Nature’s Great Masterpiece
The relationship between elephants and people goes back millennia. Elephants have been an integral part of history, religion, art, and culture in many parts of Asia.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
“Th’ unwieldy elephant, To make them mirth, us’d all his might, and wreathed. His lithe proboscis.”
-John Milton, Paradise Lost
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Kerala, India
Elephants have been important in both Hinduism and Buddhism. Ganesh, the Hindu elephant God, is worshipped as the lord of success, education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth.
Mumbai, India
Angkor Thom, Cambodia
John Kistler’s book, War Elephants, pointed out that for over a thousand years, generals used elephants as tanks, bulldozers, and cargo trucks long before such vehicles existed. Elephants built roads, swung swords, and terrified opposing forces.
Burma/Myanmar
Burma/Myanmar
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Aristotle called the elephant “the beast which passeth all others in wit and mind.”
India
“Nature’s great masterpiece, an elephant – the only harmless great thing.”
-John Donne (English poet, 1572-1631)
Calcutta, India
Varanasi, India
November 7, 2011 at 14:35
schladming…
[...]Nature’s Great Masterpiece « Steve McCurry's Blog[...]…
October 7, 2010 at 23:50
A fascinating series. All great, of course, but I was instantly drawn to the first image, with the way the elements combine.
September 30, 2010 at 21:39
This is great, just found about it now. I’m constantly looking at your website, just like an encyclopedia and now I’ll keep returning here for sure.
Your exhibition in Milano was great. I feel lucky I saw it. This is one of the biggest advantages of the internet, being able to get access to all these great images.
I’ve been fascinated by your photos ever since I first saw them (I wasn’t too old), followed by the Afghan girl documentary and I think that you and your work were one of the main reasons of why photography attracted me so much and now slowly becoming my life. I can only thank you for sharing all these great photos with us.
Radu
September 29, 2010 at 19:49
Intoxicatingly beautiful!!!!
September 27, 2010 at 06:07
FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN YOUR ANIMAL PHOTOS , INTERESTING .
September 27, 2010 at 05:32
FIRST TIME SEE YOUR ANIMAL PHOTOS, INTERESTING.
September 26, 2010 at 18:22
Another fantastic series. As hard as I try to pick a favorite image..I find that I can’t. Each is extraordinary standing all on its own.
September 26, 2010 at 17:36
Enchanting..
September 26, 2010 at 11:32
Gosto particularmente da 1ª , pois o enquadramento ficou espetacular, e gosto da 4ª fotografia, o conjunto de cores o enquadramento e o cenário estão perfeitos.
September 25, 2010 at 22:33
What a treat to see this great relationship!
September 25, 2010 at 07:58
Amazing as always!
Funny thing is that I have photographed the same elephant drawing in Varanasias in the last picture. I had choose to use it for my blog on my India travel: http://www.indijatikrai.lt/ (In Lithuanian only unfortunetly).
Thank you, Steve, for sharing and cummunicating so much with your pictures!
Eligijus
September 25, 2010 at 04:33
Respected Steve,
It’s nice to see your elephants series. There is some very sad incident is going on with the elephants in North Bengal, India. Very frequently elephants are dying in rail track. In last five year more than 30 elephants has died in rail track. Yesterday six elephants has died at a time in a collection with a goods train. This is very sad.
Apratim Saha.
September 25, 2010 at 01:47
Hi Steve,
Thanks for sharing,
Regards,
Pawan
September 24, 2010 at 23:26
Dear Steve. In the 1800′s when someone in the East asked someone who was thinking of going to the American West, a possible answer was, “I’m just going to see the elephant.” Which simply meant, “I’m going to see something I have never seen.” Thank you showing us your work. With every post you bring the elephant into the room.
September 24, 2010 at 20:33
Dear Mr. McCurry,
Glad to see your series on the elephants. It was desperately needed.
Just yesterday, 7 elephants were killed in a train accident in West Bengal. It was extremely tragic. What’s more tragic is the fact, that the adult elephants fearlessly struggled to protect the calves, by shielding them as they neared their final moments. That’s love!
Here’s the report: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/8021988/Seven-elephants-killed-by-speeding-train-in-India.html
Wishing everyone peace,
Soham
September 24, 2010 at 19:53
very nice pictures