Contact Press Images is an international and independent

photojournalism Photojournalism is journalism that uses images to tell a news story. It usually only refers to still images, but can also refer to video used in broadcast journalism. Photojournalism is distinguished from other close branches of photography (such ...

agency founded in 1976 in New York City by French-British journalist and editor Robert Pledge and American photojournalist David Burnett. The agency's operations have been directed by picture editor Jeffrey D. Smith since 1986.

Annie Leibovitz Anna-Lou Leibovitz ( ; born October 2, 1949) is an American portrait photographer best known for her engaging portraits, particularly of celebrities, which often feature subjects in intimate settings and poses. Leibovitz's Polaroid photo of Jo ...

joined Contact Press in 1977. In 1990, the agency opened its European office in Paris under the supervision of Dominique Deschavanne, a French journalist and picture editor. In addition to producing monographs and exhibitions, some of Contact's photographers have been awarded prizes in photojournalism, including honors from the

World Press Photo World Press Photo Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Founded in 1955, the organization is known for holding an annual press photography contest. Since 2011, World Press Photo has organized a ...

National Press Photographers Association The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) is an American professional association made up of still photographers, television videographers, editors, and students in the journalism field. Founded in 1946, the organization is based in at ...

, and

Overseas Press Club The Overseas Press Club of America (OPC) was founded in 1939 in New York City by a group of foreign correspondents. The wire service reporter Carol Weld was a founding member, as was the war correspondent Peggy Hull. The club seeks to maintain ...

of America. The agency is focused on human rights issues such as wars and conflicts, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, religion and ethnicity, and environmental issues.

Books by Contact Press Images

*''Kalachnikov: L'AK47 à la conquete du monde,'' by Contact Press Images, Stanislas De Haldat, Based on Photos by Contact Photojournalist J.B. Diederich, The first Westerner to visit Kalachnikov at home in Illevsk, Sirene (1993). *''Le cercle des intimes: François Mitterrand par ses proches,'' by Caroline Lang, Robert Pledge, Michel Baverey, La Sirene (1995), *''Eleven: Witnessing the World Trade Center, 1974 - 2001,'' by Contact Press Images, Robert Pledge (editor), Universe (2002), *''Pope John Paul II: His Remarkable Journey,'' by Contact Press Images, Robert Pledge (editor), de.MO (2005), *''44 Days: Iran and the Remaking of the World,'' by Contact Press Images, David Burnett (photographer) and Robert Pledge (editor), National Geographic (2009), *''Bob Marley (One on One),'' by Contact Press Images, David Burnett, Insight (2012),

Selected monographs by Contact Press Images photographers

*''Too Much Time: Women in Prison,'' by

Jane Evelyn Atwood Jane Evelyn Atwood (born 1947) is an American photographer, who has been living in Paris since 1971. Working primarily with documentary photography, Atwood typically follows groups of people or individuals, focusing mostly on people who are on th ...

, Phaidon (2000), *''Do or Die,'' by Martine Barrat, Viking Adult (1993), *''The British,'' by

Nick Danziger Nick Danziger HonFRPS CF (born 22 April 1958) is a British photographer, film maker and travel writer. Early life Danziger was born in Marylebone, London but grew up in Monaco and Switzerland. Work In 1982 he received a Churchill Fellowship w ...

, Harper Collins UK (2002), *''Fight,'' by Stephen Dupont, Braus (2003), *''Des Hommes,'' by

Giorgia Fiorio Giorgia Fiorio (born 23 July 1967, in Turin) is a photographer, artist, and essayist from Turin, Italy. As a teenager, she was a pop singer, and performed at the San Remo Festival. At age twenty, she decided she wanted to be a photographer. She ...

, Marval (2003), *''Afterwar: Veterans from a World in Conflict,'' by Lori Grinker, de.MO (2005), *''Tango: Never Before Midnight,'' by Adriana Groisman, Lariviere (2004), *''Just Another War,'' by

Kenneth Jarecke Kenneth Jarecke (born 1963) is an American photojournalist, author, editor, and war correspondent. He has worked in more than 80 countries and has been featured in LIFE magazine, ''National Geographic'', ''Sports Illustrated'', and others. He is ...

, Exene Cervenka, Zezene Cervenka, Bedrock (1995), *''A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005,'' by

, Random House (2003), *''Red-Color News Soldier,'' by Li Zhensheng, Phaidon (2003), *''Don McCullin in Africa,'' by

Don McCullin Sir Donald McCullin (born 9 October 1935) is a British photojournalist, particularly recognised for his war photography and images of urban strife. His career, which began in 1959, has specialised in examining the underside of society, and hi ...

, Random House UK (2005), *''Sebastiao Salgado: Migrations,'' by Sebastiao Salgado, Aperture (2005), *''Elvis at 21: New York to Memphis,'' by Alfred Wertheimer, Insight (2006), *''Windows of the Soul: My Journeys in the Muslim World,'' text and photographs by Alexandra Avakian, National Geographic Books (2008) * Mike Tyson, photographs and essay by Lori Grinker,powerHouse Books, (2022),

References

Article on Contact Press Images from The Digital JournalistArticle on Robert Pledge, co-founder of Contact Press Images, from New Zealand GeographicArticle on David Burnett, co-founder of Contact, received the 1980 World Press Photo's Photo of the Year awardArticle on Frank Fournier, photographer represented by Contact, received the 1986 World Press Photo's Photo of the Year awardArticle on Alon Reininger, photographer represented by Contact, received the 1987 World Press Photo's Photo of the Year awardArticle on Contact's 30th Anniversary

External links

* Photo agencies Photojournalism organizations Photography companies of the United States Companies based in New York City {{US-media-company-stub