Reed, Ellis “Eli”

1946-present · Contribution: 1970-present

Photojournalist; educator

Became the first Black photographer admitted as a full member of Magnum Photos, the world’s most prestigious photojournalism cooperative, in 1988, following acclaimed coverage of civil wars in Lebanon and Central America

Press & Photography — collage image
Press & Photography

Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.

Quick facts

Born
1946, Linden, New Jersey
Active since
1970
Category
Press & Photography
Best known for
First Black photographer to become a full member of Magnum Photos

Impact on the world

Reed broke Magnum's four-decade color line and, taking a mentor's advice that 'there's a bigger war here at home,' turned his lens on both foreign conflict and Black American life with equal seriousness.

Sources

  1. Magnum Photos

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