Influential Photographers- (Entry 2)

This week I have decided to write about photographers that I believe have made a difference in the history of photography. Even if there are plenty of admirable contemporary artists to look at , I think it is important to recognize the work of the masters and to learn from these classic figures.

1957

I am starting this list with a personal favorite, from the united states, Richard Avedon. (1923-2004)
Avedon is internationally known for his portraits

1967

in studio. He worked with well known celebrities and artists such as Marylin Monroe,Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Bjork, The Beatles and much more. Avedon described himself as a portrait photographer that was not interested that much in the youth. He preferred characters with stories to tell in the studio, with physical marks left by time.

Interesting enough, he gained his initial fame as a fashion photographer for the popular Harper's Bazaar in the 1940's. He worked with fashion models and experimented with movement in the studio. He is known for using animals such as elephants and snakes as fashionable props. He was using a large-format 8x10 view camera.

http://www.richardavedon.com/

The Tetons and the Snake River(1942)

Ansel Adams (1902-1984) , an American photographer and environmentalist did beautiful black and white landscape photography that have been widely reproduced on calendars, posters, and in books such as National Geographic. 

During the early 1940`s , Adams joined photographers Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans in their commitment to affecting social and political change through art. Adams’ first cause was the protection of wilderness areas, particularly Yosemite.

His photos of landscapes are truly stunning. He achieved an unparalleled level of contrasts using the creative techniques in the darkroom.

http://www.biography.com/people/ansel-adams-9175697

My favorite internationally known female photographer must be Annie Liebovitz. (1949-  )
Annie is an american photographer renowned for her dramatic, quirky, and iconic portraits of a great variety of celebrities. Her signature style is crisp and well lighted. She mostly does portraits and documentary photos. She also does fashion and conceptual photography.She mentioned in interviews that her ultimate goal is to capture the moments others have missed. 
While she was still a student, she was given as a 1st commercial assignment to photograph John Lennon for Rolling Stone Magazine. Much later, she took the famous shot of Lennon and Yoko Ono , again for the magazine . It is probably one of her most famous work. This picture has been taken mere hours before Lennon's assassination.

On tour with The Rolling Stones, 1975

One of the biggest events in her career came when she was invited to photograph the Rolling Stones on tour. She took leave from her gig at Rolling Stone magazine (with no promise of a job on her return) to travel with the band in 1975. She was allowed carte blanche and she has permission to shoot wherever she wanted and whatever she wanted. The images from that tour are almost timeless. She came back from that tour with an addiction to cocaine but she managed to get sober after a while.

http://www.biography.com/people/annie-leibovitz-9542372

Death by Hamburger, 2010

The next photographer I am throwing in this list is commercial photographer David LaChapelle.           (1963- ) 

Lachapelle is to me the Salvador Dali of photography with a hint of Andy Warhol plus a particular twist. There are more than plenty of sexual connotations in his unrealistic colorful images. He usually references art history and sometimes conveys social messages through his photos.

When LaChapelle was 17 years old, he met Andy Warhol,who offered him his first job as a photographer at Interview Magazine.

LaChapelle worked with famous artist such as Elton John, Micheal Jackson, Madonna, Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj.

Fidel Castro 1971

http://www.davidlachapelle.com/

This list would not be satisfying without mentioning the talented Yousuf Karsh. (1908-2002)

His body of work includes portraits of statesmen, artists, musicians, authors, scientists, and men and women of accomplishment. 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.

During his career he held 15,312 sittings, produced over 150,000 negatives.

Karsh worked with incredible people such as Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, Carl Jung, Pablo Picasso, Grace Kelly and Georgia O keeffe. 

http://www.karsh.org/