Stephen McCurry's "India"

This past weekend, my class went to the Rubin museum in New York to look at the work of Stephen McCurry, a famous documentary photographer.  This exhibition of his work was specifically focused on the time he spent in India over the years, documenting his travels and the people he came across.  Many of the works displayed the beauty and hardship of life in India.  It was an excellent voyage into another part of the world, exploring the rich culture and lifestyles of people unlike those found in the States.

I chose, as an example of Mr. McCurry's work, an image of an old train moving past the Taj Mahal.  I found this image to be especially striking as it shows so much of the culture of India in one frame.  The rustic-looking train shows the ways of old India, as it moves forward in technology and industrialization.  Not a modern train, but it is reminiscent of the way that the country once was, and moves forward in its development.  The people aboard it show the same mentality.  Show the old ways as well as the modern.  Furthermore, this shows the heart of India by means of showing the Taj in all it's glory.  It is in an interesting position in the frame, however, by being out of focus in the background.  As if to say that the soul of India is always present in the changing times.  I was rather interested in the composition and message of this image.  Certainly one of my favorites in the set.