Steve McCurry in Italy

World-renowned photographer Steve McCurry is always keen to visit Italy and loves the Italian way of enjoying life and the diverse historical heritage of the country in the south of Europe.
While there, the Leica SL2, in combination with the Leica SL lenses, are the tools of his choice.
Discover more: leica-camera.c...

[@CapaCern]

It’s always so interesting to see such pros wandering around my city of birth and where I grew up. Palermo has an amazing potential for a street photography series

[@justcallmesando]

@@andreas_trnka_photography great name

[@mike747436]

Steve McCurry has earned it. He can do whatever he likes.

[@sstudiostock5201]

Agree

[@aquaticwombat4570]

i could watch a whole series of Steve photographing. awesome vid

[@foodmemorandum4076]

Super legend and beautiful streetscape of ltaly. I could watch this for hours.

[@schueweTV]

I admit, the color of the photos he has take look fantastic.

[@lombardy3274]

The colour grading in the video is more pleasing than the colour grading of the actual photographs.

[@UmarRosyad]

Steve shots with film for almost his entire life, his work doesn't rely on editing.

[@davidecampelli7453]

Uno dei più grandi maestri della fotografia mondiale ... La Leica SL2 la provai ad uno store leica a Roma ed è stata una esperienza fantastica, la resa eccezionale un menu molto intuitivo e facile, e poi i file una volta.scaricati e lavorati in post-produzione, sono stati fantastici... resa dei colori unica

[@etienneamien]

Thank you 🙏 love these simple photographs made by one of the most iconic photographers

[@mementography]

amazing cinematography and video grading!

[@drtvcheng]

this video's color profile is spot on! And i don't care if it was shot on a Sony or Canon.

[@EoloPerfidoStudio]

Is shot with a Leica SL2S

[@jooooooo2]

😆😆 running away from the 🌊 was adorable

[@KhalikAllah]

Steve is a recent friend of mine. Been speaking to him through WhatsApp while he's been in Italy but now I see part of what he was working on. Thanks for the inspiration. Peace

[@bngr_bngr]

What does he use on the bottom of his camera?

[@animikhchakrabarty]

I am a photographer from india and have been a major appreciator of you work for some time now, Khalik allah. Never thought I could write a comment that might have the potential to be read by someone like you, the internet is a strange place

[@KhalikAllah]

@@animikhchakrabarty Thanks! That's a blessing for me to read. Each one teach one. Wishing you health and prosperity.

[@moes_film]

@@bngr_bngr He has limited use of his right hand from an accident he had when he was a child. So he attaches a special hand grip to the bottom of his camera and presses the shutter with his left hand.

[@danielemuna9900]

You're more of a big deal than Steve Khalik lol. Hope to catch you during the faces of Harlem exhibit this weekend

[@TheDerisavi]

After Afghanistan, Iraq and several war zones abusing Nikon cameras, now it's time to use Leica in Italy!

[@bngr_bngr]

He used Nikon FE’s, not the most durable cameras.

[@nickfanzo]

@@bngr_bngr they were fine

[@horatiueduard]

@@bngr_bngr I see plenty of pictures with him using FM2s and F100. Pretty sure they were quite reliable.

[@bngr_bngr]

@@horatiueduard FE’s are much different camera. But most pictures I’ve seen of his gear does not appear to be abused.

[@terryallen9546]

I guess you were rich enough to buy Leica gear at the beginning of your career?

[@sbutler66]

What a legendary combo

[@miguelgomes6849]

A Legend.

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

Yes.

[@venkateshthakare2826]

He is one of the best photographer on planet earth 🖤

[@SM-xo3dv]

Walking around Palermo and Naples with a Leica??? Takes courage to do that! 😆

[@charlestonealmacen]

Stavo pensando la stessa cosa 🤣

[@serdelosreyes]

Jajaja

[@rajajeee]

non era solo :-)

[@easonliu5804]

Is social security bad in these places?

[@serdelosreyes]

@@easonliu5804 Well, just try walking innocently in Naple with a fancy Leica and let me know after....

[@giovannileone6480]

Steve McCurry a Palermo... 😍

[@tychomagneticanomaly]

Always great to see a master at work.

[@Pableras46]

he is master with photoshop too XD

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

👍❤🌎

[@bngr_bngr]

@@Pableras46 aren’t we all?

[@Pableras46]

@@bngr_bngr No. I don't even have it.

[@bngr_bngr]

@@Pableras46 how do you process your images?

[@vimalvalluru6343]

He is the legendary photographer although there is a bit of controversy. Every picture of his tells me that he is unique in his composition.

[@bosiefoobar]

what's the controversy?

[@mauriciomurga20]

@@bosiefoobar for the photoshop

[@stevegibxon]

Leicas are awesome. The SL2 is on my bucket list for sure. Meantime, it's reassuring to those who are have to wait, that Steve Curry's "world renowned", iconic images were shot on much affordable Nikons. He probably could done the same with Canons too. Just bugs me when marketing people overhype. Leicas are awesome enough. Still on my list despite the PR :-) Thanks for the behind the scenes footage. Fascinating :-)

[@obiwancanales]

A veces me viene desidia por la fotografía, pero veo el trabajo de McCurry y vuelvo a amarla | Sometimes I feel lazy about photography, but I see McCurry's work and I love her again.

[@marcusoutdoors4999]

I’m a bit out of Love with Leica right now as my new M11 failed 200 shots in. A replacement is due on Friday… fingers crossed I’ll have no further issues as the few images I took were stellar. For now my old SL Type 601 continues to not miss a beat, though the small light black M11 is something special (when it works)

[@Mulokaj]

Sadly the M11 is very buggy. Im Lucky i decided to buy a used M10 🤞🏼

[@d.idowuolutosin4250]

Hugh Brownstone, who has quite the following on KZbin recently made a video about exactly the same thing. He was only a few shoots in and had to return his M11 for a replacement. This is the M9 all over again. Of the M series of cameras the M8 and M10 by far have been their best cameras.

[@aquilifergroup]

Love hate relationship baby. I have the sl and the m240. Sticking with those for a while.

[@bngr_bngr]

@@d.idowuolutosin4250 never heard of him.

[@d.idowuolutosin4250]

@@bngr_bngr look him up. He's on KZbin.

[@fthprodphoto-video5357]

Magnifiaient like always

[@moderntimes4814]

Great master legendary camera 📸

[@MARKLINMAN1]

LEGEND!

[@buckgreen6028]

Steve, you da man.😎

[@CaptainFuzzzy]

Had the pleasure of photographing Umbria, Perugia, and a bunch of villages around there before a trip to an isolated Rome in 2021. One of my best photo adventures.

[@A-RA-N]

we don't care about the camera, the main thing is to have the eye and he is really the eye of a master

[@nitinb9202]

When Steve clicks it's great, when we ask people they enquire about model release and payment.

[@joeharrisonnz]

BTW all his famous photos where shoot on Nikon cameras

[@daengfirmansyah]

My inspirator 👍🏻🤩

[@haymobachmaier]

And I love my M4-P and selfrepaired IIIg with analog Films👏🏻🍀

[@ioegreer]

steve the goat fr

[@babylion1234]

I love Steve McCurry, and I think Leica M6 is best camera ever made. Forgive me please but Leica digital photos are very average. It doesn't give me the ''wow'' feeling. It's just a random digital camera with a high price tag.

[@MrHanapii]

I'm confused about this, when someone says that film cameras produce "wow" photos rather than digital. Doesn't the quality of the film depend on the lens? You can get a "leica look" with a Konica Hexar RF camera with a Leica lens right? I need an explanation.

[@moes_film]

@@MrHanapii Depending on which film you use it will have a different speed(ISO), grain structure, contrast, color palette, saturation, etc. And some find it more pleasing and natural looking than a clinical looking digital photo. Of course, a nice lens would only enhance a film photo but that's only part of the equation.

[@andrewhowson33]

Yeah, but Mc Curry has paid around $10000 for one lens and a SL2. It's a cult thing.

[@EDHBlvd]

They looked like iPhone shots. The videographer filming this had much more of an artistic eye.

[@Whatreally123]

@@EDHBlvd you're looking at photos on a small screen on KZbin where everything is compressed. Doesn't make the images justice.

[@maximbout]

Italy 📸❤️

[@herobear]

Funny man! Like it!

[@aan3378]

It should also be mentioned that the color grading in this video itself is amazing. I wonder if this look has some specific name and there are LUTs to get that look.

[@stefpix]

yes, I like the color and tones of the video more than of the actual still photos

[@loudmotion5639]

should be shot on SL2 for sure

[@vimalvalluru6343]

That's unique of Leica. I used to hate Leica earlier. Now I begin to realize the true potential of it.

[@boris.dupont]

I'd never take a Leica SL2 in Naples but hey I'm not Steve McCurry 🤪 That's what geniuses do, they do things we can't do and they succeed at doing it 👍

[@andrewhowson33]

That's because he can afford to. McCurry says he chose to get into Mirrorless vía Leica. That's great but for £8000 plus for one lens and a body...

[@boris.dupont]

@@andrewhowson33 sure it's twice what I paid for my X-Pro3, my X100V and 4 lenses 🤪

[@stuartwalker121]

You're not even in a Mini league eith that xpro3 up against an SL2 Andrew

[@GrainyWorld]

This Man is a true LEGEND.

[@danigonzalez4299]

I love it. Pictures look awesome. Now, that aside, when you have models your pictures are gonna be great anyways. I thought this was more about street photography. It was not.

[@joeeley5354]

Now that he’s retired he uses a camera like the Leica. Hmm..

[@Photobuffeddy_AGS]

Because he made his millions ‘ lol 😆 😊

[@Brause_Market]

maaaaan, this voice.....

[@gregorioushendra]

Legend

[@labradax]

The question is do you want every detail? Is there a way of lowering the pixel count?

[@ahmeddaghriri4180]

What kind of Hand Grip that he used here ?

[@phil151987]

They finally got him

[@stefanonori2006]

🔥❤️🔥

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

❤👍🌎

[@KCHAEnel]

Some guys here get it wrong. It's not the fact that he 'photoshopped' image. Many photographers post process their work and nothing's wrong with that. What he did wrong was completly changing the photographs- like erasing things, etc. And even that's no problem, as long as he was honest about it. Again, many photographers do it. But he made career out of making it sound like he only captures what 'it is', and he emphasized about photographing 'as is'. So admitting to manipulating images was really contradictory to what he has been talking about all his career. I used to like the guy, and he sure did make some great images. But I can't respect him any longer, that is for sure.

[@TitoMariategui]

Lol, a legend like McCurry can do whatever the f the wants. He already did it all. Long live to the master!

[@KCHAEnel]

@@TitoMariategui Agreed to disagree. You keep on worshipping the guy. I won't. The photography today has passed him by.

[@kiwipics]

It's when people win awards for those shots with removed items .... that's why it's wrong. A bit like the multi award winning (and rule cheat), and supposedly "acclaimed" worlds best wedding photographer from Australia..... Not mentioning his name because his big head knows who he is.

[@user-ti9zc1xv2b]

He is the biggest alive fraud photographers that is bi

[@guilhermeslk]

Who cares? The man is a TRUE legend

[@sayantanutbe]

What I want to know is the camera used to shoot this video and not what Steve McCurry is using.

[@Lucidexplore]

I wonder what is Steve's favorite focal length🤔

[@EoloPerfidoStudio]

24-90 zoom

[@weisserth]

1:49 "Today, Leica is the only choice for me."

[@rudolfhelder6570]

Live and forgive, brah.

[@villagranvicent]

It is the only choice because Leica is sponsoring him. But all his iconic images were taken with Nikon.

[@BubblesPothowari]

Leica is trying too hard when other 3 (Canon, Sony, Nikon) + Fuji, Pentax upping the game.....

[@Gravitys-NOT-a-force]

Mmm...sounds a wee bit like a commercial.

[@juliushannesrexer8554]

I also use the Leica SL 2-s and I love taking photos with it🫶🔴

[@phototristan]

Should really be an M.

[@teleaddict23]

Why’s he not shooting slide film?

[@arndtbc]

He used Nikon for most of his career, up until very recently. Would like to hear why he switched.

[@Ruylopez778]

Watch the video he did 3 years ago about the SL2; he cites the better Leica lenses (and simplicity of the buttons/menus), and seeing mirrorless as the future, just as he switched from film to digital. Of course, we can argue he just cites that reason for marketing, but that is the reason he has given.

[@mattflynn6328]

Wake up dude, he was sponsored and paid for this

[@OrelRussia]

I wish he would still photograph on Kodachrome... His contemporary digital shots look too ordinary in comparison.

[@kevrosas1]

They stopped making Kodachrome years ago. There was even a documentary about Steve using the last roll ever made. They will all be expired and difficult to obtain these days.

[@OrelRussia]

@@kevrosas1 yes, I've watched that documentary. Shooting on Kodachrome is just my wish. Then Steve McCurry's photos were priceless, now they are almost worthless. Maybe shooting on film that is still available could change the downtrend...

[@unpoulet6859]

@@OrelRussia why worthless ? You could prefer film over digital but he’s still the same photographer. Camera is just a tool.

[@OrelRussia]

@@unpoulet6859 I still regard him as one of the best photographers of all times. It's just what it is. Put an F-1 racer into an ordinary family car. The driver will be the same but he won't make any speed records anymore.

[@patrickjclarke]

Anyone have any insight on why he has that grip on the bottom like that?

[@petersmythe4080]

He has a disability.

[@veryjr2966]

From what I understand he severely injured his right hand as a child which left it crippled so he needs that grip to stabilize the camera while using his left hand to actuate the shutter. He’s been using this setup throughout his career.

[@patrickjclarke]

@@veryjr2966 oh wow, I've read interviews and following his work forever but I guess I missed that part! Thanks for the insight

[@nickfanzo]

I love McCurry, but who actually believes these snake oil camera videos? He used Nikon for decades, all of those iconic photographs were taken on a Nikon, not a Leica. I’m sure a fuji gfx100s would crush this cameras dynamic range also. Kodachrome helped make those amazing colors, back then it was not a sensor. It’s the artist, not the brush. “Leica is the only choice for me, they finally paid me and sent me free stuff after 40 years.”

[@jukeboxjohnnie]

Ive got both! Yes the GFX100S takes gorgeous incredible high res photos, the resolution and fuji colours are incredible, but AF is quite poor, my SL2 runs rings around it in low light and after latest firmware SL2 has given it superior face and eye detect even with its contrast AF system. Also the SL2 is nicer to use. It feels heavier but actually its similar to the Fuji on the scales. I recommend owning both although thats not going to be an easy answer for most..

[@nickfanzo]

@@jukeboxjohnnie my point is, he could easily still use nikon- like a z9 and get the same images 😂 it’s all snake oil and marketing

[@anthonywallace3830]

@@nickfanzo I use the Z9 for my work and love it. I sometimes use my M lenses on it with an adapter. The choice available to us nowadays makes for some fun combos!

[@jukeboxjohnnie]

@@nickfanzo with some tweaking I suppose, the pictures do look a little different between brands. Nothing wrong with a Z9 it looks very appealing!

[@villagranvicent]

Wow, I basically comment the same as you. Agree, Leica has nothing to do with Steve's iconic images. Now he looks like a tourist with a big camera strolling around.

[@ValentinoMello]

Nice

[@MrSdbmgarcia]

Great video. is the shutter slap that loud? Sounded really loud on the subway scene.

[@EoloPerfidoStudio]

It's the underground door that is closing ;) The camera is very quite.

[@Vincent171090]

Hahaha, made me laugh :D

[@girorandazzo8363]

Palermo,io c'ero 😉

[@bobbybobby8365]

What kind of Hand Grip ?

[@solb101]

I doubt he needs that many pixels for those kind of shots and for publication. The camera and lens look huge for a rangefinder.

[@douglasdrumond]

That's because it's not a rangefinder. SL2 is a fullframe mirrorless camera. And when you have autofocus, the lenses become bigger. Leica M are rangefinders and lenses have manual focus. Well, there are some small lenses with autofocus, like Fuji lenses, but they're for APS-C cameras

[@splootan]

Sounds too scripted!! CMON Steve and Leica!

[@tjmanou6422]

Did he actually switch to Leica or just another infomercial just like he did for Sony? Thank you

[@DamianBrown]

"finally rich/ sponsored enough to only shoot Leica"

[@EDHBlvd]

Bwhahahaha

[@crsantin]

These photos are not very interesting and that camera is way too large for walking about.

[@EDHBlvd]

They look like iPhone pics.

[@mattflynn6328]

@@EDHBlvd worse lol

[@DanThomas1161]

A collection of most boring pictures I've seen in ages. Pulled up shadows look very artificial and quite frankly unprofessional and uncomplimentary.

[@mattflynn6328]

They are awful photos. Clearly it's a paid sponsorship and he didn't put any thought into the photos because they are well below his usual standard. He clearly needs money.

[@DanThomas1161]

@@mattflynn6328 He doesn't care and camera company doesn't care. Yes they are asking people to care about what they are offering to them. They lost the cause and when that happens in art it's a dead end (for them).

[@jaekim5397]

What is the model of Lens? Is it a kit lens with SL2?

[@sstudiostock5201]

He is shooting with both Leica SL2 and SL2S. He uses 90% of the time the 24-90mm f4

[@choongching]

would love to learn photoshop from him

[@LimitEdit]

that's the comment I was searching for haha

[@HatefYaminiOnline]

😂😂

[@maxw-h]

What lens is he’s using?

[@eorsjr]

I believe it is the 24-90mm.

[@saudihermawan6599]

🤩👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻💕

[@jeffcruzphotography]

I'll buy a Leica...if you give me the money. Until then, I'll use what I have. It works for me.

[@Aletrhash]

Nice Photoshop User!!!

[@marcbernard_]

Commento sincero da fotografo, ci sono tanti artisti che hanno fatto lavori molto più interessanti soprattutto se si parla di documentare Napoli e Palermo. Leica, perchè non coinvolgi anche loro nella strategia di comunicazione delle tue nuove fotocamere?

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

❤👍🌎.

[@Daniel_Ilyich]

Lol, from Nikon to Hasselblad to Leica, now.

[@mattflynn6328]

He needs money lol

[@jiyoungkim9715]

photo storyteller???I do't like him anymore~all your photo books makes trash

[@dralder]

kind of lame when a superstar photographer acts as a salesman, in the end all we have bills to pay. McCurrys more famous work was done with an analogue nikon anyway.

[@BubblesPothowari]

Made me feel sad when you sell what did not make you famous.....

[@slowbro1337]

My dream of owning a Leica camera is always just beyond my reach for one reason or another but I hope to achieve ownership through luck or hard work

[@bi5048]

He can see and capture other people just can’t

[@deldridg]

Stunning. I can feel a divorce coming on... that camera!! 🙂 "_No honey - I've had this old camera since before we met..._"

[@justinkingery2489]

I could never carry that huge camera and lens around, lol. Too silly looking. The files look hyper digital, too.

[@bngr_bngr]

A camera like a Canon 1Dx or Nikon D6 is way bigger.

[@justinkingery2489]

@@bngr_bngr Then I definitely wouldn't carry them either.

[@bngr_bngr]

@@justinkingery2489 I use two 1Dx everyday.

[@PissTakeProduction]

Funny looking baby in the pram.

[@foreoneone]

Hey Steve ! Watch out, you still have the lens cap on 😂

[@bngr_bngr]

He is not using a rangefinder.

[@zacualpeno100]

Hahaha, I was hoping I was the first one that noticed it.

[@TobermoryCat]

Suppose it would be possible to write Leica in a bigger font on the front of the camera but the question is why would you? Its like a rob me sign. Black tape over the top works.

[@softviz]

But.. I believe he must still love Nikon.

[@sangkanjaya5192]

Nikon is stop making DSLR now..they re focusing on new Z line up

[@Galeidan]

I thought he used D810 ? Why not just use D850. Probably the greatest DSLR of all time.

[@directedbydon]

I assume he definitely shoots Nikon. Leica probably pays him sponsorship, to test and be shown using a Leica but he's probably not beholden to using it in his work. He's a Nikon guy for life.

[@patrickjclarke]

From what I've read he went to the SL because Nikon didn't have a mirrorless at the time and he wanted to transition to mirrorless.

[@bngr_bngr]

@@directedbydon the Nikon of today is not the Nikon of film days. I’m a Canon digital photographer but still have my Nikon film gear. I never wore it down.

[@revisionist3824]

All of his great, iconic pictures were shot by nikon 😅

[@AruRAvi]

Send me a Leica 😎

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

Paying. Of course. In £. 💋s to you.

[@iemboyshostel]

Why is Leica only choice? Seriously curious.

[@MIZRAIM1906]

Do you mean „Why is Leica THE only choice?“?

[@iemboyshostel]

@@MIZRAIM1906 Yes

[@SalamSalam-uj9wz]

hallo zusammen

[@darkslowy667]

the colors of the leica are broken ....

[@darkslowy667]

i have to say that fuji is better.. SORRY.

[@StephenMcLeod]

I bet he doesn't get quoted 500 quid and a four month wait for a lever repair though eh

[@JM-xl3ij]

Nicely shot video - What camera, lens and LUT?

[@EoloPerfidoStudio]

Leica SL2S, Leica APO-Summicron-SL 35mm f/2 ASPH, Leica APO-Summicron-SL 50mm f/2 ASPH, No lut, coloring by heart.

[@JM-xl3ij]

@@EoloPerfidoStudio Thanks for the detail - shot in L-LOG?

[@EoloPerfidoStudio]

@@JM-xl3ij yes

[@bngr_bngr]

@@EoloPerfidoStudio what kind of bottom plate is he using?

[@EoloPerfidoStudio]

@@bngr_bngr a custom plate made for him.

[@matthewdowton3369]

master at photoshop and abusing assistances.

[@casparurban8730]

1:50, Palermo at dusk in a cafe putting a Leica on the table is an invitation for any quick thief. (Mettere una Leica sul tavolo di un bar al tramonto a Palermo è un invito a qualsiasi ladro veloce. )

[@kakman1958]

I'm intrigued he uses a pistol grip...

[@goldenhourkodak]

Spray and pray?