The unseen world

One of the biggest names in photography, Steve McCurry has a new book of images he shot around the globe. Steve Fairclough discovers more

- Steve Fairclough

Like many of us around the world, Steve McCurry’s travels have been curtailed by Covid-19 – but the prolific photographer hasn’t been sitting still.

The latest showcase of his work is in his new book, In Search of Elsewhere, which includes over 100 previously unseen images from his career.

Now aged 70, McCurry is currently at home in New York but is already working on his next book project and is spending time shooting locally, either with his Leica SL or his phone. He reveals, “I use my phone quite a bit. I’ve actually published pictures [taken] with that. If it’s the easiest and quickest thing, [I’ll use that] and it’s less intrusive [than a camera].”

McCurry’s work first came to prominence when he was in northern Pakistan and heard about the war in Afghanistan from two Afghans. He subsequently dressed in Afghani clothing and crossed into rebel-controlled areas of Afghanistan to see the results of the conflict. McCurry left with his rolls of film sewn into his turban and stuffed into his socks and underwear. The resulting images were printed by Time, Paris Match and The New York Times, and won McCurry the 1980 Robert Capa Gold medal for Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad.