of Jodhpur, India. Signed, numbered, and dated on verso.
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque
By Steve McCurry
Located in Greenwich, CT
Photograph by renowned photographer Steve McCurry of the aqueduct of Padre Templeque in Mexico. Signed, numbered, and dated on verso. Please contact us for additional sizes.
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Gozanoishi Shrine
By Steve McCurry
Located in Greenwich, CT
Photograph by renowned photographer Steve McCurry of the Gozanoishi Shrine in Japan. Signed by the artist on verso, numbered, and dated. Edition of 30 Please contact us for additio...
Archival Pigment
Price Upon Request
Man Walks on Crawick Multiverse
By Steve McCurry
Located in Greenwich, CT
Photograph by renowned photographer, Steve McCurry, of a man walking on Crawick Multiverse in Scotland, UK. Signed, numbered, and dated on verso. Please contact us for additional si...
Archival Pigment