Magnum: Fifty Years at the Front Line of History Hardback - 1998

Magnum photographers have been present at the defining moments of the second half of the twentieth century, bearing witness on the front line of world history, documenting the tragedies, triumphs, and follies of mankind, creating some of the century's most memorable still images, and proving that photography remains one of the most pervasive and powerful art forms of our time. From the lighthearted photograph of a man jumping over a puddle by Cartier-Bresson to Capa's stark image of a Loyalist soldier being shot in the head during the Spanish Civil War, the images captured by members of Magnum have changed how we perceive war, our political leaders, celebrities, social crises, and the communities next door.

Magnum was founded in 1947 by Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, David Seymour, and George Rodger -- four men of different nationalities, habits, and working styles, united only by their common passion for photography. Galvanized by Capa's vision, these photographers set up something unique: a cooperative agency that would allow them maximum freedom in their assignments and maximum leverage in retaining copyright.

The history of Magnum is the story of its photographers -- some of the most talented, brave, and resourceful in the world -- including Eve Arnold, Rene Burri, Cornell Capa, Elliot Erwitt, Ernst Haas, Inge Morath, Gilles Peress, Eugene Richards, Sebastiao Salgado, and Dennis Stock. Magnum follows them on assignment -- including encounters with soldiers, bodyguards, and visa troubles -- and into the offices of Magnum, with the inevitable frictions of brilliant and opinionated people trying to work together. Fifty years after its founding, Magnum remains a testament tothe vision of its founders, and membership in it is still the most universal badge of honor and prestige that a photographer can attain. Full of wonderful stories, heroic feats, and human drama, Magnum is a dramatic, sweeping portrait of the world's greatest photo house and its times.