PHOTO Magazine No. 123 - Dec 1977

PHOTO Magazine No. 123 - Dec 1977 "The Amateur Contest" Issue.

Photo Magazine, first published in France in 1967, became one of the most influential international photography magazines of the late 20th century, blending fine art, fashion, reportage, and erotic photography into a glossy, visually driven format. Each monthly issue presented a mix of portfolios by established masters like Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin, and Sarah Moon alongside experimental work by emerging talents, often pushing boundaries of taste and censorship while celebrating photography as both an art form and a cultural document. The magazine was known for its striking covers, lavish reproductions, themed contests, and features on technical innovations, creating a publication that appealed simultaneously to professional photographers, collectors, and mainstream audiences. Balancing glamour with documentary grit, Photo became a cultural touchstone of the 1970s and 1980s, reflecting the era’s shifting attitudes toward sexuality, aesthetics, and visual media.