Thomas Dworzak: “After all those quirky Britts posting ‘Romaine’ all day yesterday.”
Day after the Brexit referendum, London, UK, June 24, 2016.Thomas Dworzak—Magnum Photos
The stunning decision by the British people to leave the European Union has rocked the world, sending financial markets tumbling and causing a new and unprecedented political crisis – it’s the first time that a country will invoke Article 50 of the European Treaty, which establishes the withdrawal procedures.
The decision came as the prestigious Magnum Photos agency held its annual general meeting in London. For TIME LightBox, 12 of the agency’s photographers selected one photo of Great Britain to express their sentiments on the controversial referendum results.
Michelle Molloy, who edited this photo essay, is a senior international photo editor at TIME.
Paolo Pellegrin: "Taken from the headlines of The New Yorker: 'British lose right to claim that Americans are Dumber'."
Brexit referendum. London, UK, June 24th, 2016.
Paolo Pellegrin—Magnum PhotosPatrick Zachmann: “It is depressing. Great Britain is an island, but until today it was part of Europe. Meant to be tight. To be bonded to those countries. I need it to be reversed.”
St. Pancras Station, London, UK, June 22, 2016.Patrick Zachmann—Magnum PhotosMikhael Subotzky: “F*ck this.”
Polling station on the day of the Brexit vote, London, UK, June 23, 2016.Mikhael Subotzky—Magnum PhotosJonas Bendiksen: “The British have always been the best and sharpest contrarians…the irony, the satire, the against-the-grain nature. But this might not have been the time for that…well, I guess as a Norwegian I now should welcome them into the outside-club!”
Lips on Old Street, London, UK, June 23, 2016.Jonas Bendiksen—Magnum PhotosChristopher Anderson: “GB for me? No idea how to answer that this morning.”
Post Brexit referendum, London, UK, 2016.Christopher Anderson—Magnum PhotosChris Steele-Perkins: “I have spent half my working life photographing Britain and the British and I have no illusions about the dark side of the nation but I believed the good in the nation outweighed the bad and that gave me pride and respect for my country, but I do feel that the rejection of tolerance, and respect for our fellows that was enshrined in the referendum vote rejecting the EU is a stain on the nation. It is an acceptance of xenophobia and small mindedness. It is the cry of a diminished nation howling NO!!!”
Broken eggs on Old Street, London, UK, 2016.Chris Steele-Perkins—Magnum PhotosMoises Saman: “Great Britain for me was all about inclusion, a place where immigrants from less fortunate parts of the world are welcome, like the America of Europe. Sadly, today marks the beginning of a different kind of nation, one filled with uncertainty and fear about the future.”
Cale Salih, my wife, a British citizen, waking up to the news of the Brexit vote. London, UK, June 24, 2016.Moises Saman—Magnum PhotosStuart Franklin: “Very sad day from my side.”
Parliament to Downing Street a few minutes after the Prime Minister resigned. London, UK, June 24, 2016.Stuart Franklin—Magnum PhotosThomas Dworzak: “After all those quirky Britts posting ‘Romaine’ all day yesterday.”
Day after the Brexit referendum, London, UK, June 24, 2016.Thomas Dworzak—Magnum PhotosChien-Chi Chang: “I am speechless, is Austria next?”
The day after the Brexit vote, London, UK, June 24, 2016. Chien-Chi Chang—Magnum PhotosSohrab Hura: “Hope it’s not as bad as it seems.”
A day after Brexit vote. Borough Market, London, UK, June 24, 2016. Dave Santos, 31 from Canary Islands, works for a Spanish food company. He has been studying here for many years and doesn’t know what he is going to do post October.
Sohrab Hura—Magnum PhotosOlivia Arthur: “There was nobody in the polling station when I went to vote, probably (hopefully I thought) because of the torrential rain coming down outside. ‘Are you documenting the determination to vote?!’ shouted a passer-by. The moment seemed friendly, light and very British. I went off feeling ultimately positive and so I was devastated this morning to wake up to the news that we had collectively made this huge, stupid, irreversible decision.”
London, UK, June 23, 2016.
Olivia Arthur—Magnum Photos
