Usually around Christmas I start looking for a great photo book that I could read over the holiday. Last year it was David Douglas Duncan’s book Photo Nomad. This year I thought that a good choice would be Steve and Bonnie McCurry’s book, “A Life in Pictures”. I have always admired Steve’s work and after seeing him advertise it on Instagram I ordered it from Amazon.
I was not prepared for what showed up. An enormous coffee table book which weighs quite a bit. So the immediate problem was how the heck do you curl up on the couch or your favorite easy chair with this monstrosity?
I somehow balanced this giant book on my lap and started to read Bonnie’s accounts of Steve’s travels around the world starting in Afghanistan during the war with Russia then to India, Nepal and all over the world. I was enthralled even though the reading position was uncomfortable. The images are amazing and it was hard to put the book down except for the pain in my lap from trying to balance it.
Right in the middle of reading this book the controversy over the Afghan girl image came up with Tony Northup doing an incredibly bad job of explaining how the image was made and then talking about it on Youtube. After reading Steve and Bonnie’s recollection of how the image was made I am convinced that Tony Northup should be apologizing to Steve McCurry.
I have really enjoyed reading the stories and looking at Steve’s images. If you are a documentary photographer than this book will give you inspiration. Image after great image to look at and to get great ideas from.
Two great McCurry maxims – 1. Light, composition, and a particular moment make for great images. 2. If the situation is good stick with it.
I whole heartedly recommend this book it’s a keeper. Except for the rather large size it’s a winner!