Learn the history of some of the greatest works of journalistic and documentary photography over the last seventy years through two of the most eminent photo collectives, Magnum and VII. Photographers at these leading collectives have created iconic documentary images and helped define the field of photojournalism as we know it today. In examining Magnum and VII, students learn how these collectives function as a business model, in opposition to wire services and other photo agencies, and how these distinctions have informed the style and content produced by photojournalists over the past few decades. We thus use these collectives as a lens (pun intended!) through which to address a recent history of photography, the trajectory of visual journalism, and ultimately, the place of advocacy in documentary photography, as these collectives often turn an eye toward momentous histories and social justice. In focusing on the work of specific photographers from each collective, students learn about historic events, from coverage of Latin American guerrilla wars to the break up of Yugoslavia, in addition to current humanitarian issues, like the mining of “conflict minerals” in the Congo. These case studies allow us to examine when and how photos have affected the course of history. At times in conversation with photographers from these collectives, we also consider present-day concerns: does the still image have the same power today—an era saturated by images—as it did just a few decades ago? As a photographer, what are the ethical ramifications of acting as the public’s eyes? Readings include theory, journalistic accounts, history, and other critical literature, while authors include Ritchin, Cartier-Bresson, Sontag, and Sliwinski. We examine photographers, such as Robert Capa, Susan Meiselas, Ron Haviv, and Marcus Bleasdale, and naturally, we spend a lot of time looking at photos. We also meet a number of these award-winning photographers. Students visit NYC galleries, write academic papers, and produce a photo project.