Magnum photographers spotlight dogs in photobook

Thomas Hoepker, born in 1936, became famous as a photojournalist for "Stern" magazine. For a time, he was the art director there. In 1989, Hoepker became the first German to become a full member of the renowned Magnum photo agency. While Hoepker's trademark was his subtle take on people and animals, he also created playful shots, such as this one taken in the streets of New York in 1983.

In Afghanistan, people rarely have pet dogs like in Europe. The four-legged friends live freely on the streets, often in close companionship with humans who feed them. This man, whom Steve McCurry photographed in Kabul in 2003, built a special means of transportation for his dog.

Dogs are quite popular in Hollywood, especially if they are small, cute and easy to care for. It's also helpful if they can fit into a handbag to travel along to a film set. For some stars, the cuddly animals have been a source of comfort in lonely and difficult times. Here, actress Jayne Mansfield was photographed by the German Magnum photographer Inge Morath in 1959.

Every country in the world has its unique relationship with dogs and other domestic animals. In Russia, there are many wild or feral dogs in the outskirts of big cities. But when they are humans' companions, discipline and obedience are required. This is evident in this photo by Magnum photographer Harry Gruyaert, which he brought back from Moscow in 1989.

When it comes to beauty, it can be a lot of hard work, even for dogs. And competition is fierce: Every hair must be in place, the dog's gaze directed in a friendly way to the jury. For the Windsor Championship Dog Show in Great Britain, which Martin Parr observed with his camera in 2007, dogs train for months for the big event.

Children and dogs are a welcome subject for professional photographers. Magnum photographer Jean Gaumy was in exactly the right place at just the right time in a small town near the Somme River in northern France in 1985 to be able to capture this image. You can feel the story behind the picture: And see the terror that ran through the little boy when he lost his dog's leash on the street.

Dogs have distinctive facial expressions and body language. This canine is clearly suspicious of a crocodile with big scary teeth in a zoo pool. Raised hackles are a clear sign of fear and anxiety. His owner just gives the sluggish crocodile a sideways glance. Magnum reporter Richard Kalvar shot this photo in 1989 in Nimes, France.

An everyday street scene in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia — a photo that tells a story of hardship and poverty, with cracked sidewalks and a little girl in the background. The viewer can't see his face, but it is clear the man is proud of the little pooch he presented to photographer Cristina Carcia Rodero in 1995.

The scene photographed by Magnum photographer Dennis Stock in one of the notorious back rooms in New York in 1959 could have been from a American gangster movie. "Important" men having "important" conversations: Deals are made, negotiations are tough, offers are made that cannot be refused. The classy dog smiling on the table probably belongs to the boss of the bosses.

Every pack, every dog-owner relationship has a social order — there is one leader of the pack. It is evident in this photograph by Magnum photographer David Hurn. In 2002, he was out on the beach in San Diego with his camera when he spotted this group of aged dogs, some of them a bit overweight. All have their place in the dog formation, including the woman taking them for a stroll.

A resemblance between owner and dog appeals to every photographer. In 1948, Wayne Miller could not resist this couple at the Westminster Kennel Club in New York, either. The facial expressions of the woman and her four-legged friend with the overbite shows they really are close buddies.

Eve Arnold became a member of Magnum in 1957. She likes to interact with the people or animals she photographs before she takes a picture, which wasn't too successful in the case of this mutt in New Jersey/USA. "It's the photographer who takes the photos, not the camera," was her philosophy. All of the above photos were taken from the Dumont publisher's 2021 photobook, "Hunde."