Steve McCurry, an American photographer, photojournalist, came to Vietnam on an assignment in June 2019. Accompanying him was a production team from Intrepido Films founded by award-winning director Denis Delestrac who is producing a feature-length film about the life of this great photographer. Fixer in Vietnam assigned one of the most experienced Vietnam film fixers to assist Steve McCurry and Intrepido Films crew. The production trip lasted for 9 days in Imperial city of Hue, Thien Mu pagoda, Tam Giang lagoon, beach and Marble Mountains in Da Nang city and Hoi An ancient town.
Working with one of the most iconic faces of contemporary photography for over three decades in the world has not been an easy job. Our Vietnam filming fixer recommended all the filming locations and detailed shooting schedule for Steve and the production team. We also cast some models and invited real monks at Thien Mu pagoda for the shoot.
He loved shooting in the early morning and late afternoon so we had very long working days but all of us was so happy about the result. Steve worked very hard and it seemed that he was never satisfied with his photos. He pushed the shutter again and again with 100% focus. We had two working session starting at 4.30 AM at a beach to photograph fishermen with their round boats and another early shoot at a lagoon to follow fisherman catching fish with nets.
Steve McCurry's photo of "Afghan Girl" which was appeared on the cover of National Geographic several times is one of his photos I like most. I hope that one day, one of the photos he took in this filming trip in Vietnam, a beautiful country, will appear on the cover of this magazine. It was a great experience with one of the most iconic voices of the world's contemporary photography.