Magnum Photos' two newest nominees

July 8, 2008 7:29 PM

American-Dutch photographer Peter van Agtmael and English photographer Olivia Arthur are the two newest nominees recently welcomed into Magnum Photos. Agtmael's images of Afghanistan and Iraq are very powerful - he discusses his work in Conscientious. Arthur's recent work has focused on women's experiences in what she calls the Middle Distance.

"The Magnum Photos selection process for new members is legendary for its toughness. Becoming a full Member of Magnum Photos is a process that takes place over at least four years, with candidates evolving from the status of Nominee, to Associate, to Member, each evolution in status requiring a vote by the Magnum Photos Members."
This year, member status was granted to:
Antoine d’Agata, French (many images NSFW)
Jonas Bendiksen, Norwegian
Alec Soth, American

posted by madamjujujive (8 comments total)

BTW, most of the photos in Peter van Agtmael's series on American Wars have commentary, some with quite a bit of detail. You can access it by scrolling over "info" on the thumbnail.
posted by madamjujujive at 7:33 PM on July 8, 2008

From the first link: I saw the loading... and I thought, "Godammit! Just let me look at them!". What a shame artists choose crap interface. Some of the images are extraordinary. I just wish I could pause the slide show.
posted by sluglicker at 8:32 PM on July 8, 2008

"The Magnum Photos selection process for new members is legendary for its toughness. Becoming a full Member of Magnum Photos is a process that takes place over at least four years, with candidates evolving from the status of Nominee, to Associate, to Member, each evolution in status requiring a vote by the Magnum Photos Members."

Well then, they must be good.
posted by sluglicker at 8:37 PM on July 8, 2008

sluglicker, here is a limited selection of Peter van Agtmael's work without a flash interface.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:43 PM on July 8, 2008

Thanks, madamjujujive. I found this, when Peter was an intern, back in 2000.
posted by sluglicker at 9:05 PM on July 8, 2008

Excellent post. Thanks, mjjj.
posted by homunculus at 9:56 PM on July 8, 2008

Bendiksen is a badass and, barely 30 years old, is someone that in ten or fifteen years might very well become one of the very best out there -- he manages to be very powerful with great economy of style. That way, he's the anti-D'Agata, whom I respect but whose work has often struck me as somehow gimmicky, self-consciously raw -- he studied with Clark and Goldin, and that might not have worked out that well for him.

Olivia's work in Iran is so impressive I can't wait to see what she has in mind for her future assignments -- she's very, very exciting.

thanks for the post, mjj
posted by matteo at 12:56 AM on July 9, 2008 [1 favorite]

Three for a pound at farmfoods : )
posted by sgt.serenity at 7:05 AM on July 10, 2008