Without delay McCurry entered the conference room and introduced himself and asking everyone in turn to introduce themselves. A 60-year-old friendly and modest man, with a strip of white hair around his head, a light mustache, dark eyes, and soft loud voice. While showing us his work in different countries of South Asia, he told us the story of each picture with great humor.

McCurry, is best known for his photograph, “Afghan Girl”, that originally appeared on a National Geographic magazine cover on June of 1985. He is universally recognized as one of the world’s premier photographers and winner of many awards. His career began with his coverage of the Soviet war in Afghanistan, when he disguised himself in native dress to cross the Pakistan border into Afghanistan with his camera. He returned with rolls of film sewn into the garment.

“I love to travel, my favorite place to travel is south Asia” he said, “Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.”

McCurry focuses not only on conflicts themselves but the human face and consequences of conflict. “The first thing you need to do when you approach people is to see them and relate them as real people, not to a foreigner,” he said while giving some tips to students about photography, “And the perfect time for photography is fifteen minutes after sunrise and before sunset. It’s important and critical for photographer how light falls on living people and objects, it’s all about the study of light. It’s also important to have something in the foreground and background.”

McCurry’s current visit was for his exhibit held in Bhag-e-Babar in April. “I have been to Afghanistan about thirty times,” he adds, “Afghanistan has always drawn me back. The culture, hospitality and sense of humor Afghans have are very impressive.” One think that shocked me were the crowds I saw here, when I visited Afghanistan in mid 90s one can hardly see a man in the street but now the city is so crowded, he added.

McCurry has published many books, one of his latest  is “In the Shadows of Mountains” (2007). It contains all of his favorite pictures. He donated an autographed copy to the AUAF library. Students can find it on reserve.