Magnum Homework

At first I was ignorant I mistook Magnum as an agency/group of photographers who produced great photographs. After some research I learnt that agency was formed two years after the second world by Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger and David "Chim" Seymour. These individuals who were apparently relieved to have survived the war and motivated by their curiosity to see what still existed. At this point I stopped skimming and decided I'd come back to the history after having a browse through pictures -Frankly, rewording the 'about Magnum' page bored me hugely.

After a look at Jonas Bendicksen's feature my ignorance began to drift as I developed an understanding for what Magnum really is.

Jonas Bendicksen, a Norwegian who's career started when he arrived by boat in a Russian port. Bendicksen then spent a further year in Russia following news stories around the former USSR.

The Former Russian Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. The superpower suppressed religion despite having an estimated total population of 293 million with 200 distinct ethnic groups. At the time, the third most populous nation after China!

I think Bendicksen and his career would have been thrown in right at the deep end in such a diverse and hostile environment. His work shows riots, poverty and the environmental injustice caused by Russian Government.

His work today is an extension from these same topics. Benndicken has been focused on Iceland's economic meltdown and the negative externalities of Government intervention. As the country struggles with economic booms and busts the Government's initiative aims to flatten this roller coaster turning to the country's plentiful supply of renewable energy.

I also looked at another photographer and his work; Paolo Pellegrin. This photographer is said to have an artistic eye for his shots and has the ability to incorporate distinct, diverse themes and subjects within his work. His feature on the magnum website, 'Shares slide on wall street' appealed to one of my personal interests and linked to my other AS subjects - economics.

Pellegrin showed behind the scenes at Wall Street and other New York economic land marks. Terrified professionals deal with what some analysts claim to be the worst economic climate for 26 years. He showed current affairs which we read and hear about everyday, but effectively in images.

This reiterated the point that with strong images a story can be told. It also told me that the story didn't necessarily need to be put in chronological order or directly told to the audience. Take pictures of what's there, manipulate them to the theme and then leave the rest to interpretation - the only way to measure success of a photographic essay?

After researching these two phototograhers I revisited the 'about magnum' page. The words suddenly meant something as I already knew myself that magnum is a cooperative of people. Photographers. Who's curiosity and opinions have lead to diverse and inspiring work.

Overdue Deadline

Up to this point I havn't been entirely sure exactly what I was going to do for my assessment, I knew what I was saying but was it good enough and could I present it?

Now I am confident. I have several peices of lightly manipulated work which fit to my theme. Multiple photo montages and lots of work which hasn't been manipulated and won't be since it is unnecessary to spoil the natural shots.

This term I haven't managed to work to the deadline. The fact that other class members haven't either is no excuse but does indicate that some of the factors contributing to this delay have been beyond our control.

For homework I have researched the magnum photo agency - more in another post. A very influential photographer was Jonas Bendiksen. Admittedly lots of my work was complete by the time I researched Jonas but his work overemphasized the fact it was possible to mix unedited work with manipulated work to tell a story.

Never the less the work is almost done. I need to complete my written work, print and mount my images and then I will be ready for assessment - only two weeks after the deadline!