For more than half the world's people, the weather can be a matter of survival. Good monsoons mean prosperity and life, and poor ones are attended by famine and death. The monsoon is immune to control by government and technology alike. Photojournalist Steve McCurry had just completed a working tour of India when he was commissioned by the "National Geographic" to cover the monsoon season. For a further six months he followed the path of the monsoon from the tropics to the eastern hemisphere, through Southeast Asia to Northern Australia. The resulting photographs are presented in this volume, with McCurry's personal account of the assignment.

2000-03-03 An inspiration to all who happen upon it.

I first saw these photographs during my Saturday morning photography class and bought the book in the afternoon. Its inspiring,and in its course offers both delight and wonder to the viewer.The power of nature balanced by the acceptance of the people make every shot an insight into a cultural phenomna far from our own ken. As an amateur it amazed me how both he and his cameras survived the positions he must have been in to capture the shots, I had visions of him up to his neck in water camrea held high motor drive whirring.I would urge all people who are inspired by visual art to buy this book.