Thoughts, Advice, and Inspiration by Photojournalist Steve McCurry

Today’s dose of inspiration comes in the form of two videos for the price of one. Both videos feature well-known and well-respected photographer and photojournalist Steve McCurry — the man behind the unforgettable Afghan Girl photo that graced the cover of NatGeo — but each offer a different sort of insight into his world.

The video up top follows McCurry around the streets and later going through some of his favorite shots from his time abroad in Afghanistan and India. He offers his thoughts on what he’s trying to capture when he takes a portrait, how people tend to put on masks and how culture changes are taking with them much of the individuality and uniqueness he became famous for capturing.

The second is an official 20 minute sit down interview that McCurry did with Al Jezeera’s Riz Khan, and it covers his life and inspirations as a whole. You find out how he came to be a photographer (despite initially aspiring to be a history teacher which he himself says would have been “disastrous”), his take on the world of photography today, and the importance of being a people person — the last of which harkens back to his idea: “don’t forget to say hello.”

Obviously there’s too much, both in the way of wisdom and inspiration, in these videos to describe adequately in a few paragraphs. So if you have the time (or maybe even if you don’t), we highly recommend you sit down and watch them both.