Need Help Finding Some Photographers

[Gabler]

Hey there!

I'm very new to photography but am now taking it as a subject. One of the things we are required to do is to write about some photos from a range of photographers, this is where I am having trouble. At the moment I know of very few photographers and I am worried because I have to recreate some of the photos next week.

What I need to know is if anyone can help me find some good photos or photographers I can write about which would also be not too difficult to reproduce later on.

Thanks a lot. I really need help here

[PowerPix]

So you have to write about a photographer and then immitate their style????

[Gabler]

Originally Posted by PowerPix

So you have to write about a photographer and then immitate their style????

I have to write about various photos from a range of photographers. I also need to reproduce some of them next week.

[Gabler]

Originally Posted by BryanC

Google "Famous Photographers" and start there. C'mon, make the effort at least.

I've been working through books in class but finding work I can replicate is an issue for me because I'm not really sure what to do. So far I have been looking at Bill Henson, Jerry Uelsmann and a little bit of Paul Strand. I still need a few more though.

[BCampbell]

Originally Posted by Gabler

Hey there!

I'm very new to photography but am now taking it as a subject. One of the things we are required to do is to write about some photos from a range of photographers, this is where I am having trouble. At the moment I know of very few photographers and I am worried because I have to recreate some of the photos next week.

see if you can find this book (it's cheap on Amazon, you cna probably find it locally), it's a great history of photography. It's a little light on very comtemproary work but there will be plenty in there for you. Skim it and pick out a few photographers to study more deeply.

Visiting a library and browing the arts section should give you plenty of leads. Setting up a google news alert for "photography" or "photographer" will get you some contemporary and historic info daily.

If you're looking for specific recommendations... here's a list. A few of my favorites from there:

Berenice Abbot
Robert Adams
Diane Arbus
Eugene Atget
Richard Avedon
Guy Bourdin
Brassai
Robert Capa
Henri Cartier-Bresson
Kyle Cassidy
Bruce Davidson
Ron Davies
F. Holland Day
Robert Doisneau
William Eggleston
Walker Evans
Roger Fenton
Robert Frank
Lee Friedlander
Andre Giroux
Andy Goldsworthy
Michael Kenna
Andre Kertesz
Vincent Laforet
Dorothea Lange
Jacques Henri Lartigue
Annie Leibovitz
Auguste Lumiere
Jay Maisel
Sally Mann
Joseph McKeown
Lisette Model
Lazlo Moholy-Nagy
Edward Muybridge
Helmut Newton
Nicephore Neipce
Martin Parr
Man Ray
Leni Riefenstahl
Alexandr Rodchenko
Barbara Rosenthal
August Sander
Edward Steichen
Alfred Stieglitz
Paul Strand
Andy Warhol
Eudora Welty
Edward Weston
Minor White
Garry Winogrand

This is kind of a "who's who" but is by no means exhaustive. It also overlooks some areas of the world entirely, spefifically Mexican and Asian photographers, of whom there are plenty of great examples. Don't just limit yourself to this list, but these are names you should know if you're studying photography.

[LeeR]

Let me see if I can help. First, there are a number of photographers that have been listed that you are not, as a beginner, going to be able to come close to. Forget Jerry Uelsmann, Annie Leibowitz, Edward Muybridge; you don't have the tools to keep up. And forget Minor White and the Westons because you won't have time to learn the zone system. However, there are a few you should have no trouble with.

Edward Steichen did a whole series of images with very simple props; cup and saucer, eyeglasses, matches, etc. Good place to start. Paul Strand was famous for looking for storm clouds and then running out to shoot interesting buildings with the clouds as background. Not too hard. Lee Freilander did a series of images from a dogs point of view. That shouldn't be too hard either.

I occasionally try to channel Henri Cartier-Bresson. He was famous for capturing images the exact split second of maximum tension. He called it "the decisive moment" and you're never going to catch it the way he did, but you might come close and it would be worth the effort.

Finally, Jay Maisel still wanders the streets of New York looking for splashes of color wherever he can find it. He has always had a special touch with color.If you look at a bunch of his images I'll bet you can create some of your own that are passable homages.

[Gabler]

Thanks so much for all the help guys. Yes I do now how to use a camera and I would like to think I am quite skilled at photoshop (I'm taking digital). I don't need an exact replica of the photos but will have to have the same general idea so I am hoping that it will be all good :S

[Gabler]

Originally Posted by LeeR

Let me see if I can help. First, there are a number of photographers that have been listed that you are not, as a beginner, going to be able to come close to. Forget Jerry Uelsmann, Annie Leibowitz, Edward Muybridge; you don't have the tools to keep up. And forget Minor White and the Westons because you won't have time to learn the zone system. However, there are a few you should have no trouble with.

Edward Steichen did a whole series of images with very simple props; cup and saucer, eyeglasses, matches, etc. Good place to start. Paul Strand was famous for looking for storm clouds and then running out to shoot interesting buildings with the clouds as background. Not too hard. Lee Freilander did a series of images from a dogs point of view. That shouldn't be too hard either.

I occasionally try to channel Henri Cartier-Bresson. He was famous for capturing images the exact split second of maximum tension. He called it "the decisive moment" and you're never going to catch it the way he did, but you might come close and it would be worth the effort.

Finally, Jay Maisel still wanders the streets of New York looking for splashes of color wherever he can find it. He has always had a special touch with color.If you look at a bunch of his images I'll bet you can create some of your own that are passable homages.

This is great. Thanks heaps!

I'm also going to be looking into that list of photographers that was posted to. Thanks everyone I hope I can get this going alright

[Jim Poor]

I'd Google Photograph + [your location] and/or Photographer + [your location] to come up with some local photographs you may like. Find out who did them, and go from there.

The added plus is that you may actually be able to photograph the same exact subject while trying to emulate a style.

[BCampbell]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

I'd Google Photograph + [your location] and/or Photographer + [your location] to come up with some local photographs you may like. Find out who did them, and go from there.

The added plus is that you may actually be able to photograph the same exact subject while trying to emulate a style.

This is a great idea. I'd even say check flickr for any local groups or just search for your town; you probably won't find any famous photographers but you will find a lot of interesting subjects and ideas to use as a springboard.