Dimensions
245 x 345 x 28mm
Steve McCurry Untold: The Stories Behind the Photographs traces the narrative behind 14 of McCurry's most important assignments, providing a comprehensive overview of his work and an exploration into the life of the photo story; from a behind the scenes look at McCurry's adventures, to the story's publication and afterlife in the world, thereby creating a kind of documentary in book form. The book is organized chronologically by story and include McCurry's most iconic work, covering his entire career and focusing on a broad range of themes, such as the civil war in Afghanistan (1979), the rail travel in lndia (1983), the plight of the Tibetan poeple (2000–6), the effects of the Monsoon (1984) and the events of September 11th (2001), alongside some of his lesser known stories on The Hazara Tribe in Afghanistan (2007), Yemen (1999), and the environmental fallout from the first Gulf War in Kuwait (1991). Each story opens with a newly commissioned essay, giving a new insight into the ideas, development and resulting importance of McCurry's work. The essays offer a critical narrative on the themes and influences behind McCurry's travels, as well as offering first hand accounts and anecdotes from the photographer himself. The texts are accompanied by a variety of ephemera, acting both as illustrative guides to the writing and personal insights into McCurry's own journey. The story is then completed by a series of beautiful reproductions of some of McCurry's most striking and iconic photographs.
Over the years, McCurry has saved many fascinating objects from his trips all over the world, including snapshots from assignments, itineraries, notes, portraits made by local photographers, fan mail, postcards, paintings and drawings inspired by his own portraits. Presenting a personal archive of material, these documents reveal an unprecedented view of the story behind the story and the individuals who have worked with McCurry over his career. Along with illuminating texts these objects provide an inside perspective and work together to create a living biography and archive of one of photography's greatest legends.