TokisatoKamiya Photo Blog

       Steve McCurry was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, studied cinematography at Penn State University, and then worked for a newspaper. two years later, McCurry made a trip across the Indian subcontinent with only his clothes a bag full of film, and a camera. After several months of travel, he met a group of refugees from Afghanistan in a small village who smuggled him across the border into their country. This was at a time when the country was closed to Western journalists due to the Russian invasion. McCurry's photographs were among the first to show the world the brutality of the Russian invasion. Since then, McCurry has produced unforgettable photographs on all seven continents and in numerous countries. His work spans conflicts, vanishing cultures, ancient traditions, and contemporary cultures.      The photo above is one of his signature pieces, Afghan Girl. This photo was taken in a refugee camp along the border between Afghanistan and P...

    I think photography is a kind of language. After reading "Photography Changes Everything" by Marvin Heiferman, I realized that photography is not just for recording things, but also for influencing people's thoughts and encouraging them to act. In the book, Marvin says, "Photographs don't only show us things, they do things. They engage us optically, neurologically, intellectually, emotionally, viscerally, physically. They demand our scrutiny and interpretation. Photographs seduce and motivate us; they promote ideas, calm or excite us."   I was impressed because I had felt that impact firsthand and experienced how photography could influence my thoughts and actions. A while ago, I saw some beautiful pictures from Europe. They not only made me want to visit; they also fueled this deep desire to immerse myself in the culture, history, and landscape. On the other hand, the photos from my time in Japan brought back everything—vivid memories of the days I spe...