Magnum Photos elects three new Members
Following its recent AGM in Paris, held from 26-29 June 2008, the Magnum Photos agency has announced that it has elected three new Members – photographers Antoine d’Agata, Jonas Bendiksen and Alec Soth – after viewing over 200 candidate portfolios.
The process to become a full member of Magnum is a tough one that takes at least four years to fulfil. Over that period candidates evolve from the status of Nominee to Associate to Member, and at each stage along the way the status is voted upon by the Magnum Photo Members. Magnum currently has 60 Members who take collective decisions to determine the future direction of the agency.
Alec Soth told CPN: “It takes at least four years to become a Member of Magnum so there is plenty of time to think about the organisation and the tradition it represents. When the day came and they showered me with champagne I could finally begin to imagine myself as part of that tradition.”
Speaking about his elevation to member status Antoine d’Agata said: “Photography is only valid when it is a part of a photographer’s life. It has to come from deep inside. Becoming a Member of Magnum gives me more possibilities and opportunities to explore my own, personal form of documentary photography.” As well as the addition of three new members, Magnum also announced that English photographer Olivia Arthur and the American-Dutch shooter Peter van Agtmael were to be the new Magnum Nominees.
Magnum Photos’ president Stuart Franklin commented: “It’s great to see our growing diversity as image-makers enhanced by such promising Nominee photographers, and also endorsed by the election to membership of Antoine d’Agata, Jonas Bendiksen and Alec Soth.”
Magnum’s AGM also announced that it no longer represents the photographers Simon Wheatley and Maya Goded and noted the passing of legendary Magnum photographers Burt Glinn (who joined in 1951), Cornell Capa (1954), and Philip Jones Griffths (1966) since the 2007 Magnum Photos AGM.
The Magnum photography collective was originally established in 1947 and the 60th anniversary book of the agency ‘Magnum Magnum’ will be published in a new paperback version during September 2008.
