MAGNUM IC Media

Author: IC Media Editorial
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: The "Magnum" series is the first large-scale photographic collection in China to showcase the works of Magnum Photos photographers. A significant number of images have not been publicly published in China. The book is arranged in reverse chronological order, divided into four main sections: 1990-2005, 1970-1989, 1960-1969, and 1930-1959, each accompanied by a global context guide, allowing readers to step into a time machine that reverses the flow of history, from the 2005 Indonesian tsunami to the turbulent years of the 1930s. Additionally, several expert commentaries written by photographers from both sides of the Taiwan Strait provide in-depth insights, fully showcasing the "Magnum" as perceived by Chinese photographers.
What is "Magnum"? In the gun-culture-rich United States, many know "Magnum" as a powerful type of revolver ammunition, with the 0.50-inch "Magnum" considered the most powerful handgun cartridge. In French, "Magnum" also means "supreme" and "inconceivable," and it is also the name of a type of champagne. Founded in 1947, Magnum Photos is a renowned news photography agency. Over the past 50 years, Magnum photographers have consistently been present at pivotal moments in major historical events. The assassination of Gandhi and the assassination of Kennedy—the only ones to document the entire process were Magnum photographers. Magnum photographers have elevated photography beyond mere news, transforming it into a cultural symbol.
Regarding the name of Magnum Photos, it is said that one of its founders, Capa, drew inspiration from the name of a type of champagne. However, over the past 60 years, Magnum Photos' influence on the world of documentary news photography, as well as its role in recording history and critiquing social issues, fully warrants the title of a powerful and supreme "bullet."