Now more than ever, the illuminating nature of photojournalism is needed. The visceral and gut- wrenching power that a single image can portray—while clichéd to say—is more impactful than words alone. For Magnum Photos, this illustrative power is central to their philosophy. Their mission is simple, yet still profoundly difficult; to record the human condition in a compassionate way, while maintaining the artistic integrity of their photographers.

Founded in New York, in 1947 by a co-operative of photographers: Robert Capa, Henri Cartier- Bresson, George Rodger and David “Chim” Seymour, Magnum Photos was born in the wake of the Second World War, the destructive legacy of this devastating conflict, shaped the mindset of these men, driving them to produce a platform that could move, and inspire the consciousness of its viewers.

Giving each photographer the copyright of their photographs, the agency provided them with the freedom to pursue the stories that they deemed important. In turn a group of photographers was created, a group of creators who skated the fine line between documentarian and artist. This liberty from the shadow that was the corporate structure—a behemoth of an industry that would put pressure on the artists to push certain ideals and stories, in pursuit of profit or propoganda—created a body of work that showcased a focused and poignant tale of the 20th century. From the storming of Omaha beach to the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, Magnum has been omnipresent, with a resolute eye on events.

To take stock of this uncompromising power house of a photo agency, here at GATA we have amassed a collection of some of their most famous and influential image makers.

HENRI CARTIER-BRESSON

“For me photography is to place head and heart and eye along the same line of sight. It’s a way of life.”

— Henri Cartier–Bresson

It would be unfair to talk about Magnum with a mention of the Godfather of the agency, Cartier-Bresson. His writing on the “decisive moment” is essential for the plethora of street photographers and photojournalists who have followed in his footsteps.

Influenced by surrealism and painting, there is an artistic quality that permeates through his imagery, blurring the line been objective truth and subjective impression. In addition there is a sense of time and motion to his work that belies the reality of his humble photographic set up—a simple rangefinder camera.

JOSEF KOUDELKA

“I don’t like captions. I prefer people to look at my pictures and invent their own stories.”

— Josef Koudelka

Koudelka was initially an aeronautical engineer, who turned into a full-time photographer after becoming fascinated by the group of gypsy travellers who wandered Eastern Europe with no permanent home. In the 1960s, he documented the Soviet invasion of Prague under the pseudonym of P.P (Prague Photographer). He used a pseudonym to avoid persecution of both himself and his family.

His images, have an unreal and meta quality of them. While other photographers took the approach of detaching themselves from events, like a fly on the wall; Koudelka at times, introduced personal touches, almost breaking the fourth wall and shattering the illusion of the “invisible photographer”.

KHALIK ALLAH

“I think that beauty is everywhere. It depends on the decision to find it, focus on it, and accept it. Perception is always a choice”

— Khalik Allah

A new member of Magnum, Khalik Allah is a Jamaican-Iranian New Yorker, who has spent years documenting the lives of black America. As a self-taught photographer and film maker, his images have a spirituality and theatre to them. Theatre in the sense that there is a feeling of gravitas and weight to the subjects that he depicts. His images are raw, gritty and provide a platform for the overlooked and unheard parts of society.

BRUCE GILDEN

“I love the people I photograph. I mean, they’re my friends. I’ve never met most of them or I don’t know them at all, yet through my images I live with them.”

— Bruce Gilden

Like a hunter, Bruce Gilden is another New York native in search of characters and extreme and unique faces. His abrasive and dogged nature has created a unique style that unearths the reality of the lives of people hidden from the glamours of mainstream media.Often criticised for his sharp tongue and his borderline exploitative imagery, Gilden has maintained his philosophy in the face of harsh opposition; a stoic warrior on the battlefield armed with his trademark Leica camera.

SABIHA ÇIMEN

“In Turkey thousands of Qur’an schools exist to teach the memorization of the Qur’an and many are attended by girls. Ranging in age from 8 to 17 years old, most take three or four years to complete a task that requires discipline, devotion and focus.”

— Sabiha Çimen

Using photography as a mirror from which to view herself Çimen introduces a more playful and autobiographical nuance to Magnum. Very new to the agency after gaining nomination in only 2020, Çimen plans to give a voice to women in Turkey that are according to her, often misrepresented by western media. Çimen is a testament to the power of art as an agent for self- discovery.

ANTOINE D’GATA

“I never wanted to accept the position of the observer who is not involved in the situation. The technique and the aesthetics do not matter to me. Only the essence of what is happening is important to me. Here, for example, blurred pictures, they have appeared because for years I was shooting while being drunk.”

— Antoine d’Agata

A self described “creature of the night” d”Agata is one of the most unfiltered and rawest photographers within Magnum. Truthful in his portrayal of the characters that exist within the fringes of society, d’Agata gives light to the prostitutes and drug dealers of the world. His images depict sex, addiction and harshness of reality that we often try to shy away from. A provocateur that will make your skin tingle.