Afghanistan Girl

Afghanistan Girl

Afghanistan Girl ( Sharbat Gula) by Steve McCurry is his most iconic photograph taken in 1984 at a refugee camp in Pakistan. Not typical for photo-journalistic work captures not only stunning moments and also the dramatic stories behind the moments. At the time the photograph was taken, Sharbat Gula was anonymous until 2002 when National Geographic Explorer sent a team to try to find her. The second time when McCurry saw her, the girl was older and more worn, but she had the same haunting eyes.

Rather than focusing on the war in Afghanistan itself, McCurry concentrates on the human consequences. Putting a face with meaningful eyes he captured her very soul. Girl’s eyes are sad and hopeless as life in Afghanistan, the most challenging  place for women. “If you wait people will forget your camera and the soul will drift up into view” (McCurry).  In my opinion, this is source of McCurry’s portraits being as alive as the energy is coming through showing the humanity in the scene. Vibrant colours and subject work in perfect harmony together, but driven by a sense of wonder about the world and human condition towards disadvantaged population.  

McCurry is widely acknowledged as one of the best photographers in the industry, and has been for decades. He seems to thrive on the adventure and has the reputation as one of the hardest of hard-core shooters. He’s been arrested in Pakistan and Burma; mortared, shot at and robbed in Afghanistan, beaten up and nearly drowned in India; and almost killed in an ultralight crash in Bosnia. Even through all of that, when you look at McCurry’s portraits you can see “A picture can express a universal humanism, or simply reveal a delicate and poignant truth by exposing a slice of life that might otherwise pass unnoticed” (Steve McCurry).

Reference:

http://www.trustineducation.org

http://fadedandblurred.com