Steve McCurry has been one of the most respected names in contemporary photography for more than forty years.

Animals discovers a different side to the photographer who skilfully explores their complex relationship with humans and the environment.

Tenderness abounds, particularly in scenes of street dogs sleeping contentedly next to a human. But there’s also a kind of essential solitude, with animals belonging to no one and simply wandering through life with only their survival instincts to guide them.

Camels caught in the crossfire during the first Gulf War; a shepherd from northern Pakistan tenderly feeding his goats; Beverly Hills designer dogs; race horses on a Hong Kong rooftop; elephants in Thailand, and more from McCurry’s vast archives.

You can see his appreciation for each creature’s beauty in every image.