B (184)

16

B+W

Brighton, England, 1966.

ER Do you think Magnum will survive?

EE It certainly survived for 70 years,

against all odds, so I imagine it will do

another 70 years.

ER Was there a point in your career that,

looking back, seems pivotal or of particular

importance?

EE Early in my career I was doing

photojournalism. And that was more

challenging and more interesting, maybe.

But I adapted to the requirements of

commercial photography and assignment

photography – and I consider myself not

a journalist but a photographer, period.

ER You have seen huge changes in

photography both technical and sociological

• what do you think about these changes and
  about the ubiquity of photography today?

EE Well, I think a good picture is still a

good picture. And I think the proliferation

of cameras and iPhones is not helpful in

appreciating good photographs.

ER Your exhibition Personal Best at the

Maison Européenne de la Photography in

2010 broke all attendance records. What do

you think it is in your work that makes so

many people want to see and enjoy it?

EE I think my pictures are fairly simple

and straightforward, the good ones, that is,

and I hope to keep them that way. I think

simple and direct is the way to go to connect

with people.

ER In terms of humour you seem to have

been able to cross cultural boundaries. Can

you say more about this?

EE I don’t know how to answer that. I don’t

take any special pills or anything.

ER Maybe it’s just this connection thing again.

EE Yes, I think it’s connection.

ER You have won many awards and

accolades for your work – what does

this most recent award, the Sony 2015

Outstanding Contribution to Photography

mean to you?

EE Well, it’s nice to be liked.

‘Having secured some

prestigious commercial

jobs he then met Robert

Capa who had recently

co-founded Magnum.’

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