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Magnum Magnum

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"Encompasses sixty years of photography by the legendary agency."— Vogue

Since its founding in 1947 by Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger, and David "Chim" Seymour, Magnum Photos, the legendary co-operative has powerfully chronicled the peoples, cultures, events, and issues of the time.

Magnum Magnum brings together the best work, celebrating the vision, imagination, and brilliance of Magnum photographers, both the acknowledged greats of photography in the twentieth century—among them, Henri-Cartier Bresson, Robert Capa, Eve Arnold, Marc Riboud, and Werner Bischof—and the modern masters and rising stars of our time, such as Martin Parr, Susan Meiselas, Alec Soth, and Donovan Wylie.

Organized by photographer, the book harks back to the agency's early days and the spirit that made it such a unique and creative environment, one in which each of the four founding members picture-edited the others' photographs. Here a current Magnum photographer selects and critiques six key works by each of the sixty-nine featured photographers, with a commentary explaining the rationale behind the choice.

This new edition provides a permanent record of iconic images from the last sixty years and an insight, as seen through the critical eyes and minds of Magnum photographers, into what makes a memorable photograph. 9.5" x 11.5", 413 illustrations in color and duotone.

568 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2007

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Brigitte Lardinois

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Dmitry Berkut.
Author 5 books221 followers
April 19, 2024
The book is a compilation-portfolio of iconic images captured by members of the legendary Magnum agency over the past sixty years, totaling about four hundred photos.
An essential edition for photojournalists, documentary, and street photographers, it has earned a worthy place in my personal library.
Profile Image for Lady-R.
352 reviews139 followers
October 7, 2021
Un libro que recopila fotos de Magnum siempre es un imprescindible para los amantes de la fotografía documental o, mejor dicho, para cualquier amante de la fotografía.

Además, aparecen los trabajos de los fotógrafos clásicos (o pilares) de la agencia, pero también de fotógrafos que forman parte de ella desde hace menos años.

Lo que realmente hace especial a este libro, es que la selección de 6 fotos por autor, ha sido confeccionada, en cada caso, por otro fotógrafo de la agencia, que además, la acompaña de un texto de su puño y letra, en la que explica cuatro pinceladas del por qué de esas fotos y no otras. Es esta visión la que marca la diferencia con otros libros del estilo.

18 reviews
February 26, 2010
A brilliant collection of photographs from Magnum. If you don't know, this is a photojournalism agency started by Henri Cartier Brenson. The images toe the line between art and journalism, sometimes more one than the other. The concept of the book was to have other members of the agency pull out their favorite works of another photographer. The result is that you get some wonderful images that are not necessarily the most well recognized from their body of work. I highly recommend this to anyone with an interest in photography.
Profile Image for Jesper Hauge.
37 reviews1 follower
November 9, 2015
Amazing pictures, but description and samplings are too small, not enough material on each photographer to make a truly immersive experience. Can function as appetizers for the work of the participating photographers.
Profile Image for Sven.
527 reviews65 followers
December 18, 2021
Magnum photo’s is een vereniging van fotografen. De oprichters waren Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, George Rodger en David Seymour. Onder hun leden bevinden zich een zestal Belgen en één Nederlander. Met dit collectief aan fotografen kunnen ze foto’s leveren aan de pers, uitgeverijen ,televisie, musea enzoverder. Men wordt niet zomaar lid van deze groep. Hun toelating werkt met nominatie, na twee jaar geassocieerd en pas na nog eens twee jaar kan men volwaardig lid worden.
In het boek MagnumMagnum toont men een vierhonderdtal foto’s van zestig jaar magnum fotografen. Maar men wil ook aantonen wat volgens de kritische blik van een magnum fotograaf een goeie foto is.
In dit boek wordt telkenmale kort ingegaan op een fotograaf. Wie is hij, waar woonde hij, wanneer lid en waar de interesses lagen in het gebied van fotografie. Wat wel speciaal is ,is dat daarna een andere magnum fotograaf aan het woord komt die een meer persoonlijke benadering brengt van deze persoon.
Wat niet simpel moet geweest zijn is dat de fotograaf die aan het woord is maar zes foto’s mocht kiezen uit het ,soms wel uitgebreid, oeuvre van de magnum fotograaf die hij in het flitslicht plaatst.
Hierbij wordt wel zeer goed verwoordt waarom men gekozen heeft voor deze foto’s. Het zijn ook vooral de verhalen die erbij horen die een extra dimensie brengt aan de afbeeldingen.
De foto’s zijn afgedrukt op redelijk groot formaat waardoor het prettig aanvoelt om ze langdurig te bekijken. Vooral als beginnend fotograaf valt er zeer veel te leren uit dit boek.
Natuurlijk zijn er veel foto’s genomen in gebieden of gebeurtenissen waar wij als gewone mens geen kans toe krijgen. Maar toch is het een zeer tof en leerrijk boek om door te bladeren en de fotografen te leren kennen achter de afbeeldingen.

Engels

Magnum Photos is an association of photographers. The founders were Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, George Rodger and David Seymour. Among their members are six Belgians and one Dutchman. With this collective of photographers they can supply photos to the press, publishers, television, museums and so on. One does not just become a member of this group. Their admission works by nomination, after two years associated and only after another two years one can become a full member.
The book MagnumMagnum shows about four hundred photos from sixty years of magnum photographers. But they also want to demonstrate what a good photo is according to the critical eye of a magnum photographer.
In this book each time we briefly discuss a photographer. Who is he, where did he live, when a member and where his interests lay in the field of photography. What is special is that afterwards another magnum photographer comes to the floor who brings a more personal approach to this person.
What must not have been simple is that the photographer speaking was only allowed to choose six photos from the sometimes extensive oeuvre of the magnum photographer that he places in the flash light.
This explains very well why people have chosen these photos. It is also mainly the stories that go with it that bring an extra dimension to the images.
The photos are printed in a fairly large format, which makes it pleasant to view them for a long time. Especially as a novice photographer there is a lot to learn from this book.
Of course, many photos were taken in areas or events that we as ordinary people do not get a chance to. But it is still a very cool and instructive book to browse through and get to know the photographers behind the images.
Profile Image for Steve.
53 reviews1 follower
April 15, 2009
I bought it today 10/1/2009.I've only managed to look through it once and I am stunned.I never knew Robert Capa had a brother who also took photographs.I'll add more later.
Profile Image for jakub.
9 reviews
February 4, 2025
Great book to find your next favourite photographer with selections of their work and a biography. Lovely photos in here with a variety of styles
Profile Image for Pablo.
147 reviews8 followers
March 20, 2015
Should be required reading for anyone who's ever taken a picture.
Profile Image for Cole Pillow.
2 reviews
January 2, 2024
Voluminous in its breadth, accounting for photographers anywhere at anytime, capturing anything and everything; Magnum Magnum is more than a coffee table read or statement piece: it’s a masterpiece comprising of carefully curated photographs and the pertinent typeface that carries the photographer(‘s) wears. Self-inflicting raw images that leave your consciousness feeling curiously disturbed, addicted, & somewhat overwhelmed. Caliber unmatched.
413 reviews12 followers
November 23, 2020
Very disappointing. I couldn’t understand why most of these photographers and their work is considered so important. It looks like a bad collection of poor snapshots taken by amateurs. Awful.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews

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