Magnum files moved to Austin, Texas
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kbg32
neo-romanticist
I hope they treat them better then they did in the NY office.
Jaans
Well-known
Your comment has certainly perked my interest. I was wondering if you could expand on that and tell me some of the inner workings of that inner sanctum. I am genuinely interested in that mythical beast of the photography world and would welcome with open arms some tid bits of information that goes on there behind closed doors.
I have read in one photography books that some of the arguments during their yearly selection process were not for the faint hearted. I read on the internet somewhere in an article on Magnum by a journalist that Dennis Stock (not certain that it was him) and Bruce Davidson (certain that it was him) once went at it, with Davidson arguing that Stock was selling out Magnum's artistic values by going commercial. Or it could have been Herb List. I'm not sure.
When you insinuate that they were treated poorly, I gather that you don't mean that Koudelka was getting too rowdy after too many wines and spilling his plonk on an original Bresson of the guy jumping the puddle at the train station. Maybe that guy jumping the puddle had too much red because who would willingly jump into a puddle in the first place??
It all adds and confirms my private suspicion that that photo was a setup. There were rumours in the french magnum office in the 80's that HCB had got one of his surrealist cafe buddies to pose for that jump. Perhaps that was Capa jumping the puddle^^
Besides, I heard that the office had special fireproofing done and temperature control for all of the negatives. I guess that doesn't account for shaky hands after too many drinks damaging the prints, because a lot of those guys in the early days did enjoy a drink or two. I guess that is how the Magnum name came about, after the champagne. That would be the fun huh? a few drinks with Capa if he were still around...
So, please share your secret knowledge of that hallowed chamber, because I am all ears>
Benjamin
Registered Snoozer
How interesting. Thanks for posting the link.
peter_n
Veteran
victoriapio
Well-known
The Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas in Austin is the dream location for this archive. Their archivists and currators should have some very interesting exhibitions to show us in the next decade or so. There are many world class photographic collections stored there.
I just wish they had gotten Winogrand's work as he taught there for five years while I was a photography student at the photojournalism school.
O.C.
I just wish they had gotten Winogrand's work as he taught there for five years while I was a photography student at the photojournalism school.
O.C.
peter_n
Veteran
Arrival in Texas with video: http://bit.ly/aOb6MA
ryan26
Established
payasam
a.k.a. Mukul Dube
I do not understand why the physical location of such objects should matter as can be reduced to digital form and sent anywhere in the world in a matter of seconds.
peter_n
Veteran
True but seeing the prints is special. I'm sure that exhibits from this collection will go on tour.
Pickett Wilson
Veteran
Things are tough financially, even for Magnum photographers. I suspect under different circumstances they would not have sold the press prints.
Pablito
coco frío
entertaining but shallow, IMO. Gossipy.
peter_n
Veteran
The HCB Scrapbook exhibit at the ICP in 2007 was very interesting, in part because there were original prints both framed and unframed, contact sheets and so on. The quality wasn't that great with some of the prints but it didn't matter, you got to see a process both of thought and execution. Very different from an exhibition of beautiful silver prints, but a great experience nonetheless.
peter_n
Veteran
Tweet from Lens: nytimesphoto From the Archives: It's hard to look away from a Magnum photo, but the back of a print has a story to tell, too http://tinyurl.com/yael46p
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