Magnum: Fifty Years at the Front Line of History

Presents a detailed history of Magnum, founded in 1947 by four dedicated photographers, which has sent its illustrious members out into the world for five decades to capture many of the twentieth century's most enduring images on film

A profile of one of the most influential and prestigious photo agencies in the world, told through the lives of its founding members. On the occasion of Magnums 50th anniversary, Miller, a British journalist and author of ten books, has written a lively, sympathetic history of the organization and the characters who defined it. Magnum has always been synonymous with outrageous talent. Founded by Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, David Seymour, and George Rodger in 1947, the agency was intended to release its members from the dictates of magazine editors and allow them greater artistic freedom and copyright control. Its cooperative mandate, for which Capaa charming hedonist and talented war photographerwas responsible, immediately set it apart from other purely commercial ventures. So did the visions of its founding members. With their lightweight Leica and Contax cameras, Capa and his brethren were able to travel to the most distant lands and dangerous conflicts and bring back images that mesmerized the world. Miller skillfully juxtaposes their compelling storiesof military offensives, celebrity-gilded parties, and perfect shotswith equally detailed information about the more quotidian challenges they faced, from rivalry to financial ruin. Miller devotes an entire chapter to the story of Eugene Smith, a brilliant photographer who joined Magnum in 1955 and subsequently wreaked havoc. Although he was known to be difficult, few of his peers anticipated that he would not only endanger the agency financially (he borrowed thousands from it to support his drug and alcohol addictions) but also divide its ranks. By the time he resigned, his fellow photographers were relieved, yet still compassionatetypical, Miller believes, of Magnums solidarity. Even those members who have decided to resign, Miller writes, almost invariably leave with some smatterings of regret. Miller debunks lingering myths about the agency and provides an entertaining account of the mesh and fray of personalities associated with it. (16 pages b&w photos) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Miller's history of the famous cooperative photo agency Magnum is unauthorized--no surprise, that, for one thing to count on in Magnum is disagreement. After all, "there has only ever been one rule guiding Magnum," says Magnum member Sebastian Salgado, "and that is the rule of anarchy--it is because of this anarchy we have been able to do so many things." Despite that lack of approval, Miller was able to base his lively and fascinating account on lengthy interviews with all current members except Bruce Davidson and Gilles Peress, and it all seems quite credible--at times, credibly incredible. Magnum's role in photojournalism can't be overemphasized, for the quality of the work done and for Magnum's historic role in keeping copyrights for its photographers. Not that the members' business savvy is underemphasized: despite its fame, the agency has been in almost perpetual financial crisis. It stumbles on, part dysfunctional family, part brilliant brotherhood of talent. Miller affords a rich feast of personalities, adventure, world conflicts, and the issues of journalistic ethics. Gretchen Garner