In the picture
‘Colours’ by Steve McCurry
I have to give it to His Lordship. As an amateur photographer who is pretty serious about his hobby, he is always looking to learn as much as he can about photography. Herself, who is an even more amateur amateur, has started to take a keen interest too.
So when I saw the posters advertising the Steve McCurry exhibition in Graz, I felt certain that we’d soon be paying it a visit. Even I had heard of the American photographer, most famous for his iconic portrait of the Afghan girl with the piercing green eyes.
Due to the Covid situation, it was one of the first times we were at an indoor event in months. Entering the dimly lit hall, I wasn’t too sure what to expect. I was certainly not prepared for the explosion of colour that awaited us. The giant photographs set out in the almost black surroundings were all backlit, showing them off to perfection.
I would find it very difficult to decide on what is the most striking feature of McCurry’s photography. The sense of place he achieves, the vibrant colours, the powerful energy in so many of his shots, his perfect compositions, the incredible expressions in his portraits with eyes that penetrate your soul.
But if there had to be a vote on it, I think the eyes would have it.
