Interview with Steve McCurry

You started your career in India, and over the years you’ve been back many times. Perhaps you can clarify something for me: I’ve heard you can never take a bad picture there, is that true?

No. You can definitely take a bad picture in India. A place doesn’t guarantee a good picture simply by virtue of being exotic. The photo’s quality depends on your vision, your sense of light, composition. It is not about the place, it’s also about how you craft a picture.

Why the love for India?

It has a multicultural background, rich Hindu culture; it is the birthplace of Buddhism. You have the juxtaposition of the extremely rich and the extremely poor, and because there are so many people there, a clash of humanity is created, which leads to a sort of chaos and confusion and many unlikely, interesting images.

Is there anywhere you’ve not been?

Iran, I’ve wanted to go for a long time now – there and Cuba.

Where in the world have you felt the most out of place?

Being in Africa, in Egypt in 1972. I really felt like a stranger in a strange land, as if I was on another planet, especially going down the Nile on a riverboat. Being on a boat for 11 days going through Sudan was also a strange but interesting experience.

For all the budding photographers out there: flash or no flash?

I rarely use a flash. I don’t like the look. I don’t mind using it subtly. I don’t like the technique to draw attention – funny lenses, flashes etc – I like to shoot, plain and simple.

Catch ‘The Unguarded Moment’ (19 Jun-19 Jul) at the Shaw Foundation Foyer, Asian Civilisations Museum (1 Empress Place; Tel: 6332 2982)