Magnum Contact Sheets

Making Contact Sheets was a common process for photographers during the film era. The process is simple, you lay your negatives down on to a piece of 8x10 paper and do a basic exposure. While not a great print, it does serve as a sheet of positives for the photographer to make notes or selects with.
Although Lightroom mimics this somewhat this is a practice that's fallen out of favor in the digital age of photography. I think that's unfortunate to a degree because having a physical printout forces you to look at your work differently.
In this video we'll look at the Thames and Hudson collection of Magnum photographs. This book is fabulous and its a wonderful insight into the minds of some of the best photographers in the business.
Magnum Contact Sheets available on Amazon:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/0500...
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Ted Forbes
The Art of Photography
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[@michelewonder5808]

Shortly after I attended photo school and moved to SF in 2005 I remember checking out a DVD from the SF Public Library and it was a collection of documentary episodes highlighting different pro photographers and their contact sheets. I cannot for the life of me remember the producer or the name of it but it was amazing! Being able to look into the mind of the artist as a roll of film progresses was so beautiful and educational. I am certainly going to pick up this book!

[@markhood]

I got this book as a 'Secret Santa' gift... absolutely enormous book, full of useful inspiration & a great way to see how the experts picked their 'best' images. That's something I've always struggled with!

[@adnan491]

I just want to say one thing...thank you Ted.

[@StevenPennyphotography]

That's more than 1 thing

[@peterwang2312]

It's nothing adnan

[@bethanyjohnson7717]

i love your episodes! This information is so valuable and sweet. I also love your passionate and enthusiastic way of sharing history & thought behind photography!

[@ashjkennedy]

Treated myself to this book a couple of months back. It's absolutely amazing. It's like seeing their though process as situations unfold.

[@AManWhoWasntThere]

My best friend bought me this book last year and I absolutely love it. There's so much to learn from it. I wish I could look at it right now but I'm too far away from home. Excellent episode again, Ted!

[@nfornick]

Bought this book yesterday. Inspiring.

[@jonathanraven5939]

Absolutely fantastic episode. Thanks very much.

[@dinosaurfilms7425]

Interesting for artist and historian alike! This book is awesomeness.

[@ohlalaledoell]

Thanks for the interesting video - one tiny thing: I know it‘s hard to imagine for Americans but the D-Day was not the turning point of the war by any stretch of the imagination. The Nazis (thankfully) lost the war on the *eastern* front with 7 out of 8 of their entire casualties throughout the war taken there.

[@NOSSKAPP97]

i just got this book for christmas!! I love it! thank you for showing it to me

[@colinwhite4710]

definitely going to buy it (new to photography). that'll be nice to view for the first time

[@stuvs830]

14:10 for digital artists; do follow his suggestion to let yourself see your work in printed form. Even if you just do it once, my feeling is the representation will inform your future shoots. -Another engaging and articulate lecture in a standout YT series, thank you so much for these.

[@CountryHouseGent]

I'm slightly disgruntled . . . with myself. Disgruntled for not discovering your channel sooner. I'd like to thank you for the rich body of work you've built up. As a photographer and writer myself, I can readily appreciate the time and effort involved, as well as the highs and inevitable lows, worries and frustrations whilst attempting to get your brand 'out their'. Here's my subscription. :) P.S. It's interesting what you say in the video about consistency. There is a 'mind set' that all succesful photographers shoot nothing but excellent images, all the time. In fact for most of them, 90% of their shots are/were stocking fillers.

[@theartofphotography]

Thanks! Glad to have you as a subscriber!!

[@japanese3122]

Just got one!my first ever real photography book. It was expensive as i'm a student but man, it was worth every penny

[@janmulders]

One of my favorite photobooks and great educational stuff. Good video Ted!

[@redriverscout4404]

I too love to be able to see part of the artist's process and what they chose to keep and what they chose not to. It also demystifies things a bit and you get to see that even the greats did not get the perfect shot every time they hit the shutter button. That being said being a photographer myself it is kind of a scary concept too because I know personally I have some real stinkers I am glad nobody sees.

[@walkingbear56]

the saying goes that there are two things you should not do, one is eating lobster in public, th eother is showing your contact sheets.

[@brothias]

Great channel, I've been watching a lot of it those past days (and nights !). Thank you for your work ! I've also started to do the photo assignments today from Montreal where I live... Good way to exercice and learn more. Take care. MMP

[@EEM131E]

An engaging video that shows your enthusiasm Ted. Spectacular photojournalism from a time when limitations in film stock and processing brought out a level of creativity which will never be repeated. Many thanks.

[@winedemonium]

Great episode. One of my favourite books, so nice to get your commentary on it. I liked the "underwear drawer of the photographer" analogy, lol!

[@DreKC]

Ted.. thank you for these insightful and intriguing videos. Can't stop watching them. You are very articulate and thorough in your explanations. Keep up the good work, and thanks again.

[@theartofphotography]

Thanks Andrew!

[@robertmann3829]

Great video about an amazing book. One suggestion about this enormous book is about how enormous it is. It’s big, heavy and not that easy to manoeuvre especially as some contact sheets are laid out horizontally. Now don’t judge me, but cut the book up! It easily splits into decades, bind the edges and you can spend even more time studying the how and why great photography is not all about one image, it’s about the whole process.

[@HarmFlo]

Looks like an amazing book. Thanks for a great episode.

[@PeterEvansPeteTakesPictures]

Great edition man, I've flicked through this book in the stores and am seriously tempted. But I'm a little surprised you didn't take the opportunity to give a wee shout-out to Jeff Bridge's photography, which is also pretty splendid!

[@AvanPatel]

Just bought it, best book I own now!

[@jerrybrodrick]

Excellent as ever Ted. Thanks :)

[@trevorsowers]

It's a great book and I truly enjoy mine. I get my B&W film developed by a local guy that delivers them back to me with a Print File sleeve containing the negatives and a contact sheet, and I love it. I mostly shoot slide film and once I get those cut up and mounted and placed into Print File sleeves I basically have a contact sheet by simply plopping them onto a light table! There is something to be said for a physical photo.

[@BrianAndersonPhotography]

I just used your promo code to setup my Squarespace site for my portfolio Ted. Thanks! I've been watching your shows for around a year now and I love the direction and evolution you're taking along the way. Keep up the great work.

[@theartofphotography]

Brian Anderson Enjoy Brian - they have a wonderful service. I'm proud they sponsor the show… I'm working on a new Squarespace project myself ;-)

[@theartofphotography]

Hmmmm… I like that idea!

[@BeingWolfy]

The Art of Photography - You compose all that? Wow! Ted, you are a real renaissance man.

[@theartofphotography]

I'll do a behind the scenes video sometime

[@BeingWolfy]

That would be great!

[@MaxLamdin]

a really interesting video again ted! actually been thinking about making some contact sheets quite recently? so im probably one of the only 17 year olds in the whole of england that gets so excited at the thought of stuff like this!

Excellent!

[@ryanh3635]

Just revisiting this video. You might like some of the books on Ed Van Der Elsken, one of the greatest Dutch photographers. They did a whole expo with rooms filled with his contact sheets and process at the Amsterdam Stedelijk Museum a while ago.

[@exhper]

I think you meant "born after 1990"? Another great segment.

[@flippinohio]

Love the book! I need it now. lol

[@DavidMeyerPhoto]

This is a good book, very informative and I liked it a lot. There is a documentary series titled simply "Contacts", which shows contact sheets of various well known photographers and frequently they talk about their creative process, their feelings and the decisions they were making. Very interesting as well.

[@Dwarvenchef]

Added to my "Needs" list.

[@1DafEO]

Thanks so much for the reminder of this book. It's been on my to-get list for years. I think I didn't buy it initially as it was to expensive. Upon viewing this video I looked it up again and it turns out that it was re-printed in 2014 and these are a lot more affordable!

[@1DafEO]

2011 box - £325 - www.thamesandhudson.com/Magnum_Contact_Sheets/9780500544105 2014 book - £45 - www.thamesandhudson.com/Magnum_Contact_Sheets/9780500544310

[@zanerichards8348]

contact sheets are great, I've done both film and digital.

[@LoLiFeVA]

what a great episode

[@dangerpowers123]

Great video love your channel

[@GeraldMoncrief]

I know it's not the same but I think we over look the fact we can do the same with digital. I use the canon software to process my raw images. In the software you can print contact sheets. Even if you decide not to print them and if you don't delete images you still have your historical record of your own work. I only lately started deleting image but it was because I was concern with space. However, after viewing this I think I will not be so quick to delete them from now on.

[@TomasNilssonFoto]

I think this is an excellent idea for a book. both to see the different masterpieces, as well as showing that even though the Magnum photographers took (and take) incredible images, not all images on a roll are fantastic. They too shoot complete duds at times. It humanizes them in a good way. We're so used to comparing our "worst" with their "best" (if in a very self-deprecating mood) that it is refreshing to see they did crap photos too at times (although not as often as some of us do! ;-)).

[@theartofphotography]

Tomas Nilsson Definitely Tomas - My favorite part is seeing how they arrived at the perfect shot. There's so much to learn from this book. I'm so glad it exists - getting photographers to share this kind of thing was probably really difficult.

[@TomasNilssonFoto]

The Art of Photography Yeah, we're a secretive bunch sometimes. ;-) I must admit to being in that category...I like to edit and select...and then show that selection, rather than letting it all hang out...as I believe the phrase goes.

[@victorwhitby4401]

Great vid

[@JacobdelaRosa]

The Art of Photography I'm actually working on a film project involving contact sheets. I'm shooting a person on a single roll of film, making a contact sheet and then a final 8x10 print. The two will be displayed side by side to show both the final selection and the process that went into choosing it.

[@TRIXRFOKIDZz]

ted I've noticed the price on amazon between hardcover and paperback is substantial. is their any real difference other than the cover? (paper was published 2011) and (hardcover was published 2016) any info would be great!

[@minai516]

i remember getting this book for approx 5 $ brand new :D

[@davidquirk4598]

Ted, have you ever come across a TV documentary about Magnum that I think came out in conjunction with the book "In Our Time". It had interviews with all the living legends of the agency at the time. Do you of it's existence? Everyone I ask (Magnum) never responds. Love your insights and love the channel. Thanks.

[@xvs_s]

I was fortunate enough to see the Magnum Contacts exhibition in Budapest last year. It was so amazing that it instantly convinced me to buy the book too. The previous edition was a bit more expensive but Thames and Hudson just released a new, more cost friendly version last christmas, so there's no reason not to buy it now. It's a must have for every serious photographer.

[@shileichang9562]

cats were sad though :) but LOVE your videos !

[@rebeccacubitt390]

Dear Ted, I am really enjoying your videos and finding them very helpful for my A level students. I am messaging you for a little help, I am in the process of putting together a book list for our school library as the photography course offered by my school is a new course. I was wondering if you could please suggest some books you feel would be essential artist/ photographer and technical techniques books to assist and develop my students conceptual and artist and technical knowledge Thanks

[@vernonsza]

Ted, I would really be in favor of a Lightroom plugin that took all of the photos on my camera at a given time (or say the last 36, 50, etc) and created a "digital" contact sheet that way. I think a lot of people would use it if the process was simple and could be automated when importing images. The added benefit of that is also that you can see the unedited RAW image and you could see the photographers process before he edited the photos. Eric Kim used this book to show that while Magnum photogs are great at what they do, they aren't perfect and even they, most often, had to "work the scene" if they wanted to get anything useable out of their roll. This is because a lot of people when shooting on the street like to believe they need only click once and move on.

[@velvia7880]

Birthday present for myself this year (Y)

[@BrianAndersonPhotography]

If anyone is interested in how to make a contact sheet in Lightroom 4 and up there was a blog written on blog.adobe.com that shows you how to do it. Enjoy! blogs.adobe.com/richardcurtis/?p=455

[@pbandj7764]

the Intro in the book indicates that it was conceived of as digital came of age and contact sheets were disappearing from the photo process. It should be noted that many photographers, including HCB refused to show their contacts back then in order to maintain their mystique and at times when they did show them they made them up. IMHO editing in LR has a contact like feeling when rating the photos.

[@luisboaventura22]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@johnnyboyle4811]

Ay, Derry northern ireland. My Home.

[@jcnash02]

Ted Forbes Would you consider making a public "wish list" on Amazon of the different books you've covered or are going to cover to make it easier to find them? I know you'd like us to buy our books locally, but essentially the only bookstore where I live is Walmart & I hate going to Walmart. I've been able to find a number of the books on Amazon in both new & used condition. I usually can get a good copy of some of them for $10-20 from real bookstores via Amazon.

[@theartofphotography]

Sure! Excellent idea.

[@stuvs830]

Powells, located in Portland, Oregon, is a physical store as well as a terrific online alternate. You can even sell them books you no longer want. The bookstore is a real part of the Portland community.

[@theartofphotography]

Stu VS agreed - Powells is amazing!

[@StreetsOfVancouverChannel]

I'm glad that you killed the drumset intro...

[@nanimoshiranai]

... and the outro esp music and graphic design are very sleek, too. Nice changes.

[@cincinnatijones]

Bring back the blazer! :]

[@Kref3]

In general another very nice video. Just two comments: Capa did not have anything in his Leicas in the Normandy for the simple reason, that he did not take Leicas with him, he used Contax. I would praise the artistic value while showing the picture of the airplane shadows. But while showing pictures of a dead man lying in a pool of his own blood in Ireland, the artistic value of the picture would be not the point I would stress.

[@b.griffin317]

Its not the throwing of the cats, they can handle that, but the water for which the ASPCA should be called.

[@RedStarRogue]

Are their Photography Instructors called Magnum P.I's?

[@hli6097]

How to get a PDF?

[@davidrothschild8913]

Do photo labs still do contact sheets?

[@theartofphotography]

If you can find a photo lab…

[@michaelvonal9108]

www.ilfordlab.com/

[@jcnash02]

I've used Richard Photo Lab, The Darkroom, and IndieFilm Lab. All are excellent mail-order-type labs. If you have a local lab, give them a try. I've found most "local" labs near me ship all their stuff to a certain lab in Kansas while charging the "we did it here" price. I found one really nice one that does everything in house, though it is 45 minutes away.

[@IanLivesey]

Well. Looks like I just dumped threw some more money at Amazon... thanks! :)

[@daviedrew9241]

I'm too scared to show anyone my contact sheets.

[@davidventura1424]

DEVELOPCONTACTSCANPRINT!!! If your a film Photographer a must is having a Darkroom or whats the point!

[@CDNChaoZ]

After 1990 surely.

[@menthol-bonbon1726]

Im sure that if I ever shoot something important I would accidentially destroy it while trying to get the film in the tank or by using expired developer!

[@LuciaHewitt]

Oh my goodness, can you imagine how much trouble you'd be in today if you hurled cats just to make a picture??!!!

[@dennisschmidt6406]

Did you mean born AFTER 1991?

[@nasseryounesvideo]

One third of the video is your self while talking , notice it’s a photography video , so show more photos. Also the thumbnail photo is a dirty bait using Che Guevara greatest photo ever and you didn’t talk about it.