Jean Gaumy was born in August 1948 in Pontaillac (Charente-Maritime), France. He received his higher education in Rouen where he worked as editor and freelance photographer in a local daily newspaper to pay for his studies. He worked briefly at the Viva agency and later joined the French photo agency, Gamma, in 1973 at the request of Raymond Depardon.
Gaumy is known for his eloquently evocative photography and cinematography, achieved through a deep engagement with his subjects. From his famous long-term projects on the fishing industry, arctic exploration and 1980’s Iran to his groundbreaking work on the French penal and healthcare systems, Gaumy produces work that is both vivid and impactful. Gaumy joined Magnum in 1977. He has been living in Fécamp, Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy, France) since 1995.
