The rich, sweeping, cinematic photographs of Mr Steve McCurry are everything I miss right now; they are the images of the world, near and far, that I see in my mind when I picture life on Earth. His documentation of villagers in Afghanistan and Pakistan (most notably his iconic 1984 photograph “Afghan Girl”), of a smoky train station in Istanbul, of the Taj Mahal, of Buddhist monks in Thailand – photographs taken on assignment for National Geographic or as a member of Magnum Photo (and collected in his many, glorious books). His pictures are what first made me want to run out to the four corners of the globe, to see, to live, to experience life in a way that is now forbidden. So, it is to Mr McCurry I turned again, to see how he is dealing with our present climate, with our new kind of confinement. Because if anyone has seen the world and has built a great archive through which to leaf during this downtime and from which to draw inspiration, it is Mr McCurry, an American born in Pennsylvania, who has documented our society, in glory and extremis for nearly 40 years.

How has this impacted your work and travel plans?

My trips for the next few months have been cancelled, unfortunately. However, I’m lucky to be at home with my wife and daughter.   What is your normal schedule like?

I travel at least half the year, sometimes more, but I’m trying to cut my travel back. We are fortunate to be able to travel as a family, which lessens the impact of being away so often.    Has anything prepared you for something like this?

As a photographer, I have covered some of the darkest moments in history, photographing men, women, children; dying, losing their homes, fleeing their country, living for decades in refugee camps. I have witnessed the horror of the worst that humans can do to each other in wartime, but this virus is challenging the world and keeping us from our daily routines, our jobs, our pleasure and the intimacy that separates us from our family and friends.   What are the things that are most troubling you at the moment and things giving you the most hope?

What troubles me the most at the moment is the uncertainty as to when this crisis will be over, and, of course, the protection of my family. However, seeing people succeeding in adjusting to new radical habits, the generosity and mutual help men and women are offering to those in need brings me hope.   What do you (normally) do for fun?

I love going through my pictures, working on my next book and curating the next exhibition. My daughter is always around to entertain as well. 

What are your days like now?

I am awakened by our three-year old daughter, Lucia, and we spend a lot of time playing with her and keeping her busy. We are now going through the countries she has visited with her mother and me; it is fun to see how a three-year-old can remember so many things. I am also working remotely with my team on books, exhibitions and social media as well as spending time on the phone with my sister, Bonnie. When I’m not working or spending time with the family, I’m catching up on the news. 

What are you storing in your fridge?

A lot of vegetables, fruit and soups.    What are you cooking/eating/craving?

Pasta al pomodoro and Italian food in general, with a glass of red wine.    _What are you reading that is providing pleasure, reprieve, escape? _

I’m currently reading Paul Theroux’s On The Plain Of Snakes.   Are you watching anything great?

I’m watching 1917, The Irishman, rewatching Stanley Kubrick’s Paths Of Glory and Barry Lyndon.   How are you communicating with others in distant lands and close to home?

I use WhatsApp to communicate with most people; and keep up with friends, colleagues and people around the world on Instagram.   What are you holding particularly dear? Is there anything that has changed in value for you since this all began, something that has gone way up in your estimation?

We’ve all been witnessing hopelessly as millions of Americans, our government failing to protect the American people, revealing the limits of our healthcare system. My thoughts go to our heroes, healthcare professionals, food distribution workers, firemen and cleaners who keep our everyday lives going.   How has this changed the way you have been thinking about work or life, where you live, about people?

This confinement has given me more time to reconnect with friends, relatives, former coworkers. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the environment and it will be a good time to develop a personal project on that topic, probably a book and a virtual exhibition. It has challenged the way we are living and drastically changed our habits such as using our cars, travelling for leisure, or for work, and learning to take care of our own self through reading, meditation, yoga. 

Have you been given any comforting news, practices, encouragement that has helped recently?

We have been posting the virtual exhibitions online on different themes and people all around the world have responded positively with thoughtful comments. This is the kind of encouragement that has helped.    Are you doing anything else (meditation, yoga, incense, voodoo dolls, hair dyes) that you'd recommend?

We are doing exercises and learning Spanish.    What are you wearing right now/every day?

I’m wearing my usual clothes: blue shirt, beige pants and a pair of black sneakers. 

What have you resolved to do during this downtime/do in the aftermath?

Going through my archive; I never seem to have enough time to do that. And trying to clean up my garage.