World traveling photographer Steve McCurry, who is probably best known for his Afghan Girl photo, shares a stunning set of images offering some insight on the commuting lifestyle of the people in India. The series, simply titled Trains, presents the life of Indian commuters and travelers, many of whom appear to travel for livelihood rather than just for pleasure. As passengers scramble to hop on moving trains or ride atop the metallic beasts, we’re given a sense of the hardships these people must face on a daily basis.
There are cultural and economic differences made abundantly clear when viewing the photographer’s set, especially when compared to images of first-world urban stations. However, despite the apparent lack of wealth, there is a richness in culture that McCurry captures beautifully. The photojournalist says, “As I tried to tell the story of the community that inhabits the depots, I would go to the train station every day and wander around the platform. Each time a train would roll in, while carefully stepping over bodies and around huge mountains of luggage, I would start to photograph the swirl of life that assaults and saturates the senses.”
