Magnum Ireland

Stunning collection that takes you on an evocative journey through the decades in Ireland - great both for bringing back memories and giving a window into before we were born.

The Magnum photographic agency was established in the late 1940s. Then, as now, it was an agency for photo-journalists, photographers who documented the social activities, and the social changes in a society.This is the book of a touring exhibition of photographs which began in 2006. The book is divided into decades from the 1950s to the first half of the 2000s. Each decade has an introduction briefly describing the social change in Ireland, both North and South. Some of these essays assume some background knowledge of what was happening; the more casual reader might struggle to appreciate all that happened. It isn't a book of glossy photos of the Irish idyll, thatched cottages, children playing nearby in the sunchine, with the greenery in the distance with a few lakes and mountains. Indeed, it's not at all clear if such an idyll ever existed beyond the imaginations of 'Dev' and the leaders of the Catholic church; it's clear from the photos and the essays just how the palsied hands of the political and religious leaders in both parts of the island held back progress, and how and why so many chose to emigrate.This is a record of social change, albeit incomplete; the photos are representative of the changes in society, but not all changes are shown. This, I guess, is because many journalists only came when a 'story' beckoned; some did spend longer in the country, and what they all portray is their own, individualistic viewpoints.

I bought this book as a gift for a friend. We had seen the photos a few years back in an exhibition. The photos are great, some take you right back down memory lane. Would highly recommend this book.

Magnum, a name synonymous with upper echelon of documentary photography. Just a mention of the name brings instant thoughts of Capa, Parr, and Bresson. The most recognized name in the photo world brings their take on a very photographic country: Ireland.If you are looking for beautiful scenic and landscape shots of the Irish countryside, look elswehere. If you love reportage/documentary photography than this will instantly become a photo book favorite of yours, even if you do not have much interest in the country itself.What lies here is Magnum's best work from the past 5 decades, breaking each into it's own section. We get some brief text to start each decade, drawing a light timeline for us, and then it's on to the pictures.You would think the 50's would be mostly black and white shots, but think again. Along with some great shots by Henri Cartier-Bresson, we get some vibrant color images by Inge Morath. All the photos simply have one thing in common: capturing life in this country in all aspsects. Depicting people lounging, fighting, and dancing, and the objects, places, and buildings in which they dwell.You get over 30 of Magnum's top names, including Eve Arnold, Martin Parr, Steve McCurry, and Bruce Davidson, who lend photos covering both Ireland and Northern Ireland. I didn't recognize of a few of the Parr photos, and I have nearly all his books including Photographs of the West of Ireland, so I am assuming that some of these photos may be appearing in book form for the first time.It's a real treat for Magnum and documentary fans, and at the price I see right now on Amazon (way, way below list price) this is a must buy!