Photographers work to capture the beauty within a moment. If you are interested in photography or are interested in purchasing art, learning more about the greatest photographers of all time can help. 

Keep reading for our guide on the photographers that changed the art world and why we love them. 

1. Robert Mapplethorpe

Mapplethorpe challenged the photography scene by shocking his audiences. For lovers of black and white photography, this is the guy for you. Known for his controversial subject matter, Mapplethorpe typically shot nudes and BDSM scenes. Mapplethorpe also produced self-portraits, portraits of celebrities, and still lifes of flowers.

For an interesting story on the life of Mapplethorpe, and how he became such a celebrated photographer, read Patti Smith’s memoir “Just Kids”. Smith’s book is a beautiful portrayal of the two artists’ friendship and how they came to own their artistry. 

2. Ansel Adams

Adams used black and white photography to capture landscapes of the American West. As an environmentalist, Adam’s felt it was important to capture natural landscapes in all their glory. He was well known for his sharp focus, and the clarity of his images, as well as his development of the Zone System, a method still used in photography today. 

Prints of his work make for a great gift for photographers or nature lovers, as they are extremely serene and calming pieces perfect for every home. 

3. Dorothea Lange

Lange worked in photojournalism, capturing moments that revealed the political or cultural environments in which she visited. Her most famous work, “Migrant Mother” became an image of suffering during the Great Depression. The image reflects a mother nursing her child in a camp, and reflects the dark time of a nation.

Lange stands as a huge influence on photojournalists today, with her ability to capture powerful and provocative imagery. 

4. Annie Leibovitz

This modern photographer is known for her captivating images of celebrities. She has captured artists from John Lennon and Yoko Ono to Angelena Jolie with unique precision. She got her start as the band photographer for The Rolling Stones in the 70s. 

She is known for photographing John Lennon on the day of his murder, and her work has been featured in advertisements and magazine covers for years. 

5. Cindy Sherman 

Cindy Sherman experimented heavily with her photography and is often considered a conceptual artist as well. She is known for using herself as the subject in her images, staging a setting and manipulating her own image to fit the scene. Using different disguises and personas, she explores identity in her pieces. 

Sometimes Sherman would create imagined characters that mimicked popular culture depicted in television and magazines, and other times she referenced specific individuals, such as celebrities or portraits from art history. 

6. Richard Avedon

Avedon is known for his captivating black and white portraits. Starting by working in fashion, he worked for Vogue for some time, capturing women’s wear with unique movement and perspective.

Avedon produced images of some of the most iconic individuals in history, from Marilyn Monroe to J.F.K. and Aubrey Hepburn. With simple backgrounds, little details, and close up frames, Avedon was able to make his sitter the focus, and represent them in an earnest fashion. 

7. David LaChapelle 

Best known for his commercial and fashion work, David LaChapelle’s work is full of color and is reminiscent of pop-art style. LaChapelle often references art history, placing contemporary artists in art historical landscapes. 

An interesting example of this, is his photograph, Archangel Michael: And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer, (2009). Here, the artist places singer Micheal Jackson in place of a religious figure, referencing a classical art piece.  

By using these references, the photographer comments on cultural issues. The ultra-realistic and eye-catching images he produces create glossy photos that make it hard to look away. 

8. Martin Parr

Parr works to capture images that highlight issues of our modern culture, exposing the ugly truths of society. He often uses humor to depict critiques on our mass-media culture and consumerism. 

Some of his recognizable works are in his series Lifes a Beach, in which he captures individuals lounging on the beach. These pieces are not meant to be pretty, and rather show crowded beaches, reflecting overpopulation. Yet, the vibrant use of color in these photos is impressive and complimentary. 

9. Sally Mann

Mann portrays images of children, usually highlighting the fragility of innocence, sometimes to a controversial extent. Mann uses black and white as her medium, often using her own children as models. 

Her images typically show children in a seemingly normal environment, but with closer inspection, there are details that reflect the thin line between childhood and adulthood. Reference to drugs and mortality shock and intrigue her viewers. 

10. Gregory Crewdson

This contemporary photographer stages scenes that are bleak and desolate for his haunting images. Crewdson works to invoke feelings of loneliness and mysteriousness in his photos that leave the viewer to draw their own conclusions.

Crewdson uses light and a distant perspective to highlight the focus of the photo, and assist the eye in moving about the scene he provides. 

Some of the Greatest Photographers of All Time

There is something to learn from all of the greatest photographers of all time no matter what your medium or subject is. Consider purchasing photography books or biographies on these amazing artists today so that you can learn from the greatest! 

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