Magnum Streetwise

Book excerpt: The ultimate collection of street photography from Magnum Photos. Magnum Streetwise is the definitive collection of street photography from Magnum Photos, and an unparalleled opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the true greats of the genre. An essential addition to the street photography canon, this volume showcases hidden gems alongside many of street photography’s most famous images. Magnum photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson pioneered modern concepts of street photography before the term was even coined. A rich seam of street photography runs through the heart of Magnum to this day, both in the work of recognized masters of the genre—including Elliott Erwitt, Martin Parr, Bruce Gilden, and Richard Kalvar—and in the work of those who may not think of themselves as street photographers, despite their powerful influence on the current generation of budding artists. Magnum Streetwise is a true visual feast, interleaving insightful text and anecdotes within an intuitive blend of photographer- and theme-focused sections. Ambitious in scope and democratic in nature, Magnum Streetwise is an unmissable tour through the photographs and practices that have helped define what street photography is—and what it can be.