Magnum Contact Sheets
- Magnum Streetwise captures the essence of street photography at its very best — through the eyes of photographers who helped define the genre.
Drawing from the legendary Magnum Photos archive, this book shows how everyday life, chance encounters, and fleeting gestures become powerful images.
Rather than focusing on a single author, Magnum Streetwise presents a collective vision: decades of street photography by some of the most influential photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries. It’s a book about looking, waiting, and recognizing meaning in ordinary moments.
Why we selected this title:
A rare opportunity to explore street photography through Magnum’s unparalleled archive
Shows how the genre evolved — and why it still matters today
Balances iconic images with lesser-known photographs that reward slow viewing
What you’ll find inside:
A wide selection of street photographs spanning multiple decades
Work by key Magnum photographers, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Elliott Erwitt, Martin Parr, Bruce Gilden, and others
Images organized thematically, offering different ways of reading the street — from leisure and work to movement and chance
Contextual texts that deepen understanding without overpowering the images
Perfect for:
Street photography lovers and collectors
Students of documentary and urban photography
Anyone interested in how photographers observe and interpret everyday life
Readers looking for a book they can return to again and again
Magnum Streetwise is not just a survey — it’s a lesson in attention, timing, and curiosity. A book that reminds us how much is happening around us, if we only stop and look.