How One Photographer Captured A Piercing Gaze That Shook The World : NPR

Who hosted the NPR segment discussing Steve McCurry's iconic photograph?

Arun Rath

In what month and year was Steve McCurry stationed at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border?

December 1984

For which magazine was Steve McCurry covering the refugee crisis in 1984?

National Geographic

Why were millions of Afghan refugees pouring into Pakistan in December 1984?

To escape the war raging in Afghanistan

How did Steve McCurry describe the living conditions in the refugee camps?

Tens of thousands pressed together in squalid conditions with no plumbing, no electricity, disease, and the need to carry water

Near which Pakistani city was the refugee camp where McCurry heard children's laughter?

Peshawar, Pakistan

What was inside the large tent where Steve McCurry heard children laughing?

A makeshift classroom for an all-girls school

What initial feature caught Steve McCurry's attention when he entered the makeshift classroom tent?

A little girl with incredible eyes

What was the name of the Afghan girl photographed by Steve McCurry?

Sharbat Gula

How did Sharbat Gula initially react when Steve McCurry prepared to take her photograph?

She covered her face and mouth with her hands

What did the teacher say to Sharbat Gula when she initially covered her face?

She told her to let him photograph her because it was important for the world to know their story

How many times had Sharbat Gula been photographed before meeting Steve McCurry?

None; it was the first time in her life she had ever been photographed

How did Steve McCurry describe Sharbat Gula's expression after she lowered her hands?

A piercing gaze with an incredible look

What elements in the portrait did McCurry describe as having a 'wonderful harmony'?

The colors of her shawl and the background

What did Sharbat Gula do right after Steve McCurry took a few pictures?

She got up and walked away

Why did it take almost two months for McCurry to see the photo he had taken of Sharbat Gula?

The photograph was taken in the pre-digital era, requiring him to return home and develop the film

How did the magazine editor react upon seeing the photo of Sharbat Gula looking into the camera?

He leapt to his feet and said, 'there's our next cover'

How did photographing the Afghan girl impact Steve McCurry's career?

He called it his big break that changed his life

How long after taking the photograph did Steve McCurry reunite with Sharbat Gula?

Almost two decades later

Where did Steve McCurry locate and reunite with Sharbat Gula?

In Afghanistan

How old was Sharbat Gula when her iconic photograph was taken?

About 12 years old

What happened to Sharbat Gula's parents during the war in Afghanistan?

They were killed in a Soviet airstrike

With whom did Sharbat Gula travel for weeks to reach refugee camps after losing her parents?

Her grandmother and four siblings

What was the official title of Steve McCurry's famous photograph of Sharbat Gula?

"The Afghan Girl"

According to the 2015 report, how many years prior did 'The Afghan Girl' photo run on the National Geographic cover?

30 years ago