Jul 25 2010
Focus On Famous Photographers
One of our tasks, or should I say continuing mission at the Isle of Wight Digital Imaging Group, is to invite our members to choose a photographer (famous or not) for a show and tell presentation.
This task was quite an eye opener as rarely when we look at a photograph do we question who was on the other side of the lens. The emphasis on how these artists and their photography influenced our love of the art and brought photography into our lives can be quite an emotive quest.
I’m sure we can all name bits of famous photographs, but for the most part we don’t spend much time focusing on the history of the medium as an art form. Understanding influential artists can have a huge impact on the way we view photography and I expect has even inspired new ideas within the IWDIG.
Although this is not the subject of my show and tell, I felt it important to remember the people who came before us and the contributions they made. These three photographers have had an immeasurable impact on the importance and validity of photography and journalism worldwide:
If you’ve ever taken a photography class, the chances are good that you recognize this name Cartier-Bresson. He was a giant in the development of modern photography and considered to be one of the forefathers of photojournalism. Henri Cartier-Bresson spent most of his adult life on assignment magazines like Life. Fearless and Daring. He captured images from some of the most volatile environments in history, including the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the liberation of Paris during WWII, and the Spanish Civil War. Famous Photography by Henri Cartier Bresson: The Decisive Moment
Stieglitz was married to Georgia O’Keeffe, a legend in her own right, and many of his most iconic images center around her. He was responsible for forcing photography into the public view as a valid art form, which he accomplished through innovative exhibits organized around the country. Stieglitz was the father of pictorialism, in which the significance of a photograph is less about the subject and more about the way in which the photographer manipulated the image. Famous Photography by Alfred Stieglitz: The Terminal
Larry Burrows is a legend among photojournalists. Often referred to as the man who went off to war “with film in his socks,” Burrows is most widely known for his work covering the Vietnam war for Life magazine. His images marked some of the most iconic and heart-wrenching reporting to come out of the region and also provided the public with a window into the conflict. Unfortunately, Burrows was killed in the conflict when the helicopter he was traveling in was shot down, but his images live on, as do tales of his heroic actions – Burrows has been credited with carrying soldiers off the battle field and rescuing civilians in addition to his photography duties. Famous Photography by Larry Burrows: One Ride with Yankee Papa 13
You should check out biographies or photo collections by each of these photographers as viewing amazing and famous photography can often lead to great new paths.
