Steve McCurry in Canton/OH on 2/19/10
One automatically asks oneself who the people behind the amazing photographs in the National Geographic and elsewhere are. We don’t get very many people of this stature here in Ohio, as this place is typically not important enough to attract them. Nevertheless, today we went to a book signing by a man if not larger than life, then pretty close to it.
Steve McCurry turned out to be a regular guy, and a very nice one to boot. Charming and somewhat introverted, somebody I would have liked to just have had time to chat over a beer or a glass of wine with. He’s likely happier in Asia than among all the star-struck people here, but what an inspiration this was.
A snapshot my son took of him signing one of the posters we bought is below.
It was amazing to for once be able to see and, if only briefly, experience a person whose work I have admired for as long as I can think. The Joseph Saxton Gallery didn’t have a lot of his photographs on display, but enough to re-encounter some old friends, like the sheep herder with the henna beard, and of course Sharbat Gula, the photograph he’s most associated with and most famous for. I bought a book, and two posters featuring that portrait for the youngens, the sale of which benefited ImagineAsia.
I couldn’t find any more information, but Steve is at least on their Board and a major contributor, but it almost appeared to me as if he co-founded the organization. Their website is only marginal, with little to no useful information and heinous navigation. A little more can be found on Steve’s own website, a link to which I have posted above.
Unfortunately we had to forgo the talk at Malone University this evening, which I would have liked to have gone to. I’ll just add this to my list of things I would have liked to turn out differently in my life.
When I am reborn, I’ll work for the National Geographic. Or something.
