Magnum Stories is a collection of the best photo stories produced by the photographers of Magnum.
Through the work of key Magnum photographers - including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, Eugene Richards, Martin Parr, Inge Morath and Leonard Freed - this book covers a wide range of subjects, from the Vietnam War to student protests in Tiananmen Square, Fidel Castro overthrowing the Cuban dictator in 1959, Picasso, Malcolm X, the French theatre group Théâtre du Soleil, the US invasion of Grenada in the early 1980s, the New York police, Apartheid and Buddhism. This momentous compilation combines war photography, documentary, photojournalism, social realism, portraits of people and places, fashion and news. 61 Magnum photographers are featured, each of whom is represented across eight pages by a fully illustrated photo story of their choice, and a text composed from the photographer's perspective and based directly on interviews.
The texts are sophisticated and idiosyncratic - each with its own distinctive voice and style - yet accessible and engaging to read. They reveal strikingly diverse perceptions and approaches to the practice and philosophy of photography: What is the photo story? What does it mean? How did it come into being, and why? The questions raised are endless; each answer given is more arresting than the last.
As well as featuring the work of individual photographers, this landmark book embodies a rigorous interrogation of the form of the photo story itself as the key vehicle for photography in the twentieth century. The in-depth introduction brings this essential form to life: from its earliest developments in the 1930s, through the 'death of photojournalism', to its multi-faceted and multiplying manifestations today. The sweeping scope of Magnum Stories explores, with passion and erudition, the various influences that have defined the photo story as its own genre, spanning key twentieth-century events and the life of photographic magazines such as Newsweek, Time and Paris Match.
An unprecedented reflection of the course of the twentieth-century and the opening of the twenty-first - all through the lens of a camera on the go - this book is an intellectual, historical and aesthetic tour de force.
Through the work of key Magnum photographers - including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, Eugene Richards, Martin Parr, Inge Morath and Leonard Freed - this book covers a wide range of subjects, from the Vietnam War to student protests in Tiananmen Square, Fidel Castro overthrowing the Cuban dictator in 1959, Picasso, Malcolm X, the French theatre group Théâtre du Soleil, the US invasion of Grenada in the early 1980s, the New York police, Apartheid and Buddhism. This momentous compilation combines war photography, documentary, photojournalism, social realism, portraits of people and places, fashion and news. 61 Magnum photographers are featured, each of whom is represented across eight pages by a fully illustrated photo story of their choice, and a text composed from the photographer's perspective and based directly on interviews.
The texts are sophisticated and idiosyncratic - each with its own distinctive voice and style - yet accessible and engaging to read. They reveal strikingly diverse perceptions and approaches to the practice and philosophy of photography: What is the photo story? What does it mean? How did it come into being, and why? The questions raised are endless; each answer given is more arresting than the last.
As well as featuring the work of individual photographers, this landmark book embodies a rigorous interrogation of the form of the photo story itself as the key vehicle for photography in the twentieth century. The in-depth introduction brings this essential form to life: from its earliest developments in the 1930s, through the 'death of photojournalism', to its multi-faceted and multiplying manifestations today. The sweeping scope of Magnum Stories explores, with passion and erudition, the various influences that have defined the photo story as its own genre, spanning key twentieth-century events and the life of photographic magazines such as Newsweek, Time and Paris Match.
An unprecedented reflection of the course of the twentieth-century and the opening of the twenty-first - all through the lens of a camera on the go - this book is an intellectual, historical and aesthetic tour de force.
Berühmte Fotografien und ihre Geschichten: Chris Boot präsentiert „Magnum Stories”
Die Geschichte beginnt im Morgengrauen. „Es war nun hell genug zum Fotografieren, und ich holte meine erste Contax-Kamera aus ihrer wasserdichten Regenhaut. Der flache Boden unserer Barkasse traf auf den Boden Frankreichs”, schreibt Robert Capa. Es ist D-Day, der 6. Juni 1944, und der Magnum-Fotograf ist an vorderster Front dabei. Im Kugelhagel watet er durch das kalte Wasser an Land, sucht Schutz hinter einem stählernen Hindernis im Wasser, „die Kugeln rissen Löcher ins Wasser um mich herum”. Magnum lebt von solchen Mythen, und Mitbegründer Robert Capa wusste, was von ihm erwartet wurde. „Ich bin ein Spieler. Ich beschloss, mit der ersten Welle in Kompanie E hineinzugehen”, schreibt er markig. Capa starb zehn Jahre später in Indochina, als er auf eine Mine trat.
Magnum liefert nicht nur dramatische Bilder, sondern auch unzählige solcher aufgeladenen Geschichten. Die Helden sind eigenwillige, neugierige Männer, die auf der Suche nach dem besten Bild möglichst nah heran wollten an ihr Sujet. Man kann die Fotografen fragen, wie es Chris Boot für das von ihm herausgegebene Buch „Magnum Stories” getan hat. Sie werden einem wie Josef Koudelka erzählen, wie es war, als 1968 die sowjetische Armee in Prag einmarschierte. Sie werden wie René Burri erzählen, dass Ernesto Che Guevara, ehe er sich seine Zigarre anzündete, beim Treffen mit ihm darauf bestand, dass die Jalousien zuvor geschlossen werden mussten - für Burri bedeutete das erschwerte Lichtbedingungen. Das Bild von Che mit Zigarre ist zur Ikone geworden. So könnte man nahezu endlos fortfahren, mit dem berühmten Henri Cartier-Bresson, mit Eve Arnold, W. Eugene Smith, Werner Bischof, Gilles Peress.
Die persönliche Handschrift
Herausgeber Chris Boot, der sich als unabhängiger Kurator und Autor in der Fotografieszene einen Namen gemacht hatte, war in den neunziger Jahren Direktor von Magnum London und später von Magnum New York. Acht Seiten gesteht er jedem Fotografen zu, unabhängig von seinem Bekanntheitsgrad, ein demokratisches Prinzip. Jeder der 61 Fotografen wird mit nur einer Bildgeschichte präsentiert, Robert Capa zum Beispiel mit seinen D-Day-Aufnahmen. Dazu geben die Fotografen auf jeweils zwei Seiten Einblick in ihre Arbeitsweise. Für Fotografen gebe es eine Stufe der Professionalität, auf der das Fotografieren so sei, als würde man ein Gewehr benutzen, sagt René Burri, seit einigen Jahren eine Art graue Eminenz bei Magnum. Diese Stufe wolle er niemals erreichen. Denn das hieße, er könne sich nicht mehr auf das eigene Geschick und ein Quäntchen Glück verlassen, sondern müsse ein Bild mitbringen, egal zu welchem Preis.
Das ist der Geist von Magnum, dieser 1947 von Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger und David „Chim” Seymour gegründeten Agentur. Magnum-Geschichten betonen immer diese Unabhängigkeit, formulieren das Recht, Persönliches zu betonen. Es gibt ein Bild, das Capa, Cartier-Bresson und Seymour gemeinsam zeigt, als sie am 27. August 1944 die Befreiung von Paris feiern. Das Bild, etwas mehr als zwei Monate nach dem D-Day entstanden, symbolisiert den familiären Charakter der Gruppe. Und so gibt es auch die erste Krise 1954, als Robert Capa und Werner Bischof starben.
Magnum steht für die Hochzeit des Fotojournalismus, immer noch, obwohl diese Zeit längst vorbei ist. Wie viele Magazine leisten es sich, Fotografen für eigenständige Reportagen an die Brennpunkte der Welt zu senden? Wuchtig mahnt das Buch an, wie wichtig unabhängiger Fotojournalismus, wie wichtig die persönliche Handschrift ist. Nur dann gehen die Bilder weit über die reine Dokumentation hinaus, spannen einen Raum auf, einen geografischen und einen emotionalen. „Magnum Stories” ehrt diese Haltung, ehrt die großen Namen und gibt zugleich den jungen Mitgliedern ein Forum wie dem erst im vergangenen Jahr aufgenommenen deutschen Fotografen Thomas Dworzak mit seiner Reportage aus Grosny. Stolz zeigt es auch die neuen Stars wie Martin Parr mit seiner grellen Bildserie „The Last Resort” aus dem Badeort New Brighton. Es ist ein neuer Bildstil, ein ironischer Zugang zur Fotografie. Nicht alle Magnum-Mitglieder waren 1994 begeistert, als der britische Fotograf in die Agentur aufgenommen wurde.
Das Buch von Chris Boot ist ein wunderbares Bekenntnis zur Bilderzählung. Magnum ist immer noch geprägt vom Glauben an deren Kraft, nicht zuletzt, weil lange künstlerisch ambitionierte Fotografen mit einem feinen Gespür für den Kern einer Geschichte wie Henri Cartier-Bresson und in den vergangenen Jahren vor allem auch der Schweizer René Burri die Geschicke der Agentur lenkten. Magnum ist eine eigenwillige Gruppe von Fotografen geblieben. Eine, die neben allem Heldentum und Mythenpflege auch menschliche Seiten zeigt: Robert Capa etwa war im Kugelhagel des D-Day mit zitternden Händen, unfähig, einen Film einzulegen, umgedreht, hat sich gerade noch rechtzeitig auf ein Boot gerettet, weg von den deutschen Maschinengewehren.
HUBERT FILSER
CHRIS BOOT (Hrg.): Magnum Stories. Fotografien von 61 Magnum Fotografen, Phaidon Berlin, 2004. 512 Seiten, 75 Euro.
Schießübungen am Rande von Teheran: 1986, während des irakisch-iranischen Krieges, entstand dieses Foto von Jean Gaumy.
Foto: Jean Gaumy/Magnum Photos
SZdigital: Alle Rechte vorbehalten - Süddeutsche Zeitung GmbH, München
Eine Dienstleistung der DIZ München GmbH
Perlentaucher-Notiz zur Süddeutsche Zeitung-Rezension
Hubert Filser begreift diesen Band, der Arbeiten von einundsechzig Fotografen des Magazins Magnum dokumentiert, als Würdigung des "unabhängigen Fotojournalismus" und als "wunderbares Bekenntnis zur Bilderzählung" von Herausgeber Chris Boot. Boot gesteht jedem Fotografen, unabhängig von seinem Bekanntheitsgrad, acht Seiten zu, auf denen eine Bildgeschichte und Auskünfte zur eigenen Arbeitsweise präsentiert werden, erklärt der Rezensent, dem das als "demokratisches Prinzip" imponiert. Der Band dokumentiert nicht nur die "Hochzeit des Fotojournalismus", für die "Magnum" repräsentativ ist, sondern würdigt zugleich die "Haltung" so berühmter Fotografen wie Robert Capa und Rene Burri und Henri Cartier-Bresson, denen die "persönliche Handschrift" und Unabhängigkeit wichtiger ist als die bloße "Dokumentation" der Ereignisse, so Filser eingenommen.
© Perlentaucher Medien GmbH
© Perlentaucher Medien GmbH
"Marvellous... How some of the world's best pictures were taken, edited and laid out in order to make the perfect statement."-The Sunday Times
"Gives us an inside-out look at how history is recorded. More than 60 photographers tell firsthand about shooting a favourite story, in their own words, and illustrated with famous images as well as some never-before-seen."-Black & White Magazine
"The kaleidoscope of world events and prominent figures found within these pages is astounding... The value of this book can be fully fathomed when one realizes that much of the general population experiences history through photographs, which in turn shapes human memory."-Library Journal
"The length of the stories and the essays gives them an uncommonly personal feel and lends humanity to a body of work normally encountered as anonymous, dislocated images. Figuratively and literally a heavyweight title."-Arena
"Embracing gritty realism, glamour, intimacy and humour."-Esquire
"Scorching, poignant, devastating, serene, playful, Magnum's powerful images always leave an imprint on the mind... The perfect manual to realise the dynamics and success of this intriguing organisation. If any of their publications represents their ideals and idiosyncrasy, this is it. Like the agency itself, this book is unique. Not only beautiful, these photographs also convey the depth and intelligence with which each photographer has treated his chosen subject. Page after page of extraordinary images ... A feast of stunning iconic images... The vision, dedication and defiance on these pages are the latest example of Magnum doing things their own way. As the late Henri Cartier-Bresson urged his fellow members: "Vive la revolution permanente!". It seems they are listening still."-Elaine Livingstone, picture editor, Sunday Herald
"Gives the reader some fascinating insights into [the photographers'] work... With so many interesting stories to tell, Magnum Stories runs to over 500 pages. £40 [sic] seems a small price to pay for an extraordinary book."-British Journal of Photography
"Lavish, well-illustrated, and important."-Daily Telegraph
"Glorious... Celebration of the photo essay... Stunning, astounding, and beautifully produced."-Blueprint
"Such is the pre-eminence of Magnum Photos, that this history of the agency almost serves as a history of photojournalism for the second half of the 20th century."-RPS (Royal Photographic Society Journal)
"Impressive, instructive and profound... An invaluable tool which should be on every picture researcher's shelf."-Montage (The magazine of the Picture Research Association)
"This mighty tome demands to be taken seriously. Magnum are the originals, the auteurs, the most committed of the photojournalists, and they demand respect... [A] masterwork."-foto8 (Photojournalism magazine)
"Magnum Stories is a superb compendium of international photojournalism, from war zones and refugee camps to urban street corners and hospital wards."-The Sacramento Bee
"In a society bombarded with imagery, this book is a timely reminder of the power of documentary still photography."-Maclean's
"A marvelous new photo collection is Magnum Stories, which profiles photographers from the legendary agency founded by Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa."-Business Week
"It is the season for books that cause back strain. This year's 10 lb. plus coffee-table tomes include Magnum Stories, a visual history of the Magnum photography agency... The book combines essays and photos of 61 photographers from the past six decades."-The Wall Street Journal
"There's a great story here - actually 61 stories. Boot has structured a book that is fresh, inviting, and provocative."-Christian Science Monitor
"Phaidon Press has just released Magnum Stories, a breathtaking collection of work by 61 active, retired and deceased Magnum photographers. The 510-page book explores brilliant photographic storytelling, from Eugene Richards' crack cocaine photos to Philip Jones Griffiths' coverage of the 1983 U.S. invasion of Grenada. Along with the photo essays are moving personal statements by each photographer."-Newark Star Ledger
"Gives us an inside-out look at how history is recorded. More than 60 photographers tell firsthand about shooting a favourite story, in their own words, and illustrated with famous images as well as some never-before-seen."-Black & White Magazine
"The kaleidoscope of world events and prominent figures found within these pages is astounding... The value of this book can be fully fathomed when one realizes that much of the general population experiences history through photographs, which in turn shapes human memory."-Library Journal
"The length of the stories and the essays gives them an uncommonly personal feel and lends humanity to a body of work normally encountered as anonymous, dislocated images. Figuratively and literally a heavyweight title."-Arena
"Embracing gritty realism, glamour, intimacy and humour."-Esquire
"Scorching, poignant, devastating, serene, playful, Magnum's powerful images always leave an imprint on the mind... The perfect manual to realise the dynamics and success of this intriguing organisation. If any of their publications represents their ideals and idiosyncrasy, this is it. Like the agency itself, this book is unique. Not only beautiful, these photographs also convey the depth and intelligence with which each photographer has treated his chosen subject. Page after page of extraordinary images ... A feast of stunning iconic images... The vision, dedication and defiance on these pages are the latest example of Magnum doing things their own way. As the late Henri Cartier-Bresson urged his fellow members: "Vive la revolution permanente!". It seems they are listening still."-Elaine Livingstone, picture editor, Sunday Herald
"Gives the reader some fascinating insights into [the photographers'] work... With so many interesting stories to tell, Magnum Stories runs to over 500 pages. £40 [sic] seems a small price to pay for an extraordinary book."-British Journal of Photography
"Lavish, well-illustrated, and important."-Daily Telegraph
"Glorious... Celebration of the photo essay... Stunning, astounding, and beautifully produced."-Blueprint
"Such is the pre-eminence of Magnum Photos, that this history of the agency almost serves as a history of photojournalism for the second half of the 20th century."-RPS (Royal Photographic Society Journal)
"Impressive, instructive and profound... An invaluable tool which should be on every picture researcher's shelf."-Montage (The magazine of the Picture Research Association)
"This mighty tome demands to be taken seriously. Magnum are the originals, the auteurs, the most committed of the photojournalists, and they demand respect... [A] masterwork."-foto8 (Photojournalism magazine)
"Magnum Stories is a superb compendium of international photojournalism, from war zones and refugee camps to urban street corners and hospital wards."-The Sacramento Bee
"In a society bombarded with imagery, this book is a timely reminder of the power of documentary still photography."-Maclean's
"A marvelous new photo collection is Magnum Stories, which profiles photographers from the legendary agency founded by Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa."-Business Week
"It is the season for books that cause back strain. This year's 10 lb. plus coffee-table tomes include Magnum Stories, a visual history of the Magnum photography agency... The book combines essays and photos of 61 photographers from the past six decades."-The Wall Street Journal
"There's a great story here - actually 61 stories. Boot has structured a book that is fresh, inviting, and provocative."-Christian Science Monitor
"Phaidon Press has just released Magnum Stories, a breathtaking collection of work by 61 active, retired and deceased Magnum photographers. The 510-page book explores brilliant photographic storytelling, from Eugene Richards' crack cocaine photos to Philip Jones Griffiths' coverage of the 1983 U.S. invasion of Grenada. Along with the photo essays are moving personal statements by each photographer."-Newark Star Ledger