Why is it so difficult for Chinese photographers to enter Magnum Photo Agency!!

Maybe it’s because it’s not very photogenic

Magnum refers to Magnum Photo Agency (not what kind of photography technique). Mainly in photojournalism.

Magnum Photo Agency was founded in Paris, France in 1947. The founders were Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, David Seymour, George Rogel and Bill Vandivert. Magnum Photos (also known as Magnum Photography News Agency) is a world-renowned and influential photography agency with branches in New York, Paris, London and Tokyo.

Magnum Photo News Agency was founded in 1947 in order to faithfully present photographic documentation after World War II. The founders were well-known news photographers at the time, such as Cartier Boulle Pine, Robert Capa, George Rodger, David Simon. The word Magnum is the name of a large barrel of champagne. At that time, war correspondents often drank this wine to celebrate with friends after surviving. Robert Capa named his photography club after this wine.

As for the name of Magnum Photo Agency, it is said that Capa, one of the founders, was inspired by the name of champagne. However, in the past 60 years, Magnum Photos’ influence on the world’s documentary news photography industry, as well as its role in recording history and criticizing current ills, can fully serve as a powerful and supreme “bullet”.

Magnum Photo Agency may be the first photography agency run and managed entirely by photographers. The agency allows photographers to own the copyright of their own photos, rather than the publishing magazine or media. , in addition, also provide the help photographers need directly, rather than in conjunction with sponsors and so on.

Many of Magnum Photography's photographers and photojournalists have achieved worldwide recognition, working on a wide range of subjects such as family, drugs, religion, war, poverty, crime, government and celebrations etc., all have quite classic and important documentary photography works.

Today, there is also VII Photo News Agency, which is similar in nature to Magnum Photo News Agency.

In 1948, a branch was opened in New York, USA. Magnum became a photo cooperative because of the unparalleled quality of its members' work. It was the world's first picture cooperative. All members are working photographers, who select their own editors and staff, and formulate policies for the delivery and promotion of their works. For example, the profits earned from photo shoots are distributed according to the amount of works submitted by individuals. Over the past 30 years, many of the most distinguished photojournalists have been members of Magnum. Today, the organizational structure has changed. Some young photographers who are junior members of Magnum submit their works on a commission basis.

The founding purpose of the photo agency is never to aim at economic profit and based on respect for people, and strives to break away from the previous work style restricted by magazine editors.

The cultural basis they emphasize is that photographers should be free to choose creative themes, arrange their own work schedules, and not be bound by deadlines and editors. Therefore, the photography works of Magnum Photo Agency usually focus on a social phenomenon or issue, after the photographer conducts extensive investigation and then shoots it in depth. The pictures provided by Magnum contain few social trivial matters and specialize in in-depth reporting.

China business: Magnum’s business in Greater China (including the Mainland, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) is exclusively represented by Oriental IC, China’s largest comprehensive photo gallery. Oriental IC is a large-scale cultural and creative enterprise focusing on creative copyright materials. It provides a full range of professional services for copyright management of pictures, images, creative elements and entertainment stars for the creative needs of various advertising, markets and media. The company was founded in 2000. It is the exclusive agent for the world-renowned Corbis Picture Company, as well as hundreds of top editorial and creative brands such as the New York Times, Associated Press, and European News Agency. It is the largest supplier of copyrighted materials in Greater China. business.