Magnum Exposed?

Much of what we know, or think we know, about Magnum and its photographers comes from the often fictional and sometimes contradictory accounts of its photographers, notably Robert Capa, one of the great story-tellers through his photography, in writing and apparently in person. Much of the rest is from ‘Magnum: 50 Years at the Front Line of History’ by Russell Miller, published in 1997, to which I’ve often turned, sometimes in vain, when writing. As A D Coleman calls it in the introduction to Guest Post 23: Robert Dannin on Magnum Photos (1), it is an ‘ “unauthorized” but highly sanitized account.’ But of course to get any detailed history of Magnum written was a major acheivement perhaps akin to walking through a minefield.

Coleman promises us that  “The Dannin Papers”, a series of articles by Dannin which begins with six instalments on his experiences at Magnum, will pull no punches and I’m sure will make interesting reading for those of us with an interest in photographic history. Dannin was head-hunted to be editorial director of Magnum in 1985 and resigned in late 1989, though continuing  freelance work with them for the following decade.

Dannin first made a guest post on Photocritic International in June this year with an article on the controversy over Steve McCurry’s use of Photoshop. Coleman commented at the time:

‘Dannin’s commentary raises more questions than it answers — about Magnum Photos and its members, about National Geographic, and about the picture-agency business and its relationship to periodicals, book publishers, and other licensees. So I invited him to fill in the blanks and expand further on these issues (basically taking him up on his “don’t ever get me started” dare). Dannin agreed, on condition that he first had to fulfill an outstanding editorial obligation. So we will begin that open-ended series in the fall.’

And this is the first of that series. So far it is more setting the scene than dishing the dirt, but it certainly whets my appetite for more.

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