On The Beach

From Brighton Beach to the Caspian Sea―a tribute to beach photography as seen through the lens of eight Magnum photographers

The spontaneity, freedom and raw emotion that photographers find at the beach is largely elusive elsewhere. On the Beach spotlights a selection of Magnum photographers who have mined the beach for its aesthetic possibilities: Ferdinando Scianna, Bruno Barbey, Bruce Gilden, Harry Gruyaert, Martin Parr, Trent Parke, Olivia Arthur and Newsha Tavakolian. Each section features a sample of their beach photography alongside a pithy quote. Harry Gruyaert, for example, remarks on his compositional eye, "There is no story. It's just a question of shapes and light." Together, the Magnum photographers have captured the beach as a receptacle for both distinct cultural moments and timeless human experiences. Whether in color or black and white, depicting joy, solitude or the sublime power of nature, the photographs pay tribute to the enduring allure of beach photography.