As a National Geographic photographer since 1995, Stephen Alvarez has explored our world in ways most of us can only imagine. His global stories have won him numerous awards and taken him to amazing places, much like our all-time favorite photographer, Steve McCurry. Over the past fifteen years, Alvarez chronicled the world’s unseen landscapes and then called the series Earth from Below. His journeys took him to the world’s deepest cave in Abkhazia on the border with Russia and made him curious enough to explore the treasures right underneath his feet. Alvarez recently spoke about these incredible experiences at The Annnenberg Space for Photography. What I enjoy most about Alvarez’s photos is that, just like Steve McCurry, he can transport us into another time and place. Unlike McCurry, however, Alvarez gives us a different type of connection. Whereas McCurry’s photos make us appreciate our shared human experiences, Alvarez’s awe-inspiring photos give us a whole new appreciation for this earth – its natural beauty and, most importantly, its hidden gems.
