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The dining table photo book
Magnum Magnum. True, the book is not your average photo coffee table book. The cardboard transport device which is included to carry it safely around makes this clear. The word Magnum makes evertything clear, a large photo compilation of such institute and with such photographers behind it, should not be found in an A4 sized softcover. So the book is big, and heavy. It makes you to really sit for it and to watch the images one by one, instead of flipping through it in a lazy chair.
The paper, the binding and cover (however watch out with ink on the front cover, it lets loose easily when by accident scratching it) the printing all is very nice and of good quality. Also the photo selection is for me very nice done.
What is nice or not nice is personal and that certainly can be said about the selection. So do not expect a collection of the most famous images ever published by Magnum, you will be disapointed. However the book gives a good view of the diversity of photographs and photographers, which is forming Magnum's photographic wealth.
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Although a good book, could be better
Magnum Magnum. It took me about 2 weeks to go through the book, a few photographers a time. I was quite impressed with the book to about half of the book, after what some doubts started to raise. Yes, as some other reviewers have already pointed out, selection of pictures could be better. Especially in second half of the book I saw more images that I did not enjoy that much (I know that photographers are listed in alphabetical order and that is just a coincidence). Just somehow second half of the book is more boring to me, although there are excellent images present there as well.
I understand that this idea of photographers selecting images of other photographers sounds good but I'm not too impressed by the result, because some selections are rather poor (these minor bad selections spoil overall great impression). In a book of that calible I guess we expect to see best images, not just something different. Good example is also Henri Cartier-Besson's images -- while the selected images are not bad in general, IMO they are quite poor representation of Henri's contribution to photography.
The above of course is only my opinion and my taste may be different to all other people...
Cover of the book is covered with cloth and I'm not sure that is a good thing. The type of the cloth is quite "rough" and I'm sure it will show signs of wear quite soon if you are seeing the book by holding it in hand. There is no dust cover, but the book ships in cardboard box that has carry handle.
Print quality of images is very good. Also paper is superb (semi matte) and does not reflect light at all. Your fingers remain clean even after moving your hand over images continiously, no smearing. Binding is also good, and double-page spreads, contrary to another reviewer, look quite good to me, compared to many other books.
Another reviewer complained about not even print quality of images. This complain is not valid as it is logical that images from Tri-X, Velvia 50 and other types of films look very different. Some photographers make intentionally blurry or dark images, so that is not a printing defect. :)
About price -- I feel cover price of $212 is too high for this book. For $140 as Amazon currently sells it, it is not that bad, but now having seeing the book, I would not pay more than that.
This book is big, I have problem fitting it to my bookshelf. However, big format is good for photos and that is not negative aspect.
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