I’ve been a Magnum photo agency fan for many years, stretching back to the early 90’s. Contrary to what you may think I like to look at, I’m more attracted to reportage images than landscapes, and I seem to have a particular liking for photographers from the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. Eugene Smith for instance is another photographer that I love the work from.
Image © Elliot Erwitt
Magnum Photo Agency
This has to be one of my favourite Elliot Erwitt shots. Elliot is now 91 and I’ve read many times that he likes to look over his back catalog of negatives (yes, the good old film days) each year to see if there’s a shot he’s missed before. He says he often finds something that he’s passed by many times before, and I think that just proves that what you like or see today may change each time you revisit your work.
With this photo, it’s just beautiful. I think photography is all about telling the viewer ‘your’ story. What ‘you’ saw. What ‘you’ felt.
Photography is not a contest. Photography is just about creating a point of view.
Well, to me at least, photography is about a point of view. I personally abhor competitions (that does not mean I am suggesting you or others should not enter them - do as you like). I just think the merit of a photograph is not in any awards or gravitas it is given. The merit of a photograph is in how well it tells its own story visually. And that is a highly personal thing which will differ greatly from viewer to viewer.
Photographs shouldn’t have to be explained. The seeing and enjoying of the work should be all that’s required.