American photographers. Photographers and their works

12-03-2018, 22:59

We present to your attention a selection of amazing works, after viewing which you will definitely think about the shooting process and realism. A photographer named Mikhail Zagornatsky first picked up his own camera in 2011. I studied the process of learning photography on my own. The main directions are conceptual and fine art photography. The latest projects have absolutely no Photoshop elements.
The master loves to create his creations in real time, without piecemeal additives. Before a new project, it takes a lot of time to prepare the necessary props and draw up a creative plan. The camera lens only shows true beauty.

7-03-2018, 20:14

If you are ever in Gloucestershire, be sure to visit the picturesque village called Bybury. The famous artist and singer named William Morris called this place the most amazing English village. Many tourists agree with this opinion to this day. Landscapes of the village can be seen on the inside cover of the British passport.
The total population of the village is about six hundred people. For many centuries, an authentic atmosphere has been maintained, even despite the frequent visits of tourists. Bibury is a typical English village. Now the population is about 600 people. The Koln River flows through the territory of the village.

5-01-2018, 18:25

Today we want to present the work of a talented female photographer named Anne Guyer. Recently, she presented her original series of photographs. The main source of inspiration was pets and charming autumn leaves.
Anne began to be interested in the art of photography as a child. The girl watched her father, a photographer, who created interesting works. But the final passion began about seven years ago. The primary source of inspiration was Cindy's first dog. You can see more amazing photos thanks to our article today.

15-12-2017, 22:16

Today we will introduce you to the works of a young but very talented photographer named Craig Burrows. He photographs various flowers and plants using modern UVIVF technology. All the subtleties of the process of creating new works are not known for sure. The artist creates a fluorescent glow in his works using UV light. During shooting, ultraviolet radiation is blocked in the lens.
At the moment, Barrows has in his arsenal only individual flowers and plants, but in the near future he plans to work with entire gardens. For large projects, 100-watt floodlights will be used. Look for detailed photos in today's materials!

15-12-2017, 22:16

Today's selection of photographs will tell you all the secrets of Patty Waymire's journey to the island called Barter. This area is located off the coast of distant Alaska. The main goal was to photograph wonderful polar bears in a snowy area. But after arriving at the site, Patty did not find the expected snow, and sea ice had not even begun to form. The conceived ideas for photographs had to be put aside, and the local owners of the sea ice floes lay serenely on the sandy shore. Such a sad picture should serve for each of us as a clear example of the impact of humanity on the surrounding atmosphere. Find more photos in our article today.

23-06-2017, 12:45

Our material today will tell you about the work of a self-taught photographer named Daniel Rzezhikha. In his works he uses the techniques of minimalism and classic black and white photography. It is in these shades that all the subtleties of photography are conveyed. Daniel comes from the small town of Krupke, which is located near Teplice. Throughout his childhood, he was very fond of travel and the surrounding nature. His first passion for photography began precisely during various travels, in which the boy took pictures with a point-and-shoot camera.
The first thought about taking up photography professionally came in 2006, after which I bought a Pentax camera. Since then, Zhezhikha has been completely immersed in the world of filming!

22-06-2017, 12:18

A professional photographer named Elena Chernyshova works in the documentary genre. Originally from Moscow, but currently lives and works in France. Initially, Elena graduated from the Faculty of Architecture, but after working in her specialty for a couple of years, she decided to do something else. The idea of ​​becoming a photographer appeared after traveling on a bicycle from Tula to Vladivostok; she covered such a huge distance in 1004 days.
Many of Cheshnyshova’s works can be seen in famous world publishing houses. She dedicated her new series called “Winter” to the chic beauty of the Russian winter. Each of the works very subtly conveys the entire atmosphere of this wonderful time of year.

21-06-2017, 10:14

A clear starry sky is becoming a rare phenomenon for residents of modern megapoles, and the night starry sky has always been a great mystery for man, and man has always wanted to find out what is above the sky, in the universe strewn with myriads of stars. Finnish photographer Oskar Keserci is interested in photographing the starry sky. Most of the year it is cold in Finland. At night the temperature drops to 30 degrees below zero.
The blue shades of the photographs successfully convey the feeling of frosty Finnish nights, Oscar believes. It is on a starry night that you can experience special sensations that will immerse you in a world of fantasy. A series of photographs of the master is presented in our review!

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Today we will analyze photographs that were taken by recognized masters of photography. 10 great photographers. 10 famous photographs.

Philippe Halsman and his "Dali Atomicus", 1948

A brilliant artist must have a brilliant portrait. Perhaps Halsman was motivated by this. Perhaps he was inspired by that time by Dali’s unfinished work Leda Atomica, which can be seen in the photo, perhaps he wanted to transfer surrealism into photography... In any case, he needed a studio, additional sources of artificial light, several assistants who splashed water from buckets, calmed down cats between takes and held chairs in the air, 6 hours of work, 28 takes and, of course, Salvador Dali himself.

"Dali Atomicus", Philippe Halsman, 1948

Advice: Don't be afraid to do a large number of takes - one of them will definitely turn out to be successful.

Irving Penn and his "Girl in Bed", 1949

Despite the apparent simplicity of this photograph at first glance, it is mesmerizing. Is not it? Yes, perhaps, the entire work of this brilliant photographer can be described in his own words: “If I look at any object for some time, the spectacle fascinates me. This is the photographer’s curse.” And he knew how to convey this fascination with the subject of photography like no one else. Natural light from the window, a model, the contemplative position of the author - and, in this case, the masterpiece is ready.

"Girl in Bed", Irving Penn, 1949

Advice:: To photograph someone or something beautifully, you need to fall in love with the subject.

Richard Avedon and his "Judy", 1948

Almost all of Richard Avedon's photographs show bright but fleeting moments that we usually don't pay much attention to. But sometimes it’s moments like these that can open a person’s soul.

"Judy", Richard Avedon, 1963

Advice: If you want to become a good photographer, try yourself in different genres - this will help you find your niche in photography.

Ansel Adams and his Tetons and Snake River, 1942

When talking about great photographers and their works, we cannot ignore the creator of the zone exposure system and the famous author of books on photography, Ansel Adams. Let's take a look at one of his works: The Tetons and the Snake River.

In addition to the interesting composition, you can see how skillfully Adams uses his system for choosing the ideal exposure for a photo. If you look closely, you can see each of the 10 zones ranging from pitch black to white.

The Tetons and the Snake River, Ansel Easton Adams, 1942

Advice: Even when working with a digital camera, do not ignore traditional recommendations. You can't always rely on automatic exposure.

Henry Cartier-Bresson

Naturally, this post simply could not be complete without Henry Cartier-Bresson. The legendary photo reporter, creator of the Magnum Photos agency, said: “I don’t like organizing and managing events. It's horrible. We can't imitate real life. I adore the truth and shoot only the truth.” We can think about Bresson's photography endlessly, but it is even more useful to read his books "The Decisive moment" and "Imaginary reality" in English edition.

Advice: If you wait for the right moment, don’t miss it!

Alfred Eisenstadt and his "Victory Day in Times Square"

Alfred Eisenstadt became famous thanks to the photo of a sailor kissing his girlfriend. One photo taken at a turning point made him a real star. And it doesn’t matter that the photo is blurry. The photographer did a wonderful job of capturing the atmosphere.

"V-J Day in Times Square", Alfred Eisenstaedt, 1945

Advice: Always carry your camera with you.

Ernst Haas

Ernst Haas is a pioneer of digital photography. His famous quotes:

• Photography is an expression of your ideas and feelings. If the high has no place in your soul, you will never notice them in the outside world.
• Beauty speaks for itself. When the process reaches its peak, I take a photo.
• I don't take pictures of new interesting objects. I try to find something new in familiar things.
• When photography appeared, a new language was born. Now we can talk about reality in the language of reality.
• The type of camera you have doesn't matter. Any camera can capture what you see. But you must see.
• It's just you and your camera. All rules and restrictions are in your head.
• Tell me what you see and I will tell you who you are.

Ernst Haas. Kyushu Island, Japan, 1981

Advice: beauty is everywhere. Find and feel it.

Yusuf Karsh and his portrait of Winston Churchill

Yusuf Karsh is a renowned Canadian photographer known for his portraits of prominent political figures. The story behind this photo is unusual. After a speech in the lower house of parliament, the British prime minister entered the meeting room and saw the photo equipment. He allowed just one photo to be taken and lit a cigar. It is not known exactly why the photographer approached Churchill and took the cigar out of his mouth, but that is exactly what Karsh did. He returned to his camera and took a photo.

The photo shows all the skills of Yusuf Karsh. He was able to create the impression of depth and space with the help of light, perfect pose and gesture. The result is a dramatic, captivating portrait that vividly reveals the inner strength of the British prime minister.

Portrait of Winston Churchill, Yusuf Karsh, 1941

Advice: don't be afraid to provoke your models to show themselves. You can see what is hidden from everyone.

Guyon Mili

Guyon became a popular photographer thanks to his unique mixture of “algebra and harmony” in his photographs and the effect of a frozen moment. Perhaps light paintings gained popularity precisely because of Mili. Guyon practiced in different areas, constantly experimenting. However, one thing remained the same. His ability to capture the grace and drama of the moment.

"Pablo Picasso masters light painting." Guyon Mili, 1949

Advice: Don't forget that photography is more than just an attractive drawing. Experiment with focus, exposure and shutter speed.

William Smith

We decided to mention this press photographer at the end of the article for a reason. His words should become the slogan of anyone who wants to become a good photographer: “Photography has no end. Just as I reach the highest point of mastery, an even higher peak appears in the distance. And I'm on the road again."

William Smith "Doctor Ceriani with a wounded child", 1948

Advice: never stop achieving your goals. Shoot not with your camera, but with your soul.

Always analyze the works of famous world photographers in as much detail as possible. Absorb their experiences and notice what expressions they use. One day you will notice how this knowledge is absorbed into your own photographs and becomes the quality of your work.

A collection of iconic photographs from the last 100 years that demonstrate
the grief of loss and the triumph of the human spirit...

An Australian man kisses his Canadian girlfriend. Canadians rioted after the Vancouver Canucks lost the Stanley Cup.

Three sisters, three “segments” of time, three photos.

Two legendary captains Pele and Bobby Moore exchange jerseys as a sign of mutual respect. FIFA World Cup, 1970.

1945: Petty Officer Graham Jackson plays "Goin' Home" at President Roosevelt's funeral on April 12, 1945.

1952. 63-year-old Charlie Chaplin.

Eight-year-old Christian accepts the flag during a memorial service for his father. Who was killed in Iraq just weeks before he was due to return home.

A veteran near the T34-85 tank, in which he fought during the Great Patriotic War.

A Romanian child hands a balloon to a police officer during protests in Bucharest.

Police Captain Ray Lewis was arrested for his involvement in the 2011 Wall Street protests.

A monk stands next to an elderly man who died suddenly while waiting for a train in Shanxi Taiyuan, China.

A dog named "Leao" sits for two days at the grave of his owner, who died in terrible landslides.
Rio de Janeiro, January 15, 2011.

African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raise their black-gloved fists in a gesture of solidarity. Olympic Games, 1968.

Jewish prisoners at the moment of their release from the camp. 1945

The funeral of President John F. Kennedy took place on November 25, 1963, John F. Kennedy Jr.'s birthday.
Footage of John Kennedy Jr. saluting his father's coffin was broadcast around the world.

Christians protect Muslims during prayer. Egypt, 2011.

A North Korean man, right, waves from a bus to a tearful South Korean after a family reunion near Mount Kumgang, October 31, 2010. They were separated by the 1950-53 war.

A dog met its owner after the tsunami in Japan. 2011.

"Wait for Me, Dad" is a photograph of the British Columbia Regiment marching. Five-year-old Warren "Whitey" Bernard ran from his mother to his father, Private Jack Bernard, shouting "Wait for me, Daddy." The photograph became widely known, was published in Life, hung in every school in British Columbia during the war, and was used in war bond issues.

Priest Luis Padillo and a soldier wounded by a sniper during the uprising in Venezuela.

A mother and son in Concord, Alabama, near their home, which was completely destroyed by a tornado. April, 2011.

A guy looks at a family album he found in the rubble of his old house after the Sichuan earthquake.

4-month-old girl after the Japanese tsunami.

French citizens as the Nazis enter Paris during World War II.

Soldier Horace Greasley confronts Heinrich Himmler while inspecting the camp in which he was imprisoned. Surprisingly, Greasley left the camp many times to meet a German girl with whom he was in love.

A fireman gives water to a koala during forest fires. Australia 2009.

Father of his dead son, at the 9/11 memorial. During the tenth annual ceremonies, on the site of the World Trade Center.

Jacqueline Kennedy taking the oath of Lyndon Johnson as President of the United States. Immediately after the death of her husband.

Tanisha Blevin, 5, holds the hand of Hurricane Katrina survivor Nita Lagarde, 105.

A girl, in temporary isolation to detect and clean up radiation, looks at her dog through the glass. Japan, 2011.

Journalists Yuna Lee and Laura Ling, who were arrested in North Korea and sentenced to 12 years of hard labor, have been reunited with their families in California. After successful diplomatic intervention by the US.

A mother meeting with her daughter after serving in Iraq.

Young pacifist Jane Rose Kasmir, with a flower on the bayonets of guards at the Pentagon.
During a protest against the Vietnam War. 1967

"The Man Who Stopped the Tanks"...
An iconic photograph of an unknown rebel who stood in front of a column of Chinese tanks. Tiananmen 1989

Harold Vittles hears for the first time in his life - the doctor has just installed a hearing aid for him.

Helen Fisher kisses the hearse carrying the body of her 20-year-old cousin, Private Douglas Halliday.

US Army troops land ashore during D-Day. Normandy, June 6, 1944.

A World War II prisoner freed by the Soviet Union met his daughter.
The girl sees her father for the first time.

A Sudan People's Liberation Army soldier at a rehearsal for the Independence Day parade.

Greg Cook hugs his lost dog after he was found. Alabama, after the March 2012 tornado.

Photo taken by astronaut William Anders during the Apollo 8 mission. 1968

Take a closer look at this photo. This is one of the most remarkable photographs ever taken. The baby's tiny hand reached out from the mother's womb to squeeze the surgeon's finger. By the way, the child is 21 weeks from conception, the age when he can still be legally aborted. The tiny hand in the photo belongs to a baby who was due on December 28 last year. The photo was taken during an operation in America.

The first reaction is to recoil in horror. It looks like a close-up of some terrible incident. And then you notice, in the very center of the photo, a tiny hand grasping the surgeon's finger.
The child is literally grasping for life. It is therefore one of the most remarkable photographs in medicine and a record of one of the most extraordinary operations in the world. It shows a 21-week-old fetus in the womb, just before the spinal surgery required to save the baby from severe brain damage. The operation was performed through a tiny incision in the mother's wall and this is the youngest patient. At this stage the mother may choose to have an abortion.

The most famous photograph that no one has seen is what Associated Press photographer Richard Drew calls his photograph of one of the World Trade Center victims who jumped from a window to his death on September 11
“On that day, which, more than any other day in history, was captured on camera and film,” Tom Junod later wrote in Esquire, “the only taboo, by common consent, was the pictures of people jumping from windows.” Five years later, Richard Drew's Falling Man remains a terrible artifact of the day that should have changed everything, but didn't.

Photographer Nick Yut took a photo of a Vietnamese girl running away from a napalm explosion. It was this photo that made the whole world think about the Vietnam War.
The photo of 9-year-old girl Kim Phuc on June 8, 1972 has gone down in history forever. Kim first saw this photo 14 months later in a hospital in Saigon, where she was being treated for terrible burns. Kim still remembers running from her siblings on the day of the bombing and cannot forget the sound of the bombs falling. A soldier tried to help and poured water on her, not realizing that this would make the burns even worse. Photographer Nick Ut helped the girl and took her to the hospital. At first, the photographer doubted whether to publish a photo of a naked girl, but then decided that the world should see this photo.

Later the photo was called the best photo of the 20th century. Nick Yut tried to protect Kim from becoming too popular, but in 1982, when the girl was studying at medical university, the Vietnamese government found her, and since then Kim’s image has been used for propaganda purposes. “I was under constant control. I wanted to die, this photo haunted me,” says Kim. She later managed to escape to Cuba to continue her education. There she met her future husband. Together they moved to Canada. Many years later, she finally realized that she could not escape from this photograph, and decided to use it and her fame to fight for peace.

Malcolm Brown, a 30-year-old Associated Press photographer from New York, received a telephone call asking him to be at a certain intersection in Saigon the next morning because... something very important is about to happen. He came there with a reporter from the New York Times. Soon a car pulled up and several Buddhist monks got out. Among them is Thich Quang Duc, who sat in the lotus position with a box of matches in his hands, while others began to pour gasoline on him. Thich Quang Duc struck a match and turned into a living torch. Unlike the crying crowd that saw him burn, he did not make a sound or move. Thich Quang Duc wrote a letter to the then head of the Vietnamese government asking him to stop the repression of Buddhists, stop the detention of monks and give them the right to practice and spread their religion, but received no response

On December 3, 1984, the Indian city of Bhopal suffered from the largest man-made disaster in human history. A giant toxic cloud released into the atmosphere by an American pesticide plant covered the city, killing three thousand people that same night, and another 15 thousand in the next month. In total, more than 150,000 people were affected by the release of toxic waste, and this does not include children born after 1984

Surgeon Jay Vacanti of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston is working with microengineer Jeffrey Borenstein to develop a technique for growing an artificial liver. In 1997, he managed to grow a human ear on the back of a mouse using cartilage cells.

The development of technology that allows culturing the liver is extremely important. In the UK alone, there are 100 people on the transplant waiting list, and according to the British Liver Trust, the majority of patients die before receiving a transplant.

A photo taken by reporter Alberto Korda at a rally in 1960, in which Che Guevara is also visible between a palm tree and someone's nose, claims to be the most circulated photo in the history of photography.

The most famous photograph of Stephen McCurry, taken by him in a refugee camp on the Afghan-Pakistan border. Soviet helicopters destroyed the village of a young refugee, her entire family was killed, and the girl traveled for two weeks in the mountains before getting to the camp. After its publication in June 1985, this photograph became a National Geographic icon. Since then, this image has been used everywhere - from tattoos to rugs, which turned the photograph into one of the most replicated photos in the world

At the end of April 2004, the CBS program 60 Minutes II aired a story about the torture and abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison by a group of American soldiers. The story featured photographs that were published in The New Yorker magazine a few days later. This became the biggest scandal surrounding the American presence in Iraq.
In early May 2004, the leadership of the US Armed Forces admitted that some of its torture methods did not comply with the Geneva Convention and announced its readiness to publicly apologize.

According to the testimony of a number of prisoners, American soldiers raped them, rode them on horseback, and forced them to fish food out of prison toilets. In particular, the prisoners said: “They forced us to walk on all fours, like dogs, and yelp. We had to bark like dogs, and if you didn’t bark, you were hit in the face without any mercy. After that, they threw us in cells, took away our mattresses, spilled water on the floor and forced us to sleep in this slurry without removing the hoods from our heads. And they were constantly photographing it all,” “One American said he would rape me. He drew a woman on my back and forced me to stand in a shameful position, holding my own scrotum in my hands.”

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (often referred to simply as 9/11) were a series of coordinated suicide terrorist attacks that occurred in the United States of America. According to the official version, responsibility for these attacks lies with the Islamist terrorist organization Al-Qaeda.
On the morning of that day, nineteen terrorists allegedly associated with al-Qaeda, divided into four groups, hijacked four scheduled passenger airliners. Each group had at least one member who had completed basic flight training. The hijackers flew two of these airliners into the World Trade Center towers, American Airlines Flight 11 into WTC 1, and United Airlines Flight 175 into WTC 2, causing both towers to collapse, causing severe damage to adjacent structures.

White and colored
Photograph by Elliott Erwitt 1950

The photograph of an officer shooting a handcuffed prisoner in the head not only won a Pulitzer Prize in 1969, but also changed the way Americans think about what happened in Vietnam. Despite the obviousness of the image, in fact the photograph is not as clear as it seemed to ordinary Americans, filled with sympathy for the executed man. The fact is that the man in handcuffs is the captain of the Viet Cong "revenge warriors", and on this day he and his henchmen shot and killed many unarmed civilians. General Nguyen Ngoc Loan, pictured left, was haunted his whole life by his past: he was refused treatment at an Australian military hospital, after moving to the US he faced a massive campaign calling for his immediate deportation, the restaurant he opened in Virginia every day was attacked by vandals. "We know who you are!" - this inscription haunted the army general all his life

Republican soldier Federico Borel García is depicted facing death. The photo caused a huge shock in society. The situation is absolutely unique. During the entire attack, the photographer took only one photo, and he took it at random, without looking through the viewfinder, he did not look towards the “model” at all. And this is one of the best, one of his most famous photographs. It was thanks to this photograph that already in 1938 newspapers called 25-year-old Robert Capa “The Greatest War Photographer in the World.”

The photograph showing the hoisting of the Victory Banner over the Reichstag spread throughout the world. Evgeny Khaldey, 1945

By the early summer of 1994, Kevin Carter (1960-1994) was at the height of his fame. He had just won the Pulitzer Prize, and job offers from famous magazines were pouring in one after another. “Everyone congratulates me,” he wrote to his parents, “I can’t wait to meet you and show you my trophy. This is the highest recognition of my work, which I did not dare even dream of.”

Kevin Carter won the Pulitzer Prize for his photograph "Famine in Sudan," taken in the early spring of 1993. On this day, Carter specially flew to Sudan to film scenes of famine in a small village. Tired of photographing people who had died of hunger, he left the village into a field overgrown with small bushes and suddenly heard a quiet cry. Looking around, he saw a little girl lying on the ground, apparently dying of hunger. He wanted to take a photo of her, but suddenly a vulture landed a few steps away. Very carefully, trying not to spook the bird, Kevin chose the best position and took the photo. After that, he waited another twenty minutes, hoping that the bird would spread its wings and give him the opportunity to get a better shot. But the damned bird did not move and, in the end, he spat and drove it away. Meanwhile, the girl apparently gained strength and walked - or rather crawled - further. And Kevin sat down near the tree and cried. He suddenly had a terrible desire to hug his daughter...

November 13, 1985. Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupts in Colombia. The mountain snow melts, and a 50-meter-thick mass of mud, earth and water literally wipes out everything in its path. The death toll exceeded 23,000 people. The disaster received a huge response around the world, thanks in part to a photograph of a little girl named Omaira Sanchez. She found herself trapped, neck-deep in the slush, her legs caught in the concrete structure of the house. Rescuers tried to pump out the mud and free the child, but in vain. The girl survived for three days, after which she became infected with several viruses at once. As journalist Cristina Echandia, who was nearby all this time, recalls, Omaira sang and communicated with others. She was scared and constantly thirsty, but she behaved very courageously. On the third night she began to hallucinate.

Alfred Eisenstaedt (1898-1995), a photographer working for Life magazine, walked around the square photographing people kissing. He later recalled that he noticed a sailor who “rushed around the square and kissed indiscriminately all the women in a row: young and old, fat and thin. I watched, but there was no desire to take a photo. Suddenly he grabbed something white. I barely had time to raise the camera and take a photo of him kissing the nurse.”
For millions of Americans, this photograph, which Eisenstadt called “Unconditional Surrender,” became a symbol of the end of World War II...

David Barnett has been a photojournalist for 40 years. His camera does not hunt beautiful landscapes and cats - it is aimed at important events that become symbols of the era. David's photographs allow you to look at the world from the outside. His works are a living history textbook, which, instead of dry facts, demonstrates the bright events of our time.

I like David. While other pros are shopping, he's carrying around an ancient Speed ​​Graphic video camera that's 60 years old. Of course, he has expensive professional equipment. But, apparently, he understands perfectly well: an expensive camera is a pleasant bonus, and not a prerequisite for a good shot. A real master can take a good shot even with a point-and-shoot camera for 30 bucks.

• A simple example: in 2000, David won the “Eyes of History” competition by taking a photo with a cheap plastic Holga camera for $30.

When Helmut was a teenager, the Gestapo arrested his father. Newton fled Germany and moved to Australia, where he served in the Australian Army until the end of World War II... This seems to be the way to write a description if you've been bitten by a Wikipedia moderator.

The biographies of talented people often look too impeccable, like a VIP room in a private clinic - just as sterilely clean and far from real life. German-Australian photographer, worked for Vogue magazine, sometimes shot in the nude genre... This short retelling does not give any idea of ​​who Newton Hellmuth was.

And he was a sincere snob without delusions of grandeur, who loved the glitz of high society. He preferred to photograph rich people and stay in luxury hotels. And he spoke honestly about this, considering himself a rather superficial, but truthful person.

Until he suffered a heart attack in 1971, Helmut smoked 50 cigarettes a day and could party for a week. But a heart attack revealed an incredible truth to the 50-year-old photographer: it turns out that a wild “youth” lifestyle can end very sadly with age.

Having been on the verge of death, Helmut quit smoking, began to lead a more measured life and promised himself to film only what was interesting to him.

Helmut Newton on the things he hates:

• I hate good taste. This is a boring phrase that suffocates all living things.
• I hate it when everything is inside out - it's cheap.
• I hate dishonesty in photography: pictures taken in the name of some artistic principle are fuzzy and grainy.

Yuri Arcurs is one of the most successful stock photographers in the world. Instead of photographing sunrises and fog in a city park, he photographs what sells: happy families and pills, money and students. And on special sites called photo stocks, all this is sold and bought. And in this area, Arcurs became a real guru, who showed by personal example how you can earn money, achieve heights and even have fun doing commercial stock photography.

Yuri was born and raised in Denmark. He started earning money from photo stocks during his student years to pay for his studies. At the time, the only model he could shoot was his girlfriend. But soon additional income became the main one for Yuri: within a few years, in 2008, he was earning up to $90,000 a month from photo stocks.

Today this guy sells his work to large companies: MTV, Sony, Microsoft, Canon, Samsung and Hewlett Packard. His shooting day costs $6,000. And this whole story became a real Cinderella fairy tale for freelancers with a camera.

How realistic is it to repeat this path to success? Who knows. We can only state that today Yuri Arcurs is one of the most successful stock photographers.

Irving Penn loved photography, but did not attach much importance to this hobby. His main job was art design: Irwin designed magazine covers and even got a job as an assistant art editor at the popular Vogue magazine.

But cooperation with famous photographers of this publication did not work out. Penn was constantly dissatisfied with their work and could not explain to them what he needed. As a result, he waved his hand and took up the camera himself. And how he got it: the pictures were so successful that his superiors persuaded him to retrain as a photographer.

Irwin was the first to shoot models against a white or gray background - there was nothing superfluous in the frame. His incredible attention to every detail earned him a reputation as one of the best portrait photographers of his time. This allowed Penn to photograph various celebrities, including Al Pacino and Hitchcock, Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso.

Gursky inherited his love for photography from his father: he was an advertising photographer and taught his son all the intricacies of his craft. Therefore, Andreas did not hesitate in choosing a profession: he graduated from the school of professional photographers and the State Academy of Arts.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about this because my Wiki-moderator syndrome has flared up again. It’s just that Andreas is one of the few photographers from our rating who approached this activity thoroughly, and did not start shooting by chance.

After completing his studies, Gursky began traveling around the world. By experimenting and gaining new experience, he found his own style, which is now his calling card: Andreas takes huge photographs, the dimensions of which are measured in meters. Looking at their smaller copies on a computer screen, it is difficult to appreciate the effect they produce in full size.

Regardless of whether Gursky was photographing a city panorama or a river landscape, people or factories, his photographs are striking in their scale and the peculiar monotony of the details in the photo.

Ansel Adams spent most of his life photographing nature in the western United States. He traveled extensively, photographing the wildest and most inaccessible corners of national parks. His love of nature was expressed not only in photography: Ansel was an active advocate for the conservation and protection of the environment.

But what Adams didn’t like was pictorialism, popular in the first half of the 20th century - a shooting method that made it possible to take photographs similar to painting. In contrast, Ansel and a friend founded the f/64 group, which professed the principles of so-called “direct photography”: shooting everything honestly and realistically, without any filters, post-processing and other bells and whistles.

Group f/64 was founded in 1932, at the very beginning of Ansel's career. But he was true to his convictions, so he retained his love for nature and documentary photography until the end of his life.

• You've probably seen this desktop screensaver depicting the Teton Range and the Snake River against the backdrop of the setting sun:

So, it was Adams who was the first to capture this landscape from this angle. His black-and-white photograph was included in 116 images that were recorded on the Voyager gold plate - this is a message from earthlings to unknown civilizations, sent into space 40 years ago. Now the aliens will think that we don’t have color cameras, but we do have good photographers.

I like Sebastian's biography. This is a natural evolution that happens to any idealist throughout life.

Salgado himself told this story in an interview when he visited Moscow in February 2016. At the age of 25, he and his wife moved from Brazil to Europe. From there they planned to go to the Soviet Union and enter the Peoples' Friendship University in order to build a society without social inequality. But in 1970, their dreams were destroyed by a friend from Prague - the Czechs tasted plenty of communism in 1968.

So, this guy dissuaded the spouses, explaining that no one was building communism in the USSR anymore. Power does not belong to the people and if they want to fight for the happiness of ordinary people, they can stay and help immigrants. Salgado listened to his comrade and stayed in France.

He studied to be an economist, but quickly realized that it was not for him. His wife, Lelia Salgado, had a more creative profession - she was a pianist... but she was also disappointed in her occupation and decided to become an architect. It was she who bought their first camera to photograph architecture. As soon as Sebastian looked at the world through the viewfinder, he immediately realized that he had found his true passion. And after 2 years he became a professional photographer.

According to Salgado himself, his economic education gave him knowledge of history and geography, sociology and anthropology. A huge store of knowledge opened up opportunities for him that were unavailable to other photographers: understanding human society in various parts of our planet. He visited more than 100 countries, taking an incredible amount of documentary photographs.

But don’t think that Sebastian photographed exotic beaches and funny animals while vacationing on tropical islands. His travels don't go that way at all. Initially, an idea is born: “Workers”, “Terra”, “Renaissance” - these are just some of the names of his albums. Afterwards, preparations for the trip begin and the trip itself, which can take several years.

Many of his works are dedicated to human suffering: he photographed refugees in African countries, victims of famine and genocide. Some critics even began to reproach Salgada for presenting poverty and suffering as something aesthetic. Sebastian himself is sure that the matter is different: according to him, he has never photographed those who look pathetic. Those he photographed were in distress, but they had dignity.

And it would be completely wrong to think that Salgado was “promoting himself” on someone else’s grief. On the contrary, he drew the attention of mankind to those troubles that many did not notice. The situation is indicative when Sebastian completed the work “Exodus” in the 1990s: he photographed people who escaped genocide. After the trip, he admitted that he was disappointed in people and no longer believed that humanity could survive. He returned to Brazil and took some time off to recover.

Fortunately, this story has a happy ending: the old idealist regained his faith in beauty, and is now busy with another project, photographing the untouched corners of our planet.

If you start typing in a search engine , then Google will display a drop-down window with the option "Steve McCurry Afghan Girl". This is quite strange, because McCurry is too mustachioed for a girl, even an Afghan one.

In fact, the “Afghan Girl” is Steve’s most famous photograph, appearing on the cover of National Geographic magazine. Even the Wikipedia article about this guy starts with this story:

• “Steve is the mustachioed American photojournalist who photographed the Afghan girl.”. (Wikipedia)

Most articles about this photographer begin with a similar phrase, including our story about him. One gets the impression that he is an actor of one role, like Daniel Radcliffe or Macaulay Culkin. But it is not so.

Steve's career as a professional photographer began during the war in Afghanistan. He did not drive around the country in a Hummer, hiding behind the backs of the military, but stayed among ordinary people: he got local clothes, sewed rolls of film into them and traveled around the country like an ordinary Afghan. Or like an ordinary American spy disguised as an Afghan - someone could consider this option. So Steve took a risk, but thanks to him, the world saw the first photographs of that conflict.

Since then, McCurry has not changed his approach to work: he wandered around the world, photographing different people. Steve has captured many military conflicts and has become a true master of street photography. Although in fact McCurry is a photojournalist, he managed to blur the line between documentary and artistic photography. His photographs are bright and attractive, like a postcard, but at the same time truthful. They do not require any explanations or comments - everything is clear without words. To create such photos, you need a rare flair.

Annie Leibovitz is a real expert when it comes to photographing stars. Her photographs graced the covers of the most popular magazines, causing strong emotions and discussions. Who else would have thought of photographing a grimacing Whoopi Goldberg in a milk bath? Or a naked John Lennon cuddling up to Yoko Ono in a fetal position? By the way, this was the last photograph in his life, taken a few hours before Chapman’s fatal shot.

Annie's biography looks quite smooth: after studying at the Art Institute in San Francisco, Leibovitz got a job at Rolling Stone magazine. She collaborated with him for more than 10 years. During this time, Annie has earned a reputation as a person who is able to photograph any celebrity in an interesting and creative way. And this is quite enough to achieve success in modern show business.

Having gained some fame, Annie moves to New York, where she opens her own photography studio. In 1983, she began working with Vanity Fair magazine, which sponsored her subsequent shocking photographs of stars. Shooting Demi Moore naked in the last stages of pregnancy or covering her with clay and putting Sting in the middle of the desert - this is quite in the spirit of Leibovitz. Like forcing Cate Blanchett to ride a bike or forcing a goose to take pictures with DiCaprio. No wonder her work is popular!

Who else can boast that they photographed the Queen of England, Michael Jackson, Barack Obama and many, many other celebrities? And, mind you, he was not filming as a papparazi, hiding behind a bush, but was organizing a full-fledged photo shoot? This is why Annie Leibovitz is considered, if not the best, then the most successful contemporary photographer. Although somewhat pop.

1. Henri Cartier-Bresson

Henri got his passion for art from his uncle: he was an artist and got his nephew interested in painting. This slippery slope eventually led him to a passion for photography. What did Henri do that distinguished him from hundreds and thousands of other photographers?

He realized a simple truth: everything must be done honestly and truly. That's why he refused staged photos and never asked anyone to act out a certain situation. Instead, he closely observed what was happening around him.

In order to remain invisible during the shooting, Henri covered the shiny metal parts on the camera with black electrical tape. He became a real “invisible man,” which allowed him to capture the most sincere feelings of people. And to do this, it’s not enough not to attract attention - you need to be able to determine the decisive moment for the photo. It was Henri who introduced this term, “the decisive moment,” and even wrote a book with that title.

To summarize: Cartier-Bresson's photographs are distinguished by living realism. For such work, some professional skills are not enough. It is necessary to sensitively understand human nature, to capture his emotions and mood. All this was inherent in Henri Cartier-Bresson. He was honest in his work.

Don't be a snob... Repost!

In the modern world, photography is a popular and very widespread branch of art, which continues to actively develop and delight with new discoveries and creations. It seems like, why is there so much enthusiasm around ordinary photography? Can it be compared with a painting into which the artist invests a large amount of time, soul and effort?

But not everything is so simple, talented photographic works can hardly be called “simple”; in order for the frame to come out truly mesmerizing, the master must be a true connoisseur of the moment, be able to catch beauty where it remains invisible to an ordinary person, and then present it so that it becomes accessible to the general public. to the masses. Isn't this art?

Today we will talk about the most talented and famous fashion photographers who managed to turn the usual world of photography upside down, introduce something new, and also gain recognition from the whole world.

These people collaborate with the most famous glossy publications in the world, they created the most famous advertising campaigns of the leading companies of our time, and the most famous and wealthy people on the planet strive to get to their shoots. Isn't this enough to arouse everyone's admiration?

1. Annie Leibnovitz

Our top 10 opens with one of the highest paid and sought-after professionals in her field, Annie Leibovitz. Each of her works is a recognized work of art that evokes admiration even among the most ignorant viewers.

Although Annie is a master of portrait photography, she excels in many other genres. Music stars, famous actors, models, as well as members of her family visited her lens, and everyone who was there became a part of something perfect and extraordinary.

Among them are Queen Elizabeth II, Michael Jackson, George Clooney, Uma Thurman, Natalia Vodianova, Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp and many others.

1. Patrick Demarchelier

One of the most famous and sought-after French photographers, who began shooting back in the 80s and quickly managed to achieve success. Very soon his photographs began to appear in Glamor, Elle, and a little later in Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue.

Being in his lens is the dream of any model, and iconic fashion houses from all over the world fought for the right to get a meter to shoot the next advertising campaign. At one time he was the personal photographer of Princess Diana, photographed the very young Kate Moss, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, and more than once worked with Madonna, Scarlett Johansson and other stars of modern Hollywood.

1. Mario Testino

One of the most famous British photographers, winner of many prestigious awards. An interesting fact is that Mario became a photographer, basically, by accident, his family was far from the world of art, and the path that he had to go through to achieve success turned out to be very thorny. But it was worth it!

Today, Testino's work can be found in almost every glossy publication, he has worked with most of the most famous and popular models, became Kate Moss's favorite photographer, and is also known for his magnificent photographs of the royal family.

1. Peter Lindbergh

Another worldwide celebrity, winner of many awards and simply a talented person. Peter, to a greater extent, became famous as a master of black and white photography, an opponent of the worldwide craze for Photoshop, and therefore prefers to look for perfection in the imperfect.

1. Steven Meisel

Considered one of the most popular fashion photographers, he is known for his unique photo shoots for Vogue magazine, as well as a series of very provocative photographs for Madonna’s book. His works cause a very wide resonance in the public world, however, most of his works continue to be published in fashion publications.

1. Ellen von Unwerth

A popular German photographer, known for her passion for erotic and staged subjects. Particular success came to Ellen after shooting Claudia Schiffer for Guess. After this, offers poured in, and her work constantly appears in publications such as Vanity Fair, The Face, Vogue and many others.

1. Paolo Roversi

In the fashion world he is known as one of the most mysterious and unattainable personalities. Few people know this photographer by sight, but many know his signature style, and his work is strikingly different from the typical magazine “stamping”.

His extraordinary works, captured using long exposures, are some of the most graceful and magnificent images to be created in the last century.

1. Tim Walker

A British photographer who gained his popularity thanks to the fabulous style in which most of his works were created: the directions of surrealism and rococo. As the author himself says, he is often inspired by literary heroes and fairy-tale characters, which is probably why each of his photographs is a whole story.

It is also noteworthy that Walker does not like Photoshop, and therefore tries to use real props and lighting to create his unique works.

1. Mert and Marcus

One of the most famous and best photo duos, whose works are always recognizable and in demand no less than the works of their older colleagues. Known for their bright, shocking and often provocative photographs, all the most beautiful divas of our planet have appeared in their lenses: Kate Moss, Jennifer Lopez, Gisele Bundchen, Natalia Vodianova and many others.

1. Inez and Vinoodh

Another talented photo duo, whose members have been collaborators and have been creating masterpieces for 30 years. Like most of the above colleagues, they collaborate with the most fashionable glossy publications, shoot advertising campaigns for Isabel Marant and YSL, and are also one of Lady Gaga’s favorite photographers.