University academic interviews world-renowned documentary photographer

A University of Portsmouth academic has interviewed world-famous documentary photographer Steve McCurry online for Photo London.

Last week, Dr Marius Kwint, from the School of Art, Design, and Performance, interviewed McCurry, where they discussed McCurry’s extensive photographic career, on the occasion of the UK release date of McCurry’s latest publication, Devotion. 

The discussion not only focused on Devotion’s incredible collection of images that explore human spirituality in all its remarkable diversity and beauty, but also delved into the role, responsibilities and future of photography in the present media technological context of decentralised digital publishing.

Reader in Visual Culture, Dr Marius Kwint said "Interviewing Steve McCurry, with many perceptive questions from the audience, was encouraging in these conflicted times. Having photographed in several war zones as well as more peaceful places, he highlighted the importance of reporting stories that governments sometimes don't want you to see. He stressed the mortal risks that photographers, alongside humanitarian workers, often take in doing so – he said that photography is a vocation that you feel ‘in your gut’. His new book Devotion is a diverse and rich visual testimony to the fundamental human ability to care, to pay attention, and to love in spite of all."

The opportunity arose in part from Dr Kwint’s long-term association with the founder of Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Sundaram Tagore. He was a graduate student at Magdalen College, Oxford, with Sundaram in the late 80s and early 90s and they have had shared art-historical interests and many conversations since. Sundaram Tagore Gallery represents Steve McCurry, alongside other famous photographers such as Sebastiao Salgado, and Sundaram recommended Marius to Photo London as an interviewer for McCurry.

The full interview can be watched here.