Magnum Blog / Photo of the week: LIFE Magazine Covers

Photo of the week: LIFE Magazine Covers

Various Covers from LIFE Magazine. From top left to bottom right: Cover from May 22, 1950 showing Duke and Dutchess of Windsor. © Philippe Halsman / Magnum Photos; Cover from January 15, 1955 showing a street scene in Moscow. © Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos; Cover from August 13, 1951 showing Martin and Lewis. © Philippe Halsman / Magnum Photos; Cover from April 7, 1952 showing Marylin Monroe. © Philippe Halsman / Magnum Photos; Cover from November 19, 1956 showing a wounded Egyptian in battle for Mideast. © Burt Glinn / Magnum Photos; Cover from January 18, 1943 showing Rita Hayworth. © Philippe Halsman / Magnum Photos; Halsman's first LIFE cover from October 5, 1942. © Philippe Halsman / Magnum Photos; Cover from November 15, 1954 showing Gina Lollobrigida. © David Seymour / Magnum Photos; Cover from May 15, 1944 showing General Montgomery. © George Rodger / Magnum Photos; Cover from March 15, 1963 showing Fidel Castro. © Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos; Cover from February 1, 1963 showing Alfred Hitchcock. © Philippe Halsman / Magnum Photos; Cover from February 13, 1950 showing a girl in Indonesia. © Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos; Cover from August 18, 1961 showing Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. © Philippe Halsman / Magnum Photos LIFE Magazine, created by TIME founder Henry Luce, published its first issue on November 23, 1936. That was exactly 71 years ago. LIFE always set standards in photojournalism, until 1972 it was published weekly when it was unfortunately shut down. Six years later, in 1978 LIFE was published again. This time as a monthly magazine and according to Dirck Halstead, who wrote a very interesting article entitled The Last of LIFE, "it was a pale imitation of its former self". The monthly magazine was discontinued in 2000 only to be published again as a weekly newspaper supplement from 2004 to April 2007. I did miss the glory days of LIFE magazine but its spirit and the work of some of the greatest photographers in the world who photographed for LIFE shall not be forgotten. This one goes out to the old LIFE magazine.

ALOK JOHRI

I guess its time we need LIFE back at our news stands. Only Magazine that covered the world in its ture journalistic sense. 2 years Back I spoke to Magnum Photographer Mr. Raghu Rai to show him my work. He said 'Alok journalism died for me 10 years back'. I could not understand what he meant by that but now the more I look back and see what's happening now, around journalism industry world-wide, it deeply discourages me to move on. WIth God's grace I was born an artist who also loves taking pictures.

Its so wonderful to go through some of these covers. Thanks Martin, for refreshing our memories.
Regards.
Alok

bezumnypiero

happy birthday! :-)
http://community.livejournal.com/ruguru/650007.html

wrobertangell

Kind of a sad tale that, but sounds familiar.

elisabeth imhof

goodmorning magnum blog makers,

this is a very nice photo of the week, its a vieuw that the people remind of history and a hommage to all the photographers who were there to spot.
i am from the netherlands, i did not see in your webshop if those covers are for sale, that's a pitty.

greetings elisabeth

Kamaal A. Bahnasawi

I believe all photography lovers are missing LIFE magazine and in particular those pictures taken by MAGNUM photographers.

Walter G. Rowand

Thank you Maagnum, LIFE should be back in our lifes again. Best Regards, Walt Rowand

Greg Yapp

With the demise of LIFE magazine, there's not really any other pictorial-type magazine replacement. The closest thing to it nowadays is TIME magazine, but even that is somewhat lacking compared to the LIFE magazines I see in libraries.

Andrew Baasch

It is sad that LIFE magazine isn't around anymore. It makes me wonder why. Has the internet and TV taken it's place? Can a magazine, like LIFE, ever be as poignant like it once was?

I have a bunch of LIFE magazines that I've collected over the years. I collect it for the photos mostly. It makes me wish I grew up back then. Back when JFK was president, Mickey Mantle was playing for the Yankees, or when we were on our way to the moon. What exciting times.

Don

I am not a professional photographer but two things inspired me to get into photography when I was about 10 or 11 years old;

1-A TV show called "Man With a Camera" with Charles Bronson

2-Life magazine that my parents subscribed to.

Doug Stewart

Even now, when one talks about photo journalism, informed people think first of Life. A fantastic magazine. However, like all enterprises, it is no more that the expression of the people that work for it. It cannot be reopened or restarted --- the people who make it unique and gave it soul have moved on (retired, died). Perhaps someone with vision can create something new that is as good (although that would be hard). However, any attempt to reopen Life now would be little more than an attempt to capitalise on the brand.

Peter

Even though many of the photographers were not American born, Life represented an American view of the rest of the world. I am not at all surprised that it didn't last. I am, in fact surprised that it lasted that long. Peter

dannyboy pata

how i wish i can have an issue that features cuban leader fidel castro

eagleville

I think you have one too many credits for the middle row and one is mis-labelled.

Cover from November 19, 1956 showing a wounded Egyptian in battle for
Mideast. (c) Burt Glinn / Magnum Photos;(correct)

Cover from January 18, 1943 showing Rita Hayworth. (c) Philippe
Halsman / Magnum Photos;(incorrect - not shown - for this cover see http://www.originallifemagazines.com/LIFE-Magazine-January-18-1943-P1327C550.aspx

Halsman's first LIFE cover from October 5, 1942. (c) Philippe Halsman / Magnum Photos; (I don't believe this is Rita Hayworth - the correct caption for the cover is "Thorsen Eye-catcher Hat Fashion" - see http://www.originallifemagazines.com/LIFE-Magazine-October-5-1942-P1312C549.aspx

Cover from November 15, 1954 showing Gina Lollobrigida. (c) David Seymour / Magnum Photos; (correct)
Cover from May 15, 1944 showing General Montgomery. (c) George Rodger / Magnum Photos; (correct)