Contact Sheet Prints 76

With the rise of digital photography, the contact sheet has, in many ways, been relegated an anachronism—a vestigial relic of the medium’s past. But while the utility value of the contact sheet has faded with changing technologies, the insight it can provide into a photographer’s process is something timeless, something relevant to the medium of seeing and decision-making no matter the tools du jour.

Magnum Contact Sheet Prints tell as much of a story in their own right as the images they birth. It’s no surprise that Magnum co-founder Henri Cartier-Bresson expressed his romantic interest to future wife Martine Franck by saying, “I want to come and see your contact sheets” — to the photographer, there are few things more revealing than the pictures behind the picture.

Get Magnum news and updates directly to your inbox

Stay in touch
Monthly updates on the latest assignments, photographer projects and collaborations with brands.
Know when our quarterly 7-day square print sale is coming.
Learn about online and offline exhibitions, photography fairs, gallery events, plus fine print news and activities, on a monthly basis.
Get fortnightly tips and advice articles, find out about the latest workshops, free online events and on-demand courses.
Be the first to know about recent Magnum Shop drops. From new books and limited editions, to special offers, you can find it all on the weekly Magnum Shop newsletter.
Stay up to date every Thursday with Magnum photographers’ activities, new work, stories published on the Magnum website, and the latest offerings from our shop.