David Alan Harvey is the Harvey Weinstein of photography

[aizan]

"Magnum’s moment of reckoning" by Kristen Chick
https://www.cjr.org/special_report/magnum-photos-david-alan-harvey.php

Eleven women have described to CJR inappropriate behavior from David Alan Harvey over a span of thirteen years, ranging from suggestive comments to unwanted sexual advances to masturbating without their consent on video calls. His behavior was reported to Magnum as early as 2009, but the agency sat on the information for more than a decade. It finally took action in August of this year, but only after the allegations spilled into public: a story published on the website Fstoppers reported that Magnum was selling explicit photographs of sexually exploited minors on its website, including photographs from a series taken by Harvey in Bangkok in 1989. That led photojournalist Amanda Mustard to write a Twitter thread about Harvey, alleging that sexual misconduct allegations against him were an open secret in the industry.

The important thing now is for Magnum to release its secret code of conduct. Transparency and accountability is the only thing that will save Magnum and put them on the path to stop these abuses of power.

As a Magnum fan since high school, it's been hard to read the news about the agency this last year. They have handled it all so irresponsibly. 🙁

 

[Andy Kibber]

These stories are common and share common traits: men in power, whose bad behavior is an open secret, not held to account with excuses made for them.

It's heartbreaking to think of the mess they leave behind in others' lives.

 

[pushto1600]

aw **** I really liked his pictures and he seemed like a really great guy from all the youtube videos he made. I didn't even hear about his suspension or any of the allegations until now. kudos to all the people that were brave enough to come forward and speak their truths. damned shame.

 

[KM-25]

Bummer. Incredible reporting, I really wish this were a different story...

There is even another component of this that is untold in the reporting but it would be taking away from the real issue and that is the allegations of mistreatment of women.

Being a good person has always mattered and it matters now more than ever before.

 

[agentlossing]

I think being a Magnum member probably enhances a lot of photographers' ego and maybe even makes them a little more likely to abuse others in ways like this... It is an agency that has put out a ton of top-notch work but it's definitely got an alpha thing going on.

 

[helen.HH]

More Crap news in 2020, Sad really

We have David, our all powerful photographer who likes to hire assistants and possibly mix business with pleasure: touching, suggestive word play, masturbating and staging photos

So he has been suspended for a year from Magnum as of 28th October 2020... thats a nice little slap on the hand, sounds like Magnum is so very concerned 🙄

He has been accused since 2009 ... some people have all the luck
It's all rather hard to read and to know what the real truth is.

Frightening to think his dealings with underage Thai children, prostitution,
those photos, may become even more sordid and come to haunt him.

'Burn' may Burn him... pun intended

 

[Ko.Fe.]

No idea who is it. But who isn’t like him? I read stories about photogs interviewing models even at RFF.
To me here is no difference between pornography and so called nudes. Just one is honest and another is wiggle wiggle.

 

[Dan]

]To me here is no difference between pornography and so called nudes. Just one is honest and another is wiggle wiggle.

I'm really glad you're not a legislator for the Canadian public because that is a truly lazy intellect at work. How can you consider the entire history of the nude in photography as pornography? And how can you trivialize the damage caused to countless women (and some men) at the hands of the pornography industry?

I know your reputation for being a blunt dude, but this is a ridiculous statement on your part. Take time to conjure up some nuanced thoughts instead.

 

[Rob-F]

It's a matter of degree, Kostya. There are many shades of gray in between black and white.

 

[paulfish4570]

wow. no good low life thug coward bastage ...

 

[KM-25]

I know your reputation for being a blunt dude, but this is a ridiculous statement on your part. Take time to conjure up some nuanced thoughts instead.

I think we all know this person’s penchant for being an official supplier for the Albuquerque Balloon Festival precedes him, none of us should be surprised.

To Helen’s point, I would think Magnum will part ways with him permanently over this reveal, I don’t see that they have a choice.

 

[jsrockit]

He’s made some truly great photographs. Unfortunately, I’ll never see them the same way again... they are either made by a creep or they are set-up. Both are complete turn offs.

 

[ktmrider]

I have not read the articles and don't really know anything about the case. However, I see everyone jumping to conclusions and it seems he has been judged guilty. I know this is not a court of law and political correctness requires denunciation. But I got to say that after 22 years as a federal agent that not everyone brought up on charges is guilty.

Before condemnation, let's see more of the facts.

 

[helen.HH]

I have not read the articles and don't really know anything about the case. However, I see everyone jumping to conclusions and it seems he has been judged guilty. I know this is not a court of law and political correctness requires denunciation. But I got to say that after 22 years as a federal agent that not everyone brought up on charges is guilty.

Before condemnation, let's see more of the facts.

Dear 'ktmrider; / Mr EX Federal Agent... (who cannot even post his real name)

With regard to my post:
If You read my post I clearly write:
"We have David, our all powerful photographer who likes to hire assistants and possibly mix business with pleasure: touching, suggestive word play, masturbating and staging photos"

I also write: "It's all rather hard to read and to know what the real truth is."
I am giving room and alluding to David Alan Harvey's possible innocence.

Too bad You have jumped to conclusions as well

Cheers and Happy Holidays. 😉

 

[charjohncarter]

I read a book; OK so I read too much, that was by Tim Dorsey (I think) which was written in 200 mas o menos 5-8. It used fictionally two brothers that ran a Hollywood studio that only made movies with women that performed (if you know what I mean). It was thinly vailed as MiraMax. Sometimes you just wonder when will the casting couch stop; and we go for quality whether it is photographers or/and especially actors.

 

[helen.HH]

I commend the Men on this site
that have the grace and concern for Women that may have been mistreated.

Let’s not forget this is a predominately male site / maybe 98%

 

[Bingley]

I have not read the articles and don't really know anything about the case. However, I see everyone jumping to conclusions and it seems he has been judged guilty. I know this is not a court of law and political correctness requires denunciation. But I got to say that after 22 years as a federal agent that not everyone brought up on charges is guilty.

Before condemnation, let's see more of the facts.

I did read the Columbia Journalism Review article linked in the OP’s first post. It seems to be a pretty solid piece of reporting, interviewing numerous women, some willing to give their names and be on the record, regarding their experiences w/ DAH, which go back over not a few years. Seems there may have been a pattern of sexual harrassment that was well known w/in Magnum circles (the reporting on Rene Burri’s reaction on learning that a young, aspiring female photographer had been hired as an assistant by DAH is pretty telling, IMO). As far as I know, no one has sued Mr. Harvey over his conduct and I don’t know if there is an investigation of him by a law enforcement authority. And while the comparison to Harvey Weinstein may be a little over the top (no one has come forward yet to accuse Mr. Harvey of rape, e.g.), that doesn’t mean the harrassment reported in the article did not occur.

 

[zenza]

Where has he been accused of staging photos?

 

[Particular]

The article is pretty clear. Even if you would brush off his behavior, as just part of his personality, he just sounds manipulative and unpleasant. At best he is drunk with his own power.
I've followed him on instagram and had noticed some years ago that he was posting a lot of snapshots from workshops. They were usually in intimate settings with participants, who seemed only to be young and female (did any male photographers take workshops with him?). It had occurred to me that this was odd. Perhaps he was creating a warm and safe environment in these workshops with a lot of positive energy. However it also looked to me like an ideal stage for a sleazy old guy to take advantage. Looks can deceive, but sometimes your impression is right, so in hindsight I am not surprised. If you read his captions to those posts he is gushing with praise for his participants and assistants, and they are all his best friends. Seemingly genuine and innocent, but in context it all ads up.

 

[raid]

If someone has been reported to abuse others, then such individuals should get investigated and punished if found guilty in a court of law.