IN THE SHADOW OF MOUNTAINS

Steve McCurry has covered many areas of international and civil conflict,including the Iran-Iraq war, Beirut, Cambodia, the Philippines and theGulf war, but his continuing coverage of Afghanistan is perhaps hisgreatest achievement. It was with his first images of Afghanistan thatMcCurry established his reputation as a photojournalist. In 1979,disguised in native dress, McCurry crossed the Pakistan border intorebel-controlled Afghanistan, shortly before Soviet troops invaded insupport of the failing Marxist government. When he emerged, he had rollsof film sewn into his clothes, images which would be published around theworld as among the first to show the conflict there. His coverage won himthe Robert Capa Gold Medal for Best Photographic Reporting from Abroad, anaward dedicated to photographers exhibiting exceptional courage andenterprise. Throughout his career McCurry has returned to Afghanistan timeand time again - under different regimes and at times of civil unrest - todocument the people, the landscape and the heritage of this troubled, yetcaptivating, country. Each image is accompanied by a brief text providinggeographical and historical background.