By Terry Orr
Famous Photographers
Morris Pawtucket wrote an article selecting the Top 10 Most Famous
Photographer of All Time – I agree with his assessment.
1. Ansel Adams is probably the
most easily recognized name of any photographer. His landscapes are stunning,
and he achieves an unparalleled level of contrast using creative darkroom work.
You can improve your own photos by reading Adams’ own thoughts as he grew
older, when he wished that he had kept himself strong enough physically to
continue his work.
2. Yousuf Karsh has taken
photographs that tell a story, and that are more easily understood than many
others. Each of his portraits tells you all about the subject. He felt as
though there was a secret hidden behind each woman and man. Whether he captures
a gleaming eye or a gesture done totally unconsciously, these are times when
humans temporarily lose their masks. Karsh’s portraits communicate with people.
3. Robert Capa has taken many
famous war-time photographs. He has covered five wars, even though the name
“Robert Capa” was only the name placed to the photos that Endre Friedman took
and that were marketed under the “Robert Capa” name. Friedman felt that if you
were not close enough to the subject, then you wouldn’t get a good photograph.
He was often in the trenches with soldiers when he took photographs, while most
other war photographers took photographs from a safe distance.
4. Henri
Cartier-Bresson has a style that makes him a natural on any top
ten-photographer list. His style has undoubtedly influenced photography as much
as anyone else’s. He was among the first to use 35mm film, and he usually shot
in black and white. We are not graced by more of his work since he gave up the
craft about 30 years before he passed away. It’s sad that there are fewer
photographs by Cartier-Bresson to enjoy.
5. Dorothea Lange
took photographs
during the Great Depression. She took one photo of a migrant mother that is
also titled by that name, and is said to be one of the best-known photographs
in history. In the 1940s, she also photographed the Japanese internment camps,
and these photographs show sad moments in American history.
6. Jerry Uelsman created unique
images with composite photographs. Being very talented in the darkroom, he used
this skill in his composites. He never used digital cameras, since he felt that
his creative process was more suited to the darkroom.
7. Annie Liebovitz
does fine
photographic portraits and is most well known for her work with Vanity Fair and
Rolling Stone magazine. Her photographs are intimate, and describe the subject.
She was unafraid of falling in love with the people she photographed.
8. Brassai is the pseudonym
for Gyula Halasz, and he was well known for his photographs of ordinary people.
He was proof that you don’t have to travel far to find interesting subjects. He
used ordinary people for his subjects, and his photos are still captivating.
9. Brian Duffy was a British
photographer who shot fashion in the 60′s and 70′s. He lost his photographic interest at one time, and burned
many negatives, but then began taking photos again a year before he died.
10. Jay Maisel is a famous modern
photographer. His photos are simple, and he doesn’t use complex lighting or
fancy cameras. He often only takes one lens on photo outings, and he enjoys
taking photos of shapes and lights that he finds interesting.
National Geographic has a very long history of providing
readers some of the best photographs ever taken.
Over the past couple of years, I have mention The
Pioneer Woman Rae Drummond who continues to amaze in her own
photography work and providing an outlet for other inspiring photographers with
her frequent photo contests.
Two friends of mine have opened their own photography
business in the greater Washington, DC metro area – Elena Nguyen and April
Rose. Links to their sites are provided
below. Please take a moment to check them out – thanks. And go take some photographs - have fun - and share them with us and others.
References and Links:
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