“Women of Fadiouth”. Lavazza Calendar 2015. Photographer: Steve McCurry
It takes only a glance at any news carousel or magazine stand to familiarise oneself with Steve McCurry. His 1985 portrait of Sharbat Gula – also known as the “Afghan Girl” – is one of most iconic images in photojournalism. As is typical with his style, the photo flashes with a natural intensity and displays his passion for representing non-Western communities.
Nearly 30 years after his breakthrough, McCurry has teamed up once more with longtime collaborator Lavazza to produce the 2015 edition of its calendar. Titled “The Earth Defenders” McCurry was dispatched to Africa to document, represent and celebrate African men and women who courageously invest in reviving their continent and customs. Currently, the project is also being supported by the Slow Food Foundation, a grassroots organisation promoting sustainable cultivation. McCurry’s images present a hopeful future steeped in the traditions of the past – as can be seen in the picture of sentinel Asnakech Thomas guarding her village’s plants.
For more information on The Earth Defenders, go to calendar2015.lavazza.com
“The Sentinel Guarding the Plantation”. Lavazza Calendar 2015. Photographer: Steve McCurry