Magnum Photographer David Hurn Pays Homage to André Kertész in His Latest Photo Book

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of photography is chronicling a subject that has already been perfectly documented. There are varied facets that one has to think over: Will your work be able to add nuanced layers to the visual narrative? Will it justify the subject? Will it honor your predecessor? Most importantly, will the work continue to be meaningful for the viewers? A photographer who has defied the odds to work on a similar project is David Hurn, and his new book is the epitome of how one can navigate the waters of working on a popular story.

The lead image and those within the article are by David Hurn, courtesy of RRB Photobooks.

What is David Hurn’s New Book About?

A Magnum photographer and one of the most decorated artists of our time, David Hurn has worked on various captivating series since the 1950s. His books, such as On Being a Photographer, Wales: Land of My Father, and On Instagram, are some examples that depict his love for the everyday beauty around him. And now, in his latest photo book, On Reading, the Royal Photographic Society turns to the subject of reading.

Since the 1950s, photographers have documented people in the act of reading. However, the inspiration for this work began with another exceptional photographer, André Kertész. Here’s a brief glimpse into how the book came to be 40 years after his first venture into this theme.

I was invited in September 1983, together with 99 other photographers from all over the world, for a midnight to midnight 24 hour vigil to photograph London. The result was the book ‘A Day in the Life London’. Among those guests arriving was one of my photographic heroes, André Kertész. Kertész was 89 years of age. I suggested that I look after him and that he should concentrate on photographing in Hyde Park. I met up with him for breakfast in a hotel in South Kensington. I told him that one of my favourite books was his, small in size, ‘On Reading’, first published in 1971—Kertész’s father was a bookseller—after much chatting and laughing, I suggested, that if he gave his permission, I would re-do the book when I was 89. He gave his permission. This is the result.

David Hurn

How is The Book Different?

That’s a question many of our readers may have. Well, for starters, David Hurn’s images have been made around the world. He not only captured images for On Reading in Wales but also for other parts of Europe, Qatar, the United States, and even New Zealand. Some images depict daily life, while others include celebrities such as The Beatles, the photographs Hurn chronicled during an assignment.

But it is not the subjects alone that make the work engaging or unique, but also the way they have been captured. While in Kertész’s photographs, we see wider shots, Hurn’s images largely feature a tighter crop. It’s like he eradicates the excess to focus on what’s in front of you. In addition, the way he uses the foreground, background, and reflections reveals more about the person and the place they are in. Moreover, the images were not only made in public spaces but also in private areas like bedrooms and pools.

Another notable difference is how people read, which is beautifully captured in the book. David Hurn not only highlights the changes in reading material but also the act of reading itself. We have transitioned from traditional books to computers, tablets, Kindles, and mobile phones, showcasing a significant evolution. The world, as seen by Kertész and depicted by Hurn, reveals the pure joy and power of reading. David Hurn’s book illustrates the evolution of reading, one page at a time.

David Hurn’s On Reading will be released in December. You can pre-order it from RRB Photobooks’s website.