War through camera lens

November 25, 2010 1

Humanity must end the war
or war will put an end to humanity
John F. Kennedy

Almost all the pictures were taken in Afghanistan during the hostilities by American photographer Steve McCurry. In the year of 1979, still in the status of a “free artist,” or in other words, a private person, he went to Afghanistan to report on the clash of rebel forces with government forces. “I was very worried: after all, I had to illegally cross the border and get into the combat zone,” he said, “But I pulled myself together and went. I spent two weeks on the front line. And when it came time to return, I again had to be nervous — I was afraid that my films would be confiscated at the border. ” With great risk, stitching films in turban, socks and even underwear, he returned to Pakistan. A few photos fell on the pages of The New York Times, but they didn’t attract much attention - there were very few people interested in the events in a small Asian country.

A few months after the events described, the Soviet-Afghan war began and the situation radically changed: the fate of yesterday’s unwanted people was interested not only by political figures, but also by the “average American housewife”. And it turned out that not one of the Western agencies does not have relevant photographs from Afghanistan.

Since then, he has repeatedly been in Afghanistan, often risking his life: “... My trace was lost in 1980 and 1988 in Afghanistan. They thought I was dead, ”he said in an interview. In 1992, he once again came to Kabul, which at that time was ruled by the Taliban. At two o'clock in the morning, armed people rushed into the hotel where he stayed (by the way, he was the only lodger). Hearing a knock, McCarry opened the door and locked himself in the bathroom. Uninvited guests searched the room and stole all valuable items. “Fortunately, the equipment, money and documents were not found, I hid them in a safe place,” the photographer shared his joy

One of the reasons why he often went on risky travels was the desire to form his own idea of the dramatic events taking place in a particular country.

“I’m not looking for fame where grief reigns, I just want to capture history. Human life is incredibly tragic. During the war, especially the one that unfolds beyond your doorstep, there is an overestimation of values. Career and well-being fade into the background, family ties take on the main meaning, the desire to survive becomes your basic desire. "

Steve McCurry does not like to sit still, and traveling with a share of risk only gives him strength. After working in hot spots, he often has difficulty with ordinary reports about some events from everyday life that seem frivolous and slightly bland.

Steve McCaria
================================================= ================================================
Year of birth: 1950
Place of birth: Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, USA)
Education: University of Pennsylvania, majoring in history and cinematography.
Field of photographic interest: photojournalism.