Photography is an evolving art form. Just as with painting, there are portrait artists, landscape artists, abstract and surrealists. Now, you all know my euphemism; "there is an ass for every seat".
The beauty of artistic expression, is that it is fluid,evolving, and accepting. I may not dig what you have to say, but I will give my life to protect for your ability to say it.
1) Robert Mapplethorpe- his use of stark compositions and dramatic tonal contrasts drew me me in. The dramatic studio light and precise focus were very confrontational. I was very influenced by Mapplethorpe's unflinching style. His choice of subjects, composed with formal beauty created tension. Some people called his work obscene. I invite you to be the judge. I find his photographs beautiful. Gone to soon.
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| Mapplethorpe |
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| Mapplethorpe |
2)Jerry Uelsman- before there was photoshop, there was Uelsman. A photo surrealist. This man is a dark room genius. He combines nudes and landscapes in the dark room, still uses film, he has never gone digital. His work inspired me to try new things in the darkroom.
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Uelsman, Tree house
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| Uelsman, keep an eye on the House |
3) Richard Avedon- Icon...famous for minimalist portraits , pitch perfect lighting. His photo of Natasha Kineski with the snake, rocked my little world. How did he get her skin to look like velvet, and keep that snakes skin so perfectly textured. DAMN HIM.
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| Avedon, Damn him |
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Avedon. Janis Joplin
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4) Jim Marshall- rock and Roll photog. Snapped bad ass photos, and captured our heroes up close.
His photos married my two passions. Music and photography. Art made about the artists that set my cold black heart on fire.
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| Marshall, June and Johnny |
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| Marshall, Johnny Cash |
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| Marshall, Chuck Berry |
5- Steve McCurry- national geographic legend. He focus's his lens on the consequences of war. He is able to capture unguarded moments of human experience. His most recognized work "Afghan Girl" is haunting. But then, most of his photos are...
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| McCurry, Miner |
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| McCurry, Afghan Girl |
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| Steve McCurry |
6-John Paul Caponigro- environmental fine art landscape photographer, and a hell of a nice guy. His photos have a painterly quality. They go beyond reality, into surreal. I think he might be magic. He is also a natural born teacher of incredible generosity.
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| JP Caponigro |
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| JP Caponigro |
7- Vincent Versace- another nice guy, and generous teacher. Mr. Versace has impeccable taste. He paints in light with a deft hand. If I did not love his work so much I would hate him for being so good.
Whatever he turns his lens toward, he owns.
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| Vincent Versace |
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| Vincent Versace |
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| Vincent Versace |
8- Jay Maisel- this is the man. He is the teacher of the teachers. A 50 year long career, he is still shooting, and still teaching. Thank all that is divine for Jay Maisel.
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| Jay Maisel |
9- Imogen Cunningham - In her long career with a camera this lady turned her camera on a great many things.
Her photograph's are not flamboyant or controversial. BUt if you study them, there is excellence and precision. Her portraits are captivating and her botanical's, are what inspired me to photograph plants and flowers, She is a true influence on the medium, although a quiet one. She also practiced street photography, while in her 80's. cool broad.
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| I. Cunningham, Nude |
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| I Cunningham, Cala Lily |
10) Annie Liebovitz everyone knows who Annie is. In 1980 when she took this photo, I was a high school freshman. It took me 30 years to understand this photograph. I finally get it. And I thank Annie, for every photo she has created. But this one, so profoundly intimate, still gets to me. And still makes me want to take photos. If I can ever meet Annie, and tell her how much this one photo means.... I am tearing up just thinking about it. (what a sap)
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| Annie Leibovitz. 1980 |
These are just the photos that made me stop and take notice. I could have been more scientific, and perhaps in future posts I will explore different genre's more thoroughly.
I hope you will take a look around, see what is going on in your world. Next time you are out, notice who has a camera and what they are shooting. I will too.
shoot straight,
your debra
You know what I think...
ReplyDeleteAnother great celebration of photographers! I knew more of these artists than in part one, but the cool thing was that I also found out who took some photos that I was already familiar with, too. I know just enough about photography to know how hard it is to get a truly good shot on purpose, and these people are amazing! thanks again!
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