Steve McCurry on a lifetime spent documenting the world

For over four decades, Steve McCurry has been documenting the world with his lens and turning fleeting moments into indelible images. Yet, his most memorable moment isn’t the one that he has captured. Asked to name it, he simply says, “Probably the birth of my daughter.”

While the world urges you to gaze at it through a rainbow-coloured lens, McCurry finds solace in seeing it as it is—unfiltered and constantly unfolding. Be it the painful reality of the Afghan girl, the joy of colours in

Rajasthan, or the expressive face of the elderly of the Rabari tribe, each of McCurry’s portraits have spoken to us in more ways than one. From the streets of India to cultures across continents, his photographs have documented a world in constant transition. For McCurry, photography has always been about preserving memories for generations to come. During a session hosted by Leica, McCurry spoke with us about his deep connection with India, the continuing relevance of documentary photography, and the act of telling stories through images.

Harper’s Bazaar: You’ve photographed India over so many decades. What is it about the country that still surprises and inspires you?

Steve McCurry: Well, I think what inspires me is the resilience, the spirit, and the character of the people here, and how they still are. It’s still a vibrant, rich country that adheres to its traditions and culture. Despite all the modernity, it still remains true to its Indianness and its unique culture, and the multicultural identity is as strong as it’s ever been.

HB: With AI entering every realm of our lives, how do you think documentary photography still has that emotional authority today?

SM: It isn’t for everybody; some people appreciate it and some don’t. Documentary photography, I think, is important because it documents the world as it is. It almost becomes like a historical document. Family photos of your parents and grandparents—usually, people find that fascinating, to see where we’ve come from. We all love pictures that show life as it was back then, most people find that really valuable.

HB: After four decades of documenting cultures across continents, what kind of stories do you hope the next generation of photographers choose to tell?

SM: Just continue to tell the story of life as it unfolds. Today we think everything is so modern, but in 50 years, this is all going to seem very quaint and old-fashioned. Each age has a different time and different parts. So, I’d say just continue to document the world as it is.

HB: You have been associated with Leica for over a decade. The brand often speaks about photography as a medium of storytelling rather than simply image-making. How has that philosophy evolved over the years and how does it shape the way you work?

SM: I don’t think it has changed. I mean, there’s cellphone photography and all of that, but fundamentally, for me, it hasn’t really changed. I still walk around, photograph, trying to show people and life. So, in a way, it hasn’t really changed for me in 50 years. It’s different cameras, but the act of photographing, the act of picture making, is basically the same.

This article originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar India's August - September 2026 print issue.

Image credits: Courtesy Getty Images

Also read: Six books, six worlds: Inside the Booker Prize 2026 shortlist 


Also read: Objects of desire: Inside the New York gallery giving South Asian craft a new address