The Colours of Life
All That Matters Is Doing What I Love
Doing what he loves has taken Steve McCurry around the world. For decades, photography has been his way of exploring people and places, always searching for the moments that capture the spirit comes through. On a recent journey to Kolkata, India, with the Leica SL3-P, he immersed himself in a city alive with colour and constant movement.
Amid the flow of people and traffic, he continues to photograph with the same curiosity that has guided him since the beginning.
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Monsoon in Kolkata
Kolkata during monsoon season means rain, and a lot of it. Heavy rain transformed the streets, water gathered around every corner and the city never slowed down. Steve McCurry moved freely through the changing conditions, not worried about the weather, just watching for what the rain did to the light.
You have to embrace the conditions and keep moving, because the city never really slows down.
Steve McCurry
A Shared Humanity
Steve McCurry believes you have to truly immerse yourself in your surroundings and be present long enough for something honest to reveal itself. It is an approach that has shaped his photography throughout his career. Before making a photograph, he often asks himself a simple question: what made him stop? Was it the light, the colour or an expression that caught his eye?
The busy streets of Kolkata reflect much of what has drawn him back to Asia: its people, cultures and everyday life. Yet wherever his work has taken him, one idea has remained constant.
Beneath different traditions and customs, there is a shared humanity that connects us all.
He also believes the best photographs are not found only in extraordinary moments. Photography is something to practise every day, capturing your everyday life rather than waiting for the perfect scene.
The most important part of the picture has always been the story, the content, something about the place which fascinated you.
Steve McCurry
Steve McCurry’s Gear
Having worked with the Leica SL-System since its introduction, he has photographed with every generation of the camera. The exceptional lenses first drew him to the system. Working primarily with the Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90 f/2.8-4 ASPH., he values their colour rendition, alongside the camera's intuitive controls and reassuring feel in hand. It is a combination that has kept him working with the SL-System from the beginning, and one he still describes as the best camera he has ever used.
I like to keep things simple. One camera, one lens, a few batteries and cards. That’s really all you need.
Steve McCurry
Photograph the Story
Kolkata left a lasting impression. From the intensity of the monsoon to the warmth of the people he encountered, the city offered a constant stream of scenes to photograph. These images capture his experience of the city and the people, places and everyday details that stayed with him.
Steve McCurry’s Visual Language
Now available as a Leica Artist Look.
Steve McCurry’s Leica Artist Look draws on the expressive colour palette of his photography. Rich, vibrant colours and natural contrast create a timeless, documentary-inspired aesthetic that highlights the dignity, emotion and human connection in every moment.
About Steve
Steve McCurry was born in Philadelphia, USA, in 1950, and studied Film and Theatre Arts at Pennsylvania State University. The American photographer has been one of the most iconic voices in contemporary photography for more than 40 years, with scores of magazine and book covers, over a dozen books, and countless exhibitions worldwide.
Most of his photos are grounded in people: he looks for the unguarded moment, the essential soul peeking out, experience etched on a person’s face. He tries to convey what it is like to be that person.
As a photographer and photojournalist, McCurry is best known for his iconic portrait Afghan Girl (1984), which appeared on the cover of National Geographic. His work spans conflicts, vanishing cultures, ancient traditions and contemporary life alike—yet always retains the human element. In 1986, he became a full member of renowned Magnum Photos agency and has received many accolades for his work, including four first-place awards in the World Press Photo Contest and his induction into the Leica Hall of Fame. He has also published more than 20 books showcasing his work.
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