Magnum's Peter van Agtmael on being a self-taught photographer: Peter van Agtmael has covered wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and their impact in the USA. After being voted in as a full member at last year’s Magnum AGM, Peter talks to ClĂ©mentine Schneidermann about photography schools, small cameras and conceptual documentary...
You didn’t study photography. What’s your position on photo schools?
There are some good schools but I’m a bit suspicious because it seems that the personality of the professors can be too influential. I haven’t studied photography, but I thought about it. In America it requires a lot of money and the money I would have spent on studies, I was able to spend on taking pictures. That was helpful in some ways, less helpful in others. My photo school was being at Magnum around all these guys. Even if they judge you harshly, it’s in a useful way. They force you to justify your decisions.