Portraits

Customer Reviews:

The Power of Color Portraits.......2007-07-18

Excellent example of portrait technique - lighting, backgroud - as well as value and power of color photgraphy. So often B&W is held up as standard of serious color portrait photography, yet we see in color. The fact that these hundreds of photos came from one photgrapher speaks volumes about his rapport with his subjects - although he doesn't actually offer any details - which is a slight weakness of the book. Steve McCurry does not offer any insight into how he gets such open, unblinking moments with those he photgraphs. But never mind, you can learn a lot about photgraphy by just seeing this small compact book - with what appears to be very good binding. His very famous cover shot reminds that any photographer has only a handful of great, memorable photos that are gifted to us by time and place. A really good photo book!

pocket book.......2007-06-08

difficult to be honnest when you're a Steve McCurry fan !
the quality of selected images is great
this book is now in my hand bag !

Beautiful.......2007-05-13

Some portraits are so beautiful you could watch for hours. I would recommend
as well Portraits by Steve McCurry edited by Phaidon. Three times more pictures but unfortunately four times smaller size.

Wonderful Portraits!.......2007-01-25

I first bought this book for myself and then bought several as gifts. It consists of page after page of the most wonderful photographs of faces - young and old - from all over the world. It is a beautiful way to be reminded that our world is a small place and that we, its inhabitants, are more alike than different in the emotions we share and how we experience the world at the most basic level. It is a very moving book of pictures - no words. Steve McCurry has a very special gift which he has shared with us.

breathtaking.......2007-01-10

Steve McCurry's portraits are breathtaking. And each one is filled with an epic, some are lovely, some are tragic and some are funny......

Steve McCurry: Looking East: Portraits by Steve McCurry

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Magnificant images that truly mesmirize
The essence of portrait
More big-eyed and striking peoples are captured here
Wonderful and Haunting Images
Marvelous & Mooving

Steve McCurry: Looking East: Portraits by Steve McCurry
Steve McCurry
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0714846376

Book Description

The Cultures of Southeast Asia Come Alive In a Striking Collection of New Photographs.

"Taken with a patient eye, McCurry's pictures burn with quiet intensity; they took time to get and they take time to look at."
- Time magazine

More that 2 decades ago Steve McCurry took the picture heard round the world, that of the mysterious and striking Afghan girl whose direct gaze captivated the west and become, for many, a humanizing image of a world they knew little about. Since the publication of that photograph in National Geographic, McCurry has returned to Southeast Asia more than 25 times. Traversing the lands as an inconspicuous candid cameraman, McCurry is able to infiltrate the human condition with his lens, capturing life stories in single, powerful, telling portraits.

LOOKING EAST: PORTRAITS BY STEVE McCURRY is a striking collection of the new and very best of Steve McCurry's gorgeous portraits from Southeast Asia, most of which have never been published before. McCurry takes photographs all over the world, for publications like National Geographic, Newsweek and Vanity Fair, but it is the people, places, colors and forms of Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma) that have inspired his most sublime images - images which transcend their original editorial purpose to become classics of photography.

Steve McCurry has made a home and career out of the road less traveled. A constant outsider, he continues to return to Southeast Asia for the people and, ultimately, the common thread of humanity that he finds there: "I think it's just a sense of adventure and discovery and exploration, exploring new places I haven't been to - trying new food, seeing how Tibetans live, how they practice religion. To me it's fascinating to learn about these differences in how we all are basically the same," he said in a recent interview.

The 75 large format color portraits in the book posses a visual literacy - communicating ideas and stories that evoke feelings of what it is like to be in each of these places. Flipping through the glossy pages readers will find themselves on a search for the `Afghan Girl' of today; looking into the enchanting youthful eyes of a girl from Shigatse (2002), or the tired glare of a coal miner from Afghanistan (2002) or the wise eyes and weathered face of a Monk from Lhasa (2002), the stories behind each portrait seem endless. LOOKING EAST is a gorgeous and captivating collection from one of the word's most admired photojournalists working today. This book is the ideal gift for photographers, travelers and students as well as the perfect addition to any photography library or coffee table.

Customer Reviews:

Magnificant images that truly mesmirize.......2007-08-09

I think this is the best collection and the best printing quality of McCurry's portraits to-date. These images are truly fascinating. I enjoy in particular those from Tibet.

The essence of portrait.......2007-06-08

If you don't know what is portrait photography, or better, if you think you know what is portrait photography, you have to buy and/or read this grand format book !!
Emotion, beauty, technical perfection....certainly one of my favourites

More big-eyed and striking peoples are captured here.......2007-03-12

Photographer Steve McCurry's images of Asian peoples and culture is renowned the world over, so it's especially pleasing to discover them all together under one cover in LOOKING EAST: PORTRAITS BY STEVE MCCURRY. Don't think you know Steve McCurry? Yes, you probably do - he's the photographer who captured the Afghan girl with the big eyes that appeared on the cover of National Geographic. More big-eyed and striking peoples are captured here, displaying the power of the portrait in cultural understanding.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Wonderful and Haunting Images.......2007-02-09

This is a magnificent book full of stunning portraits.

McCurry has captured the soul of his subjects using simple yet finely tuned techniques of a master photographer.

Opening this large book to page 48 we see the Kuchi Shepherd from Kashmir, his orange beard jumps from the page while his sage blue eyes reflect the years.

The Afghan Girl is here too. Her blue green eyes tinged with ochre match her clothes and background so perfectly she appears to own on the page.

Of course I'm romanticising about these images. Most of these people endure hardships most Westerners can't imagine. McCurry went back to look for the girl many years later (a National Geographic documentary). He found her still poor and unknown. Her eyes were still luminous though, her humanity shining through.

This is what photography is all about - no fancy tricks or gimmicks, just letting the subject speak for themselves, to live on the page and in our memories.

Marvelous & Mooving.......2007-01-16

Page after page you are struck by the extraordinary portraits. Steve McCurry is really one of the greatest.

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Steve McCurry
A joy to the eye of an art lover
Great Book

Steve McCurry (Phaidon 55's)
Anthony Bannon
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0714844845

Book Description

Born in Philadelphia, Steve McCurry studied history and cinematography at Pennsylvania State University before working as a freelance photographer in India. He is best known for his evocative colour photography, which has captured stories of human experience that, in the finest documentary tradition, cross boundaries of languageand culture. His career was launched when he crossed the Pakistan border into rebel-controlled Afghanistan just before the Russian invasion to take the first pictures of the conflict. Since then many of McCurry's images have become modern icons. A high point of his career was the rediscovery of an unidentified Afghan refugee girl, which many have described as the most recognizable photograph in the world today. His coverage won him the Robert Capa Gold Medal for Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad, an award dedicated to photographers exhibiting exceptional courage and enterprise. McCurry has covered many areas of international and civil conflict, including the Iran-Iraq war, Beirut and the Gulf War. But his travels have also taken him to southeast Asia and the spiritual temples of Angkor Wat and Cambodia, made known to many through his memorable images for National Geographic magazine. A member of the international photo agency Magnum Photos since 1986, he is the recipient of numerous awards including Magazine Photographer of the Year, awarded by the National Press Photographers Association. This was awarded in the same year in which he won an unprecedented four first prizes in the World Press Photo Contest. He has won the Olivier Rebbot Memorial Award twice. This monograph on McCurry follows a chronological order, identifying major themes and examining key works; a beautifully produced, affordable introduction to one of the leading figures in photography today.

Customer Reviews:

Steve McCurry.......2007-09-28

Great photos .
The book is smaller than expected.
The "hardback" book is only stiff
cardboard. Overall, for the price this
book should be larger and contain more photos.
However, if price is not an issue then
it is worth having this nice collection
of Steve McCurry photos.

A joy to the eye of an art lover.......2007-07-07

Aazing photographer... his photos are like paintings. text is also nice.
A 5 stars... no doubt!

Great Book.......2006-11-10

Although you may have seen many of these images before, I would consider this to be 'The Best of Steve McCurry.' I thoroughly enjoyed that there is a description of how many of the images were taken, not from a technical photography perspective, but under what circumstances Steve made them. It gives you a deeper appreciation of each subject and the effort that went into how he gets such incredible shots. Bottom line: I have just about everything Steve has ever done---this is the best!

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Beautiful

Portraits: 50 Postcards

Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards

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ASIN: 0714838853

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful.......2002-03-07

The postcards is this boxed set are truly beautiful. Technically, the collection is superb. They are larger than the usual postcard, and the quality of the printing is excellent. As art, the photos are striking and memorable. The portraits are designd to appeal to well-off white people, however. The ordinary people dressed in ordinary clothes are exotic; the white North Americans are all decidedly strange-looking. This bothered me a little bit. After all, if a subsistence-level farmer is interesting enough to be photographed objectively, why isn't a typical worker with a typical job in America or Europe? Still, the photos really are interesting.

Average customer rating:

The best from McCurry is this print
A feast to your eyes - A must see
A true photographic work of art
Best of Steve McCurry's work
Expensive but beautiful book of pictures

South Southeast
Steve McCurry
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0714839388

Customer Reviews:

The best from McCurry is this print.......2007-05-17

Don't buy Steve McCurry's other prints to save a few dollars...they simply don't do the man justice. This print is the BEST. Steve is a genius of photography and can do what most can't. In this print, you actually get to enjoy the picture, the colors, the people, and the scene. It is BIG, HIGH quality, and without distractions. He doesn't need to tell the story, the picture does. I love this print of South Southeast and I searched long to get it. The bookstores are selling little ones, probably smaller than 8x10, and they are not impressive.

While McCurry has a long legacy of photography, this book captures in my opinion the portraits, the scene, the person, the culture and the mood. I LOVE IT. I don't know how he does it. We have used this book in my photo classes at school on many occasions.

A feast to your eyes - A must see.......2006-08-02

I love Steve's style of photography and I should say that Phaidon Press has done an equally commendable job at the presentation of the photographs and the picture quality of the prints. They are absolutely STUNNING!!
This is a big book almost 11"x16" and the has prints almost the same size. It is a hard stich bound book and opens up flat. There is one thing which I wish was there, some brief description of Steve's thought in what inspired him to take those pictures, kind of giving some sort of thought process in making those wonderful pictures. I had seen a similar book on the same author describing the process and I really liked that.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

A true photographic work of art.......2003-07-31

Had the opportunity recently to see many of the pictures from this book during a Steve McCurry exhibit at the George Eastman House in Rochester. If you are in the Rochester, NY area I highly reccommend this exhibit. Just amazing pictures. McCurry combines the immediacy of photojournalism with the artist's use of color and composition. Steve McCurry's work is a must for any lover of beautiful, thought-provoking photographic art.

Best of Steve McCurry's work.......2003-02-18

Steve's colors really flared in this collection of his best. The format of the book is very well thot out: every image is printed with full page frame to enhance the viewing pleasure. The Afghan-girl is, of course, in there. Highly recommended for learners & for art book collectors.

Expensive but beautiful book of pictures.......2002-11-17

As a lover of photography books, and pictures of exotic locales, I bought this volume based on the glowing recommendations of the other reviewers from Amazon.com. The buyer should know most of the images were taken in India, and so if one is expecting a good mix of images from various places in southeast Asia, he is not going to find them in this book. Nevertheless there is a good balance of pictures of people (i.e., portraits), people going on with the business of their lives (working, playing, begging), and a few stunning city landscapes (I wish there were more of these).
The book is not cheap-there are not really that many pages (one image per page)- and although the quality of the paper and the pictures is good, it is not superb. I have owned better. Overall, for those readers who love looking at beautiful pictures, or those who can relate to pictures of people and places in Asia, this book is worthwhile buying.

Sanctuary: The Temples of Angkor (Monographs)

Average customer rating:

Sober, yet breathtaking
an excellent photographic work
mr. hyamdara
Masterpiece
Breathtaking shots from a master photographer

Sanctuary: The Temples of Angkor (Monographs)
Steve McCurry
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0714845590

Book Description

Magnum photographer Steve McCurry has beautifully and evocatively photographed the temples of Angkor in Cambodia, among the world's most impressive monuments. Published for the first time in paperback ,over one hundred of his images of the site are collected in this stunning book, which documents a magical world of carved gods, weathered masonry, tangled vegetation and orange-robed monks.

Customer Reviews:

Sober, yet breathtaking.......2007-05-18

Among the best available pictures of the temples of Angkor. Without gimmicks or tricks, or photoshopping, as the temples of the Khmer have stood for 12 centuries. The book is essentially a folio of photographs, and should be complemented by other works on the history of Angkor by Groslier, Jacques, Chandler and Glaize.

an excellent photographic work.......2003-10-01

Sactuary,the Temples of Angkor is an excellent photographic book. Steve McCurry has captured the most breathtaking shots of Angkor Wat and many other great pictures surounding the Angkor site. I really like the book and earlier this year i have added this book to my collection. In addition i like to point out a little mistake of this book particularly not by Steve McCurry himself but rather by the author of the introduction of the book. Mr. John Guy. As he writes 'Nak Pa',it is the belief of ancestral worship the local Khmer people practiced before Angkor era and still do today. This pratice is recognised today in Cambodia as 'Nak Ta' not 'Nak Pa'. So instead of 'Pa' is 'Ta'. 'Ta' is a word in Khmer also used to address your father's father which is your granfather. The word 'Nak' means a 'person'. So 'Nak-ta' clearly means an ancestor person, its a combination of the two words Nak and Ta. The word 'Pa' has no meaning in Khmer. However 'Pa' is used from the colonial period to call a father. It is usually used by high class people when french is introduced to Cambodia, mainly the ones who worked for the government. So clearly it is an European word for father. The word for father in Khmer is something else. But otherwise it is a fantastic book to buy for displaying on your coffee table as part of your collection.

mr. hyamdara.......2003-10-01

Masterpiece.......2003-08-16

Steve McCurry has a deep and abiding respect for his subjects and this book reflects the passion he has for peoples around the world.
WELL DONE, Mr. McCurry!

Breathtaking shots from a master photographer.......2003-03-18

Having recently returned from a trip to southeast Asia, and having the once in a life time opportunity to explore the Angkor ruins near Siem Reap, Steve McCurry's magnificent photos brought back immediately the intense experiences I had from my short visit. The reader will be amazed at some of these images and like me will ask, "how on earth did he pull off a shot like that?" Unlike other books on Angkor, the photographer focuses mostly on the people, in particular the monks and nuns, who reside near these beautiful ruins. I found the quality of the paper and the picture reproduction excellent. The only drawback is the small format of the book, and the lack of explanations of the photos. This is a must book for those who enjoy looking at beautiful photographs, or for those interested in southeast Asia.

The Imperial Way : By Rail from Peshawar to Chittagong

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The Imperial Way : By Rail from Peshawar to Chittagong
Paul Theroux , and Steve McCurry
Manufacturer: houghton mifflin company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0395393906

The Path to Buddha: A Tibetan Pilgrimage

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The Path to Buddha: A Tibetan Pilgrimage
Steve McCurry
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0714843466

Book Description

Tibet suffered extreme political turmoil during the latter 20th century. Occupied in 1950, Red Guards destroyed thousands of official buildings and holy places during the Cultural Revolution and religious freedom and traditional education is still severely under threat. Due to the strength of the Tibetan's faith in Buddha and the Dalai Lama and against the odds many buildings have been reconstructed and their devotion and belief have remained extraordinarily strong. Buddhism permeates every part of a Tibetan's life, whether they are the Tibetans living in Tibet or the hundreds of thousands that live away from their homeland, in Nepal, India or the United States. This text is divided into five parts, with two main chapters devoted to the religious and lay Buddhists on their pilgrimages to holy sites. We see the monks in animated discussion, meditation and prayer and follow the devout believers on their arduous journeys to prayer. These two main chapters are interspersed with sections of portraits of this proud and dignified people who have their own innate sense of style and fashion demonstrated in the way they dress and adorn themselves. Known for his beautiful and uplifting imagery and soulful, but intimate, portraits, Steve McCurry's book offers an intimate insight into a unique and dignified culture.

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Fantastic book
If I hadn't seen South Southeast, I'd have given thi 5 stars
If I hadn't seen South Southeast, I'd have given thi 5 stars
Riveting and unforgettable
Extraordinary, both in text and photography

Monsoon
Steve McCurry
Manufacturer: Thames & Hudson Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0500278504

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic book.......2004-06-22

I recently purchased Monsson by Steve MCurry. Monssons are really very special in India and the way he has captured monsoon in our part of the world is really an example of superb documentary and camera work. Im really learning from this book.

If I hadn't seen South Southeast, I'd have given thi 5 stars.......2002-03-09

This is a tremendously diverse collection of photographs, both geographically and culturally, and Steve McCurry is one of my personal heroes as a photographer. That said, the relatively poorer reproduction quality and maturity of the pictures looks shabby compared to his magnificent new portfolio book, 'South Southeast', and the unbelievable value of 'Portraits', both professionally printed by Phaidon Press. I don't think there are a crew of color prepress technicians in the world that can outdo Phaidon's, and that is the ONLY reason I am not giving this fine book a perfect score -- McCurry has proven since its publication that he was capable of even greater glory. (If you don't already have it, buy Portraits TODAY -- it is an incredible value!)

If I hadn't seen South Southeast, I'd have given thi 5 stars.......2002-03-09

Riveting and unforgettable.......2000-09-04

This book is much more than pictures of the world's greatest weather phenomonon. It puts a human face on the monsoon. Unforgettable and powerful images.

Extraordinary, both in text and photography.......1999-09-21

Steve McCurry's account of what he experienced over the year + that he spent travelling through Asia to photograph this book is spell-binding. His photos are fascinating, unique, and of the highest (e.g., National Geograpic) quality. He went to many places where few, if any, other photographers have gone (and endured conditions few would be willing to face). As a result, he got some truly remarkable photos (but be sure to also read the text). This book is unforgettable, and a classic. I discovered it in a bookstall in India several years ago, and want more copies. I am very relieved to hear it is still in print, and still in paperback (at amazon.uk).

Builders Of The Ancient World: Marvels of Engineering

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Builders Of The Ancient World: Marvels of Engineering
Ron Fisher , Norman Hammond , Ann Nottingham Kelsall , Joyce Stewart , Gene S. Stuart , and Richard A. Cooke III
Manufacturer: National Geographic Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0870445855

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