Magnum Photo is the most prestigious and recognisable photographic agency in the world. Its members are a who’s who of influential figures, and together they have shaped the course of the medium throughout the 20th century. Initially formed by four photographers – Robert Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, George Rodger and David “Chim” Seymour – the collective was formed out of the horrors of WWII. In 1947, the agency began as a mix of reporters and artists who emphasised “not only what is seen but also the way one sees it.” The process of joining the ranks of Magnum Photographers is not an easy one, with existing members meeting once a year to discuss the induction of new artists. This begins with being a nominee, before progressing to associate before finally becoming a full, lifelong member. The process takes four years. In 2025, Zied Ben Romdhane became a full member, whilst Myriam Boulos advanced to associate. These five exhibitions, all hosted by Magnum Photos both around the globe and online, are a window into this exclusive world. The featured images are a reminder why the agency continues to be the gold standard for lens-based art, playing host to visionary practitioners who shape how we view our current moment.
There are approximately 45,000 pubs in the UK. That makes it number one in the world, with a pub for every 1,500 people. The UK might lead the way, but it’s a story told across Europe, from a Greek tavern to a Czech beer hall or a Dutch brown bar. As part of a collaboration between Magnum Photos and HEINEKEN, 11 local photographers spent the summer capturing venues in 11 countries. Crowds spill onto the streets of Soho outside The Devonshire Arms, generations gather beside the Dutch canals, or tables of people share a drink in the shadow of the Acropolis. The featured artists, including Bieke Depoorter, Cristina Garcia Rodero, Emin Özmen, Mark Power and Rafał Milach capture the distinct character of each venue.
What does it mean to photograph the world today? A new online exhibition from Magnum Photos highlights the work of 11 contemporary voices who have joined the agency over the past decade. Audiences move through more than 40 images, discovering the work of Cristina de Middel, Emin Özmen, Gregory Halpern, Lorenzo Meloni, Lua Ribeira, Myriam Boulos, Nanna Neitmann, Newsha Tavakolian, Sakir Khader, Salih Basheer and Zied Ben Romdhane. The photographs navigate the thin line between documentary commitment and the power of suggestion, exploring intimate narratives, conceptual fictions and the urgency of socio-political upheavals. As the opening of the exhibition states: “these photographs share the same visual rigour and a gaze deeply rooted in our times.”
Photographs have the power to make documentary feel dreamlike, staged scenes seem believable and the truth merge with the surreal. In Fact/Fiction, the upcoming Square Print Sale at Lecia Gallery, New York, artists test the boundaries between reality and the imagination. From uncanny coincidences to carefully constructed narratives, these images invite viewers to challenge their perception and consider the many ways photography shapes our existence in the world. Featured artist Cristina De Middel sums this up: “fiction might simply be a mirror with better editing skills. It removes the noise, keeps the last layer and gives us something we can recognise. Reality, on the other hand, has become difficult to locate.”
In an immense collaboration between Magnum and Veuve Clicquot, eight photographers across five continents were given one assignment: to interpret the force and beauty of the sun. Alex Webb’s instinct was to produce a series on Oxaca, Mexico, a city close to his heart and well known for its striking, vibrant colours. Meanwhile, Lindokuhle Sobekwa worked in his native country of South Africa, where he was inspired to shoot during the spring, a season he describes as “like sunrise: a time when everything starts to live again, to flourish, a period full of joy.” He began photographing in September, when Spring arrives in South Africa and the days are getting longer and brighter, beautifully capturing sunsets and sunrises.
HEAT: Projects from Magnum Foundation’s Photography Expanded Fellowship
HEAT, on display as part of Bristol Photo Festival, brings together projects developed through Magnum Foundation’s 2023 – 2025 Photography Expended Fellowship, which supported photographers exploring new ways of telling stories about the climate crisis and the inextricable relationship between communities and land. Across 18 landscapes around the world, these artists encountered places where multiple timelines coexist: histories embedded in the land, environmental transformations unfolding in the present and futures that remain to be imagined. These artists go beyond simply depicting climate change through shots of catastrophe, looking at the lived experiences behind environmental disruption.
Words: Emma Jacob
Image Credits:
1. Sabiha Çimen, Irem in the pool. Istanbul, Türkiye, 2018.
2. Image: Enri Canaj.
3. Lincoln Continental. Omaha, Nebraska, USA, 2005-2018.
4. Downtown through sunflowers. Omaha, Nebraska, USA, 2005-2018.
5. Nanna Heitmann, Black Sea. Abrau Peninsula, Russia, 2021.
6. Corrèze, France, 2023.
7. Corrèze, France, 2023.
8. Image: Luis Antonio Rojas.
