Magnum Opus

𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.

[Eve Arnold, photojournalist]

Eve Arnold was the first female photographer to join the legendary Magnum photo agency. She died on 4th January 2012 at the age of 99.

The technical quality of photographs and moving pictures on celluloid is rarely the essence of the creativity or creative insight.

This iconic photo by fellow Magnum photographer Robert Capa was fucked up in the lab but that didn’t really matter, perhaps even added to the sense of chaotic motion.

This beyond harrowing, world-changing picture could have been taken on any camera but the (long unacknowledged) photographer was the source of capturing the telling moment, little to do with his camera.

As we wrestle with the advent of AI and machine learning, it is important we are clear about the role of the human and the value of the human as an instrument of ideas, creativity, progress and growth.