Internationally renowned photographer and Silversea’s eye on the world Steve McCurry has been named as the recipient of the prestigious Cherry Kearton Medal and Award for 2020, bestowed by the London-based Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) (RGS-IBG) for ‘photography that encourages reflection on the interaction with peoples, landscapes and wildlife across the world.’
The Cherry Kearton Medal and Award from the RGS-IBG
The prestigious accolade is among a number of medals and awards that the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) presents annually to individuals and organisations to recognize outstanding contributions to geographical research, fieldwork and teaching, and public engagement.
“I am honoured to be the recipient of the Cherry Kearton Medal and Award and to be among men and women whom I admire,” says McCurry. “My work with Silversea has allowed me to explore new regions of this incredible world we live in. It has also given me the opportunity to photograph the animals that inhabit these otherworldly habitats in places such as Antarctica, the Galápagos, and the Arctic. As humans, we have a responsibility to build a stable ground for future generations. It is critical today to have an understanding of the times we live in, as well as how people interact with each other in their communities and the environment.”
Steve McCurry’s Travels with Silversea Cruises
Through his collaboration with Silversea, the iconic visual storyteller has travelled deeper and farther to capture meaningful moments in human and wildlife activities across myriad landscapes. Since 2017, McCurry has undertaken 27 journeys with Silversea and his travels with the cruise line have unlocked the wonders of dozens of destinations to all seven continents, from the farthest reaches of Asia and the polar realms, through Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and Australia, to the Americas, the Middle East and Africa.
Among other remarkable landscapes and experiences, McCurry’s lens has revealed the authentic beauty of:
Hot spring-bathing Japanese macaques in the forests of the Jigokudani Valley, Japan;
Chinstrap Penguins frolicking among Antarctica’s icy landscapes;
the multicolored spectacle of the Egun mask dancers in Benin, West Africa;
the Kazakh people of the Altai Mountains in Mongolia, who survive harsh winters by hunting with eagles;
Barcelona’s stunning human towers of intrepid performers standing atop one another;
And the breathtaking scenery of Flåm, Norway, with its fjords, waterfalls, and the famous Flåm railway.
“We are delighted to learn that the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) has honoured Steve with its Cherry Kearton Medal and Award, and wish to congratulate him on this well-deserved recognition,” says Barbara Muckermann, Silversea’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Steve McCurry’s artistry and storytelling are at the heart of our creative collaboration. His images not only take you on a journey, but compel you to see how precious our world is. Our guests share Steve’s passion for travel and, like Steve, find gratification and enjoyment in the unique experiences that they enjoy with Silversea.”
Professor Joe Smith, Director, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), comments: “The Society is delighted for Steve McCurry to be the recipient of the Cherry Kearton Medal and Award which reflects a lifetime of insightful documentary photography of people and places taken all over this extraordinary planet”
Read an interview with director Denis Delestrac for a behind-the-scenes insight on Steve’s travels:To follow Steve McCurry on his travels with Silversea, and view behind-the-scenes videos, visit Discover, the company’s travel blog:
https://discover.silversea.com/category/steve-mccurry/
