Guests of The President of the Italian Region of Umbria gathered at the opening of the Sensational Umbria photography exhibit by world-renowned National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry on Thursday November 7th at the Italian Trade Commission.
The event showcased photographs of the many different sides of life in Umbria- capturing the uniqueness of both landscapes and portraits of this stunning Italian Region.
The 100 photographs commissioned by the Region of Umbria showcase life in the Italian region. The rich history and culture are highlighted, and all of McCurry’s work is inspired by his own personal encounters with the region and its people.
Steve McCurry has been a one of the most iconic voices in contemporary photography for more than 30 years, with scores of magazine and book covers, over a dozen books, and countless exhibitions around the world to his name. Born in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; McCurry studied film at Pennsylvania State University, before going on to work for a local newspaper. After several years of freelance work, McCurry made his first of what would become many trips to India. Traveling with little more than a bag of clothes and another of film, he made his way across the subcontinent, exploring the country with his camera. It was after several months of travel that he found himself crossing the border into Pakistan. There, he met a group of refugees from Afghanistan, who smuggled him across the border into their country, just as the Russian Invasion was closing the country to all western journalists. Emerging in traditional dress, with full beard and weather-worn features after weeks embedded with the Mujahideen, McCurry brought the world the first images of the conflict in Afghanistan, putting a human face to the issue on every masthead.
Since then, McCurry has gone on to create stunning images over six continents and countless countries. His work spans conflicts, vanishing cultures, ancient traditions and contemporary culture alike. Yet he always retains the human element that makes his work so powerful, whether it be in his celebrated image of the Afghan Girl, or his stunning images of the Region of Umbria, Italy.
McCurry has been recognized with some of the most prestigious awards in the industry, including the Robert Capa Gold Medal, National Press Photographers Award, and an unprecedented four first prize awards from the World Press Photo contest, to name a few.
The Sensational Umbria exhibit will open daily from Friday, November 8, 2013- Saturday, November 16, 2013 from 10:00am until 6:30pm at The Italian Trade Commission 33 East 67th Street, btwn. Madison & Park Avenues. A collection of photographs will also be displayed at Eataly from November 8th till the end of the month as part of their month long appreciation of the region of Umbria.