Biography
Magnum Photos was founded in 1947 by four pioneering photographers: Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger and David “Chim” Seymour. Driven by their vision to create a photojournalism agency where photographers retained control and freedom over their work, they gave birth to a unique structure — the first cooperative-owned agency run by its photographers.
“Magnum was created to allow us, and in fact to oblige us, to bring testimony on our world […] When events of significance are taking place, […] one must stay photographically in contact with the realities taking place in front of our lenses and not hesitate to sacrifice material comfort and security.”
Henri Cartier-Bresson
As owners of their copyrights, photographers could decide which stories to cover and to publish, and they were able to sell the images to any media in the world — giving them the means to work on projects that inspired them, even without an assignment.
For 77 years, Magnum has been attracting photographers who excel at pushing the boundaries of the medium, and playing a key role in shaping photojournalism by chronicling events, people, places and culture through powerful narratives that defy convention, redefine history and transform lives. The cooperative includes world-renowned photojournalists, whose images have appeared in all major newspapers such as The New York Times, Le Monde, The Guardian and National Geographic, as well as in major solo and group exhibitions in institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA, NY) and the Centre Pompidou (Paris).
Holding over a million photos, the agency’s archives include: the only existing photos of the Omaha Beach D-Day landings, the work of Robert Capa; snapshots of Malcolm X’s speeches, captured by Eve Arnold; and images of Fidel Castro’s entry into Havana in 1959, by Burt Glinn.
As an international photographic cooperative owned by its photographer-members, Magnum has kept its structured process for introducing new members. Photographers first join the organization as Nominees, before progressing to become Associates, and then finally gaining admission to the Magnum collective as full lifelong Members — a minimum four-year process.
The agency represents nearly 100 photographers and estates who engage in the organization in a democratic way and take votes on key issues. They rotate the board and leadership roles of the President and Vice-Presidents, voted at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) each year, and are in charge of guiding the organization's vision and daily operations. Spanish photographer Cristina de Middel has been the agency’s president for two years.
Since its founding, the agency has been developing and delivering major projects with institutions, international organizations, museums, media and brands around the world. Through exhibitions, publishing, community engagements and creative content, it has consistently brought important stories to life. Many of which include group projects with multiple Magnum photographers coming together to document a subject — a distinctive approach that defines the agency’s uniqueness.
From 1951’s “Generation X” which saw multiple photographers portraying young men and women from 14 different countries who had just turned 20 to the latest coverage of US elections, group projects have been a key part of the collective.
In 2008, Magnum partnered with The Global Fund and sent eight Magnum photographers to portray the real experiences of people living with AIDS and the transformative effects of antiretroviral treatment on their lives. Resulting in an extraordinary body of works, the project led to a global touring exhibition and publication, and it helped raise large funds for the cause.
In 2021, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Doctors Without Borders, Magnum and the organization, through archives images and new commissions, looked back at the major crises of the last several decades and examined the difficult objective of providing assistance and bearing witness through the photos and words of those who experienced or witnessed the events.
Besides exhibitions and publications, the agency is also committed to supporting and developing the next generation of visual storytellers through its educational activities. Since 2007, Magnum has created online and on-site visual and media literacy workshops across the world.
From the agency's early days, many brands and institutions have also been drawn to Magnum's unique storytelling and creative vision, collaborating with its photographers to enrich and elevate their own narratives.
Magnum’s global approach and individual achievements have contributed to the cultural and international recognition of photography and engaged a wide audience. Its photographers have inspired countless amateurs and professionals alike while the agency's cooperative model has undoubtedly fostered new imaginative avenues for collective creativity.
Acknowledgements
Magnum photographers have received awards including the World Press Photo of the Year (Netherlands), the W. Eugene Smith Award for Humanistic Photography (USA) and the Foreign Press Club Award (USA). Magnum Photos received the 2020 Leadership Award from the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum (USA).
"The art of Street Photography"
Minutes of the jury
At its meeting in Oviedo, the Jury for the 2024 Princess of Asturias Award for Concord, composed of Esther Alcocer Koplowitz, Marchioness of Casa Peñalver, Fernando de Almansa Moreno-Barreda, Viscount of Castillo de Almansa, José Ramón Álvarez Rendueles, Ernesto Antolin Arribas, Antonio Brufau Niubó, Alfredo Canteli Fernández, Juan Cofiño González, Manuel Contreras Caro, Sol Daurella Comadrán, Isidro Fainé Casas, Ana Isabel Fernández Álvarez, José Antonio Fernández Carbajal, Ana Fernández Manrique, Pedro Luis Fernández Pérez, José Antonio Fernández Rivero, Enrique Fernández Rodríguez, Luis Fernández-Vega Sanz, Sabino García Vallina, Ignacio Garralda Ruiz de Velasco, Jaime Gorbeña Yllera, Antonio Huertas Mejías, Alicia Koplowitz Romero de Juséu, Laureano Lourido Artime, Pedro Martín Barón, Adolfo Menéndez Menéndez, Enrique Miñarro Viseras, Carmen Moriyón Entrialgo, Carlos Navalpotro Fuster, Mercedes Oblanca Rojo, María del Pino Calvo-Sotelo, Matías Rodríguez Inciarte, Juan Sánchez-Calero Guilarte, Manuel Villa-Cellino Torre e Ignacio Ybarra Aznar, chaired by Adrián Barbón Rodríguez and with Pedro de Silva Cienfuegos-Jovellanos acting as secretary, has decided to grant the 2024 Princess of Asturias Award for Concord to Magnum Photos for its iconic, meticulous work of photojournalism spread over almost eight decades in which, as an example of risk-taking and freedom of the press, it has captured and passed on the testimony of the most relevant events of its time, thereby contributing through images to raising the consciousness of humanity.
Oviedo, 12th June 2024
Credits
© Fundación Princesa de Asturias
Images:
- © Robert Capa © International Center of Photography / Magnum Photos (1)
- © Gerda Taro (2)
- © Marc Riboud / Fonds Marc Riboud au MNAAG / Magnum Photos (3)
- © Susan Meiselas/Magnum Photos (4)
- © Cristina de Middel/ Magnum Photos (5)
- © Kameraprojekt Graz 2015 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (6)
- © Cristina de Middel / Magnum Photos (7)
- © Inge Morath / Magnum Photos (8)
- © Cristina Garcia Rodero/Magnum Photos (9)