January 24, 2016 /

Does Steve McCurry stage his candid moments?

For those who may not know of Steve McCurry would have at least seen his images. His colourful ‘documentary’ and ‘candid’ evocation of India has become part of Indian image unconscious, almost making us look for those ‘timeless moments’  around every Rajasthan corner.

Dust Storm, Rajasthan, India, 1983
Dust Storm, Rajasthan, India, 1983

While trawling through Facebook, we encountered an interesting status update by well known Indian photographer Aditya Arya. He had been at a book launch of Steve McCurry’s India at Bikaner House, Delhi, where Steve was talking to another iconic photographer Raghu Rai. And as, Aditya reports,

Most of the conversation revolved around very mundane topics and back slapping but few interesting comments and questions were raised …. by Legendery photographer and an old acquaintance of Steve MaCcurry Avinash Pasricha did congratulate him on his STAGED CANDID MOMENTS ..Steve Macurry pretended to ignore the comment ……. 
So do read Adiya Arya’s status update and subsequent comments by various individuals, raising many important questions about photographic practice.  So here is the update:

Last evening had the privilege of attending a book launch of the World Famous photographer STEVE MCCURRY he was in…

Posted by Aditya Arya on Thursday, 21 January 2016

If you did not have heart to go through all the comments, here are some of the interesting ones:

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CategoriesCommentary

TagsCandid Decisive moment documentary India photography

Aditya Arya Written by:

Aditya Arya ‘s Journey as a professional commercial and travel photographer, began in 1980 after graduating in history from St Stephens College, Delhi University. After a brief stint in the Bombay film industry, he shifted back to Delhi. Besides his commercial and travel work, Arya has been widely published by travel magazines and book publishers, including The Land of the Nagas, published by Mapin. He has curated many shows nationally and internationally of archival and contemporary visual works including some of them at at the prestigious Institutions like The National Gallery of Modern Art ,New Delhi , and the National Museum ,New Delhi . Over the last couple of years, he has also been completely immersed in the subject and practice of photographic conservation. Uncovering the historic photographic works, pouring over thousands of negatives and vintage prints from the famous KULWANT ROY COLLECTION, honing his skills and knowledge on preservation, restoration and archiving. He has played a pivotal role in the formation of India Photo Archive Foundation. He has also been on the Jury of the prestigious National Art Exhibition 2014 organized by Lalit Kala Akademi. Besides actively perusing his professional advertising and commercial assignments he divides his time in his photography archive and the only Photography and Camera Museum in India with more than 500 cameras and other equipments tracing the history of photography from 1870’s to the Digital Era . For his work see http://www.adityaarya.com/

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