Photography is an art that brings out emotions at their best, showcases beauty and even portrays horror, all in a way that touches the hearts of those viewing the pictures. Time has been a witness to some of the greatest photographers whose love for photography becomes evident in the master pieces that they have created.
Steve McCurry is one of the best known photographers in the world today. Best known for his dramatic pictures that bring out human emotions and tell a story, his best ever photograph was that of an Afghani Girl which fetched him laurels and awards. He has been awarded with several awards including Olivier Rebbot Award, Magazine photographer of the year, to name a few. His work has featured in a number of magazines and more often in National Geographic[1].
Annie Leibovitz is another renowned American photographer. She is a celebrity photographer and is known for the use of bright colors and lighting. Her unique style lies in her vibrant and out-of-the-box poses that she shoots her celebrities in. These poses are funny and reflective of the true personality of the celebrity she shoots. She has worked with some great stars like musician Bruce Springsteen, actress Meryl Streep, and action film star Arnold Schwarzenegger to name some. Her most controversial photograph was that of Demi Moore that appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair in1992[2]. Remember what that was?
Diane Arbus is another people photographer who was known for clicking pictures of people who were different in a certain way from the rest of us. She has photographed Dwarfs, nudists as well as transgender people and the fact that these people agreed to be a part of her photography depicts the trust that she could build with them. Her photographs aimed to force people to think about that part of the society which was different from us. Her photographs depicted the people as they were, without any masks. Today Diane is popularly known as the “photographer of freaks[3].”
Yet another photographer who brings out the grim reality of life through his photographs is James Nachtwey. Born in New York, he has photographed and documented wars and conflicts. As James puts it in his own words “I am trying to use photography to make statements about what’s happening in the world”. He has won numerous awards for his pictures and continues to be an iconic person within the industry[4].
These are just a few of several great photographers we may have come to know and love throughout the years. Their passion and vision give their fans, as well as people who may not know they are fans, a look through someone else’s perspective on the world.
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