The Imagemakers: Interview with Elliott Erwitt and Burt Glinn

Very interesting.

I loved the part about “Artistical truthiness”...

likewise,

i wonder how those types ever got into magnum if as it seems so many members are against it.

“The journalistic business however is pretty well over. Compared to what it used to be because there is simply no place for it. And especially for freelancers. There might be some place for people who are on salary. But that’s the market place. The market place rules what we do. Some people succumb to the market place in a way that they shouldn’t … “

not terribly reassuring, though it is good they think magnum still has a place in the world.

Sasha, if ‘they’ got in Magnum it’s because a large majority of the members thinks they deserve it. And if that says a lot about market place opportunism it also says a lot about tolerance (and intolerance).

John

Ever like to read a chat with those old people and their vision of the things now and their anecdotes. Thanks for share.

Very informative and also very funny. Sort of a Abbott and Costello routine on the history of Magnum. Two very unpretentious legends. :)

Such lovely camaraderie, thats what really comes across to me-

Its so great because we live in such an egocentric world and these guys obviously appreciate one another’s finely tuned wit and repartee.

I think the greatest part of the conversation is about the glue that holds Magnum together and both these guys emphasized that it was about people’s humanity rather than their ambition.

And I guess thats why Magnum has always been such a benchmark, its all about the humanity of the photographers and the photographs.

lovely and, most importantly, very funny reading !

cheers gents

running
b

I, too, enjoyed the interview, though the reflections about market and its impact on the human spirit are disturbing, on the one hand, and a challenge, on the other, to those of us who still want to live and work in a world where solidarity and the defense of the common good are cherished values. I agree with you, LIsa, that the most important balance to strike is between ambition and humanity. Without some form of ambition, it´s hard to get anything done, but when humanity is the driving force behind that ambition, the results are profound, moving, and memorable.

So, how could we construct our own alternative structures that respect artistic individuality while participating in the greater whole? Spaces like Lightstalkers are a good starting point, but what then?

Just thinking out loud . . . Collective actions like the 100 eyes in New Orleans are also interesting propositions, but what else could be done?

Hey guys, thanks for your responses. If any of you like it would be great if you’d also post your comment to the Magnum Blog. That way Pia and hopefully Elliott will be able to read it.

By the way, do you all get e-mail notifications when someone replies here? I didn’t get a single one…

No email here either.

martin:

i’ll leave a comment at the Blog later tonight :))

cheers
bob