22 Incredible Photos of Faraway Places

Thailand

Chances are you already know Steve McCurry as the man who took one of the most iconic photos of our time. It was of a 12-year-old Afghan refugee girl who's piercing green eyes told us her harrowing story. The image itself was named "the most recognized photograph" in the history of the National Geographic magazine and her face became famous as the cover photograph on their June 1985 issue.

Beyond just that one photo, McCurry has shot over a million images spanning 35 years. More than anything, he is one of a few that has that amazing ability to capture stories of our shared human experience. As he says, “Most of my images are grounded in people. I look for the unguarded moment, the essential soul peeking out, experience etched on a person’s face. I try to convey what it is like to be that person, a person caught in a broader landscape that you could call the human condition.”

Looking through his large body of work, we get to experience fantastic faraway places we can only dream about visiting. It's in his incredible photos that we feel connected to the world at large, appreciating our similarities and our differences, our cultures and our histories, and our past and our present in a truly unique and inspiring way.

Afghanistan

Sri Lanka

Yemen

Tibet

Cambodia

India

Burma

Eastman Kodak let McCurry shoot the last ever produced roll of Kodachrome transparency film. The film, known for its rich saturation and archival durability of its slides, was discontinued last year.

Steve McCurry

More Incredible Photos:
Capturing a Country's Culture
Breathtaking Visions of Earth
Tragic Portraits of America's Endangered Species
Incredible Wildlife Shots by Rob Kroenert

Tags: 21, Faraway, Incredible, Photos, Places, of

Add a Comment

You need to be a member of My Modern Metropolis to add comments!

Join My Modern Metropolis

Comment by Brian Docherty on September 19, 2011 at 12:59pm: stunning work

Comment by Deborah Tinsley on September 8, 2011 at 7:07am: Gorgeous glimpses into these cultures.

Comment by Zara Bowmar on September 7, 2011 at 7:26pm: Excellent examples of Steve McCurry's work. His photography is always inspiring and makes you want to jump on a plane

Comment by Riad FARAH on January 7, 2011 at 9:07am: Travail magnifique. Toutes plus belles les unes que les autres. Bravo

Comment by Khim on December 20, 2010 at 11:49pm: I really love this!

Comment by Mandy Santiago on November 10, 2010 at 4:21am: Beautiful. It's amazing how Elephants look like they just roam around in Thailand like a regular pet in the photos too. I just love these creatures.

Comment by Walter Reed on November 9, 2010 at 8:07pm: Awesome photos.

Comment by Jim Overheul on October 11, 2010 at 11:32pm: Wow, just very wow. I am new to the site, Thank you.

Comment by Deepak samson Daniel on October 5, 2010 at 9:45pm: wow the ideas are awesome..love the pix..!

Comment by Merav Benaia on September 15, 2010 at 2:55pm: I Remember that National Geographic issue with the Afghan refugee girl on its cover. There is a saying a photo is worth a thousand words, and this photo was an example of it. It is like the entire story is right there in her eyes. McCurry's photos are much more than just amazing shots. They tell a story and that is something not easily done.

‹ Previous
1
2
3
Next ›