Favorite photographer?

Whammy!

I'd love to hear other people's opinions on their favorite photographers and why they are your favorite?
How much do you find they inspire/influence your own photography work?

I'm sure my taste will change over time but currently I have two favorite photographers.

The first is August Sander. A portrait photographer who did his main work during the early 1900's up till WW2.
There is something about his photos that speak to me. It's mainly the people who he photographs. No one smiles in his photos, they just show a bland expression. In doing so it draws me into other elements in the photo. Their posture, their environment. I don't quite know why I am drawn towards his photos, but for me he is one of my favorite portrait photographers.

Unfortunately with his photos being so old it's hard to find photos of his online without being enhanced or cropped.








My other favorite is a landscape photographer.
Michael Kenna

He nearly always shoots in the square format (pretty sure medium format film) and always on black and white film. I believe that the square format in black and white is the most beautiful representation for landscape.

His work can be so minimal but yet speaks so much. Nearly every photo draws me in to the point that I could just stare at one photo for hours.









So I'd love to hear your own thoughts on your favorite photographer

Lyaiera

I saw a bit of Sander's work in a documentary a few weeks ago (old documentary) and I loved it. If you have a recommendation on any photography books to get about him I'd appreciate it. Particularly the Weimar Germany stuff.

And I really like the Kenna stuff. I'm falling in love with the square format for landscapes.




I'm a big fan of Sally Mann's work with her children. I think there's something quite profound in the way she addresses family, childhood and adulthood. Absolutely haunting images.






I was also lucky enough to see some of Harry Callahan's work in the David Kronn exhibition in the Glucksman in Cork (a different curatorial version of what was and still is being shown in Dublin.) I thought they were amazing, a beautiful example of using simplicity, texture and space to get across a very striking effect.





(This looks kind of dead in JPG form, but was amazing printed.)

Of the more modern photographers, less established as photographic royalty I have to say I'm a fan of Doug Dubois. He spent a few years in Cork and did a pretty decent documentary on a housing estate here. I saw some of his family based stuff in an exhibition in Cork and it was quite striking how his photos could seem like the most basic of snapshots but with such richness and depth of love and caring behind them.

I also find it interesting that two of the three photographers I've mentioned I've seen some of their works in person. To put it simply seeing a gallery quality print of a photographer's work simply can't be beaten.

flyingsnail

Sebastiao Salgado
I first say his nature / wildlife work after watching a TED video, a couple of months later I came across a copy of his book Genesis on sale for €25 and couldn't resist, the book is larger than A4 and 500 pages so I thought it was a real bargain. That's when I got to look at a much wider range of his images and just fell in love with them







He also has a great portrait side and I love the depth in his photographs, so often I would look at them and be left wanting more about what is going on, why where ect..



Gregory Heisler
I think he is a genius when it comes to portraits, I bought his book 50 portraits and I absoloutly love it. It not only tells you the how but the what and the why of the story behind the portrait which is something I find fascinating.

Silva360

I'm not being lazy, I can’t post links ☹

Vincent Munier: Not every photograph a masterpiece, but as a whole…wow! His skill at capturing the moment is astounding. No abrasive post processing, just pure beautiful photography. I cannot help but being inspired and motivated by his work.

Michael Kenna: There’s nothing to say. Just look ☺ For the same reasons, Michael Levin and Bruce Percy.

Steve McCurry: Simply for being an amazing storyteller (as with Sebastio Selgado).

Todd Hido: Because his work is slightly ‘edgy’ and cool ☺

Galen Rowell: Amazing landscapes and he knew how to share his experiences. Helped me to understand!

Nick Brandt: The most incredible African wildlife photography I have ever seen. I can't say he inspires or influences me, more like makes me feel like a failure!

Ray McSaveney ; Landscape photographer a la Ansel Adams. Passed away recently, but I think he will be appreciated more widely in times to come (I hope).

Lyaiera

Silva360 wrote: »

Todd Hido: Because his work is slightly ‘edgy’ and cool ☺

Exactly why I don't like him. His stuff seems shallow and dishonest. Although I think a lot of that is cultural alienation (because I grew up in Ireland) of his American cultural dissatisfaction. Interestingly he's mentioned Nan Goldin as an inspiration, another photographer I hate and find exploitative.

Ray McSaveney ; Landscape photographer a la Ansel Adams. Passed away recently, but I think he will be appreciated more widely in times to come (I hope).

I never saw his stuff before. It kills me that he never really developed his colour photography.

Whammy!

Lyaiera wrote: »

I saw a bit of Sander's work in a documentary a few weeks ago (old documentary) and I loved it. If you have a recommendation on any photography books to get about him I'd appreciate it. Particularly the Weimar Germany stuff.

I've been meaning to get some Sander books. "People of the 20th Century" was on my list. That would be the book for the Weimar Germany stuff.

I also quite like his landscape stuff so I was looking at "Photographs Of The German Landscape" too.

Silva360

Lyaiera wrote: »

Exactly why I don't like him. His stuff seems shallow and dishonest. Although I think a lot of that is cultural alienation (because I grew up in Ireland) of his American cultural dissatisfaction. Interestingly he's mentioned Nan Goldin as an inspiration, another photographer I hate and find exploitative.

Interesting. You can probably tell from the other photographers I mentioned that Hido is not typical of the type photography I like. However, I do find his work absorbing. Slightly dark.I guess I like it because it's relatively new to me. 'Silver Meadows' is almost movie like. It reminds me of the intro to 'True Blood'. Sad, I know!

dirtyghettokid

i don't follow anyone famous.. i just like what i see on a daily basis.
there's actually a few togs on here that i am a fan of. love their work..
superflyninja, whammy, deadlie, eadaoin, gloobag

aside from that, these guys below are consistent in awesome work. their work is so inspirational to me. i like different subjects.. fashion, city, automotive, landscape, etc.. these guys specialise in different areas, but i am inspired by them all, and they continue to surprise me with their work. i can't just pick one fav!

bryan reid, a tog from back home. love his style. mostly fashion type shots etc.
https://www.facebook.com/BryanReidPhoto



mike olbinski, from arizona. AMAZING weather photos & some wedding stuff too
https://www.facebook.com/mikeolbinskiphotography

End of the Rainbow by Mike Olbinski Photography, on Flickr

jacob brcic - does some sweet automotive photography
https://www.facebook.com/JacobBrcicPhotography

Kyle's WRX by Jacob.Brcic, on Flickr

sean go - another tog from back home that does the shoe game as well
https://www.flickr.com/photos/seango/

Air Max 1 QS Premium "Flax" 01 by seango, on Flickr

niwreg - another shoe tog
https://www.flickr.com/photos/21397204@N02/

WDYWT 11.9.14 by Niwreig, on Flickr

aleks ivic - some amazing cityscape photography
https://www.flickr.com/photos/aleksivic/

Chinatown by Aleks Ivic, on Flickr

michal jirak - awesome skateboarding pics
https://www.flickr.com/photos/misajirak/

(he won't allow sharing on flickr )

john zhang - another awesome automotive photographer
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ghostchild/

Liberty Walk Performance Ferrari 458 & Nissan GT-R by 1013MM, on Flickr

keith chang (k3ychain) - fashion & some automotive
https://www.flickr.com/photos/keychain/

Hayle Cayaga 2014 2727 by k3ychain, on Flickr

Lyaiera

Silva360 wrote: »

Interesting. You can probably tell from the other photographers I mentioned that Hido is not typical of the type photography I like. However, I do find his work absorbing. Slightly dark.I guess I like it because it's relatively new to me. 'Silver Meadows' is almost movie like. It reminds me of the intro to 'True Blood'. Sad, I know!

Don't get me wrong. I think he's an excellent photographer, probably one of the best I've looked at recently. He's really at the top of the game when it comes to colours and composition. His work is amazingly evocative and he sets a mood for the viewer very easily. It's just that I don't like the effect of his photography. I think there's a dissatisfaction and anger to it that I just can't match to my own. I think there's a distance in his photography from what he's showing and that results in a lack of consideration and dishonesty towards his subjects. That might be his intent and if he that was his intent he's succeeded, but I judge him and his work on that.

I'd love to see his work though at an exhibition, and if I had the money I'd buy some of his books.

Sheeps

Whammy! is my favourite photographer.

JamJamJamJam

I don't know that many photographers, to be honest, but of those I do know, the one that completely stood out to me is definitely Steve McCurry. He's the photographer who shot the famous "Afghan Girl" photo that made the cover of National Geographic, if anybody hasn't heard of him (although if I have, surely many people have!) I have never been so enthralled by photographs; I'm absolutely dying to know more about each scene and subject! I think it's how he captures people's eyes. He also has an amazing sense of colour. I'm going to post one picture and links to others (highly recommended viewing :P)



http://36.media.tumblr.com/1a6cbebd124711244438b725e78ab140/tumblr_n65no1fHYd1ttwgnyo1_1280.jpg

http://photos.stevemccurry.com.s3.amazonaws.com/sites/default/files/gallery/AFGHN-10143NF.jpg

http://41.media.tumblr.com/f3105fbb6da05c7842eb6f67cfb0295c/tumblr_n6kyqf6AWR1s1rtpio1_1280.jpg

http://40.media.tumblr.com/c4824e12ef12bac1fb061593aa3cd092/tumblr_n8t4ynqn6M1ql4tgeo1_1280.jpg

http://41.media.tumblr.com/22955759eb0fe8c59a561f2f91e06a4c/tumblr_n989kv95uC1rgfavio1_1280.jpg

http://41.media.tumblr.com/343ff2de491396264b48b3894a2d769b/tumblr_nc3eonOUQi1s4wrruo1_1280.jpg

http://36.media.tumblr.com/e553e28b769bc26a925068faaeec1930/tumblr_n9hb7edQaF1sq9drqo1_1280.jpg

http://40.media.tumblr.com/515a63dbd4f2b71b082e54940012ce78/tumblr_n8h12pLWCO1rheix6o1_1280.jpg

http://41.media.tumblr.com/c1603534e10dfd1f14a0c11cca7a97ec/tumblr_ncgf5zhrmQ1shxxhmo1_1280.jpg



I've spent way too long staring at each one of these photos! For more: Clicky

amdgilmore

I really like Robert Mapplethorpe's portraits.

These two really stood out when I saw them in the Tate over the summer (tried embedding them but they were huge):

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/images/work/AR/AR00158_10.jpg

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/images/work/AR/AR00209_10.jpg

And this one, which is a moderately unsafe for work portrait of Patti Smith:

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/mapplethorpe-patti-smith-p13083

Mjollnir

It's like asking me who my favorite guitarist is: don't have one because one can't exist. They're all good in different way, talking about different things in different ways.

That said, William Reagh shot the city I was brought up to hate and now live in and love, Los Angeles, after the post-war boom in a fascinating way.

http://www.kcet.org/arts/artbound/counties/los-angeles/los-angeles-photography-william-reagh.html

5unflower

When I started to engage with photography more seriously, the photographers I discovered first were artists who had emerged from the school of Bernd and Hilla Becher (Germany).

These include Thomas Struth, Thomas Ruff, Candida Höfer and Andreas Gursky. I particularly like Höfer's large-format photographs of empty rooms such as libraries, and Struth's museum photographs. This is something that I try to replicate now and again in my own photographs of interiors.

This summer I went to see a Walker Evans exhibition in Berlin, which I really enjoyed.

OldGoat

To pick one favourite photographer is akin to choosing which breath is your favourite.
However, one that prominently stands out for me is František Drtikol, a Czech artist who had his hay-day was back in the 1920's. Drtikol was not a great photographer but he thrived in the studios where he constantly pushed the boundaries of his art as he tried to re-create the Art Deco movement in real lift. Eventually real life was not good enough for his artistic goal and he moves on to using other media rather than the photograph. However his nudes are stretched in the lovely sinuous Art Deco forms, all S, C and D curves.

He brings 3 elements of interest to me together, the body, the photograph and the art deco movement. I had the opportunity to buy a print some years ago but it was one of his workaday portraits rather than his nudes and so I passed. Someday though...





http://weimarart.blogspot.ie/2010/10/nudes-of-drtikol.html

http://www.utata.org/sundaysalon/frantisek-drtikol/

http://www.photogravure.com/collection/searchResults.php?page=1&artist=Drtikol,%20Frantisek

Whammy!

OldGoat wrote: »

To pick one favourite photographer is akin to choosing which breath is your favourite.

I agree. Under normal circumstances I rarely pick a favorite artist/photographer etc.
Splitting things into genres and even sub-genres can help to focus on one particular style and narrow down on your favorite within that area. But even then the expression between photographers in the same genre can be drastically different but equally inspiring.
At the end of the day when put in a position to choose I normally decide such things on my flavor of the month.

magicbastarder

OldGoat wrote: »

To pick one favourite photographer is akin to choosing which breath is your favourite.

my first one, and my most recent one.