A selection of the very best of Steve McCurry's beautiful and powerful portraits from South and Southeast Asia.

Steve McCurry (b.1950) launched his career as a photojournalist when, disguised in native garb, he crossed the Pakistan border into Afghanistan before the Russian invasion. His coverage won him the Robert Capa Gold Medal, which is awarded to photographers exhibiting exceptional courage and enterprise. Famous also for his work in Southeast Asia, his photographs are beautiful, uplifting and powerful. McCurry has worked for National Geographic magazine for many years and is a member of the prestigious Magnum agency. Exhibitions of his work have been held all over the world and his previous books include The Imperial Way (1985), Monsoon (1988) and Portraits (Phaidon, 1999).