Description

Stuart Franklin’s documentation of the mass protest in Bejing’s Tiananmen Square in 1989 was iconic and far-reaching. Hundreds of student protesters killed when they clashed with the military. Franklin said of the moment: “As I was photographing the tank, I had very clear memories of the Prague spring of 1968, when citizens faced off with Russian tanks. The atmosphere soon became chaotic in the hotel, as people were worried about getting their stories out in the unfolding tragedy. Authorities inside the hotel confiscated footage, but I packed my film into a box of tea and gave it to a French student who was heading back to Paris. She got it to Magnum.”

My photos aren’t didactic. They aren’t waving a flag, or trying to tell you what to think or what to believe. But they hopefully allow you to reflect, wonder, or dream

Stuart Franklin
© Martin Parr | Magnum Photos

Stuart Franklin was born in London in 1956. His photographic career began when he started to work for Now Magazine, The Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph Magazine in London and later with Agence Presse Sygma in Paris.

He combines a direct documentary-style with a strong personal vision and has photographed some of the most important news events of the 21st Century as well as producing many acclaimed personal projects, exploring subjects relating to the Anthropocene. His core interest today is in producing work, mostly about nature-society relations, that is open to multiple interpretations.

Franklin graduated with a first class degree in Geography from Oxford University and went on to complete his doctoral thesis there in 2001. Franklin was awarded a professorship in documentary photography in 2016. He has also made films, including the feature-length documentary, Runners.

© Stuart Franklin | Magnum Photos

Get Magnum news and updates directly to your inbox

Stay in touch
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.
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.