Famous Photographers – 3 Photographers You Should Know

Photography is often the art of the anonymous rarely do we find out who was on the other side of the lens. We can all name a few famous photographs, like the famous Time Square picture or the one of iron workers sitting high above a city, but most of the time we don’t spend time looking at the history of the medium as art. Because understanding influential artists can have a huge impact on the way we view photography and may even inspire new ideas, here are three photographers who’s influence is felt worldwide:

Henri Cartier-Bresson
Though the name may not be as familiar, Cartier-Bresson was a giant in the development of modern photography. He is considered to be one of the forefathers of photojournalism and spent most of his adult life on assignment magazines like Life. Fearless and daring, Henri Cartier-Bresson captured images from some of the most volatile environments in history, including the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the liberation of Paris during WWII, and the Spanish Civil War.

Famous Photography by Henri Cartier Bresson: The Decisive Moment

Alfred Stieglitz
If you’ve ever studied photography or taken a photo class then you would likely recognize his name. Stieglitz was married to Georgia OKeeffe, a legend in her own right, and many of his most iconic images center around her. He was responsible for forcing photography into the public view as a valid art form, which he accomplished through innovative exhibits organized around the country. Stieglitz was known as the father of pictorialism. Pictorialism is where the significance of the picture is more about the way in which the photographer manipulated the image than about the importance of the subject.

Famous Photography by Alfred Stieglitz- The Terminal

Larry Burrows
Larry Burrows is a legend among photojournalists. Often referred to as the man who went off to war with film in his socks, Burrows is most widely known for his work covering the Vietnam war for Life magazine. His pictures were some of the most iconic and emotionally charged images to come out of the region and gave the public a view into the conflict. Sadly, Burrows was killed in the conflict when his helicopter was shot down but his images have lived on as well as his tales of heroic actions like carrying soliders to safety and rescuing civilians.

Famous Photography by Larry Burrows – One Ride with Yankee Papa 13

Whenever we work in any art medium, it’s important to remember the artists who came before us and the contributions they made. These three photographers have had an immeasurable impact on the importance and validity of photography as an art. If you want to keep expanding your photographic skills like learning learn how to do flower photography, take beautiful sunset photos or how to take great bird pictures you have to always be learning new things. By studying these artists and viewing their works, it can often lead to new ideas and great new artistic paths.