Solitude – The Power of One
Religious figures from Moses to Jesus, Mohammed and the Buddha all found great value in solitude.
Old Kabul, Afghanistan
In this wired age of non-stop communication with little time for reflection and contemplation, many find it vital to carve out time in order to have time to be creative, innovative, and imaginative.
Grand Canyon, Arizona, U.S.
Octavio Paz Mexican writer, poet, and winner of the Nobel Prize for literature said “Solitude is the profoundest fact of the human condition.”
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Himalayan India
Howrah Station, Calcutta, India
Brazil
“I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude. We are for the most part more lonely when we go abroad among men than when we stay in our chambers.”
- Henry David Thoreau, Walden
Moscow, Russia
Dal Lake, Vale of Kashmir
“A man can be himself only so long as he is alone; if he does not love solitude, he will not love freedom; for it is only when he is alone that he is really free. ” - Arthur Schopenhauer
My pictures on people reading around the world will be featured at the Frankfurt Book Fair on October 5.
January 10, 2013 at 14:00
Adorei essas fotos
December 26, 2010 at 20:01
Really really awesome Mr. McCurry. Not sure how you do it, but its incredible to see. Keep sharin please. Happy Holidays!
adam
December 26, 2010 at 18:19
Adorei Feliz 2011
November 23, 2010 at 15:53
Quite amazing, really inspires me …
http://jardielcarvalho.wordpress.com/
October 23, 2010 at 02:53
I’ve realised that many artises and especially photographers are loners. Perhaps the importance of solitude is most pressing to the creative among us.
October 19, 2010 at 02:23
Great images!
Thanks, MAA
October 16, 2010 at 18:53
Thank you for sharing this serie with us. you have expressed so well this feeling of solitude.
It is a theme very important to me. It must be coming from my story, my own preference. i like silence and space. Solitude seems very hard to find sometimes in crowded qnd busy Africa where I live. But, the wide open spaces are often a way to find solitude. Like when a maasai arrives from nowhere.
regqrds,
Kqrine
October 14, 2010 at 12:37
really wonderfulllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
October 11, 2010 at 03:15
thanks……….
October 10, 2010 at 18:31
each corner of every pic speaks of the greatness of Steve Mc Curry..
great..
October 10, 2010 at 18:29
every corner of each frame speaks of STEVE MC CURRY language of photography..great..
October 9, 2010 at 20:26
The rigors and comforts of solitude illuminate prisoners and kings.
October 9, 2010 at 11:17
Inspiring capture !
Thank you.
September 27, 2010 at 14:29
really love the Brazil picture!
September 26, 2010 at 17:46
Inspiring..
September 23, 2010 at 20:12
Beautiful and compelling photos!
September 22, 2010 at 21:26
There are those who are lonely.
Then there are those who are simply soloists.
Solitude is a choice.
Solitude is a form.
Solitude is being.
September 22, 2010 at 13:48
HI,steve
I ‘m from China. I am a fan of NG an Magnum.
I’d like to invite you to have a look my pics took in Xinjiang ,China. Your advices will be very appreciated and helpful.
Here is my blog: http://liyao.filmimages.org
Thank you very much.
li yao
September 22, 2010 at 13:48
HI,steve
I ‘m from China. I am a fan of NG an Magnum.
I’d like to invite you to have a look my pics took in Xinjiang ,China. Your advices will be very appreciated.
Here is my blog: http://liyao.filmimages.org
Thank you very much.
li yao
September 21, 2010 at 22:32
“L’uomo ha il dono della ragione; egli è vita consapevole di se stessa… Questa consapevolezza di sé come entità a parte, la consapevolezza della brevità della vita, del fatto che egli nasce e muore al di là della propria volontà, che morirà prima degli altri che ama, oppure dopo di loro, la consapevolezza della sua solitudine e separatezza, della sua vulnerabilità di fronte alle forze della natura e della società, tutto ciò rende la sua esistenza separata una prigione insopportabile. Egli impazzirebbe se non potesse liberarsi da quella prigione e protendersi, unirsi…”
-Erich Fromm-
E’ stupenda la seconda immagine (Old Kabul), come lo è l’ultima ( Dal Lake), ricordano molto bene i colori della solitudine.
September 20, 2010 at 18:09
Just beautiful – you always capture those magical moments … Thank you
September 20, 2010 at 13:03
I once read that in order to love other you have to love yourself first and time in solitude might be a way to go deeper in your soul.
Once again touching pictures. Love the emotional touch and the fact that the Blog entries are emotionally coupled.
September 20, 2010 at 08:43
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I have added in the favorite, your blog is really beautiful and useful compliments
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September 19, 2010 at 17:10
Gorgeous photos. I love them all, but like your other reader, the train station one best.
This theme has been much on my mind of late, so I also find great consolation in the quotations! I certainly am in good company in trying to carve out some time for solitude!
September 19, 2010 at 17:02
My Photographic Mentor
September 19, 2010 at 15:12
Solitude..and being alone..and the peace and joy it sometimes brings – is one of the themes I most love to explore. As always – you’ve done it beautifully here. Your work is extraordinary!!!
September 19, 2010 at 08:13
Solitude is one of my fav themes…. Thank you for sharing your work….
September 19, 2010 at 03:16
[...] Solitude – The Power of One « Steve McCurry’s Blog via stevemccurry.wordpress.com [...]
September 18, 2010 at 16:05
Very nise portfolio, congretulation
September 18, 2010 at 16:04
[...] places he as been and pulls together series of shared human experiences, experiences such as LOVE, SOLUTIDE, SLEEPING and READING[READING partII]. Do yourself a favor a take [...]
September 18, 2010 at 14:01
very inspiring, thank you!
September 18, 2010 at 13:52
Beautiful photos. You are always an inspiration!
September 18, 2010 at 08:21
Beautiful! Lost in, in conversation with, finding – oneself.
September 18, 2010 at 07:29
Wonderful photos all of them but my favorite is the one from Howrah Station, Calcutta. Excellent light.
September 18, 2010 at 07:17
Nice
September 18, 2010 at 04:30
Yes, I like very much the coupling between the verses and pictures. Solitude is synonymous of freedom. In fact people who follow the flock are not free. Personally I follow the middle way, I like to stay with people, but I want to think with my mind not others’. Wrong or right the decisions must be yours and you can take them in solitude.
The book I have written may help in this direction and I want to draw it to your attention. The title ios “travels of the Mind’ and it is available on my website http://www.ettoregrillo.com
If you have any question I am most willing to discuss about these topics.
Ettore Grillo
September 18, 2010 at 02:35
Great pictures. Excellent presentation !
September 18, 2010 at 00:07
Hi Steve,
Amazing photographs … such a strong presence of ‘one’ in each …
Thanks for sharing…
Regards,
Pawan