Magnum Stories

by Chris Boot (Editor)

This book explores how some of the world's greatest photographers take, edit and lay out pictures. Using the 'photo story' as a vehicle to explain their approach, the book features work by 61 members of the prestigious Magnum photo agency.
The book spans a variety of photographic genres such as war and documentary photography, photojournalism, social realism, portraiture, landscapes, fashion and news.
Magnum Stories explores the influences that have affected the photo story and how it has been utilized, published and adapted by key events and publications such as Newsweek, Time and Paris Match, which have helped define the genre. This book provides a unique and in-depth reflection on the course of photography during the second half of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first.

Genres: Photography, Reference, Art, Nonfiction

512 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 2004

Reviews

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books are too massive to simply be books. Magnum Stories is, quite literally, a very large book. Its oversize pages alternate autobiographical quips with excerpted photojournalism, generally taken from particular photoessays. The experience of largeness I remember from this book comes from years of wandering around pages, losing myself in a shot for any number of minutes, finding paragraphs only to wander away to another giant, glossy sheet. The material covered is extensive, from meat-industry machinery to Picasso (& Picasso's chest hair) hanging out. Magnum itself is well-represented. But after tabulating the pages, there remains a certain vastness..

[Brian Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

MAGNUM STORIES is a large and very heavy book both literally and figuratively. I would like to say that it is a source of much inspiration and, indeed, there is inspiration to be found; but it is principally a history, the story of the way photojournalism used to be. As Erich Lessing plainly concludes in his essay, “Reportage has been superseded by the photo opportunity. My generation had the best of it. It didn’t last very long, and now it’s finished.”

[Laura Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gosh, I loved this book. I checked it out from the library because I wanted to look at beautiful photographs, feeling I needed some higher form of aesthetics in my life. The book is also a pictorial history of the 20th century, as the Magnum photo agency began in the 1940s and has chronicled aspects of history -- V Day, Vietnam, for instance -- as well as the dark shadows of life that we do not think about -- French performance art and Chinese immigrants living in the slums of NYC.
It has also inspired me to learn photography.

[Renée Doiron · Rating 4 out of 5]

For decades Magnum photojournalists have captured the essence of humanity. This book is literally a great big collection of haunting, beautiful and disturbing scenes, from Malcolm X taking the stage to The Vietnam war, D-day landings, Castro holding court, etc. recommended for fans of photojournalism especially but also for anyone who is interested in the human journey, as long as they are 14+.

[Ron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only does this book contain picture stories from some of the world's most celebrated photojournalists, but each story also contains a written essay about the story from the photographer. A wonderful resource for anyone interested in refining their photographic storytelling technique and a valuable resource for those interested in the workings of professional photojournalists.

[Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just thinking about this book excites me - it literally sends tingles through the skin. It's dense, heavy, full of wisdom and experiences that inspires you to go out into the world and explore and take pictures. Oh, and of course the photos themselves are nothing short of stupendous. Can't really ask for much more from pieces of paper.

[Rony Zakaria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Borrowed it from a friend. What I really like from this coffe-table sized book is the unique description from each photographers how the started their career as a photographer and shared their personal method of work. A great photo book!

[Emmanuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ambitious book, would've been much better divided into volumes so that it would feature for more photographs. This is a must for any journalist, photographer, and documentarian. Something to revisit over and over!

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 3.5kg book that travels with me. Full of inspiration and ideas for new stories and angles on life through a lens.