Last Updated on June 27, 2016 by Md Mejba Uddin Biplob
Top 10 Famous Portrait Photographers in the world
Although today’s generation is over bowled with the selfie mania, the classical photographs remain the biggest attraction. One of the most popular and beautiful types of photography is portrait photography or portraiture. Check out Famous Portrait Photographers Reviews :
Typically capturing a single person or a group of people’s moods and facial expressions, the portrait photographs are mini stories that weave a beautiful tale with just a click.
Portrait photography is an art that requires a photographer to pay attention to minute details and capture the intricacies of the expression of an individual with a craftiness that has never been displayed before.
The most authentic capturing of human expressions, fears, hopes, happiness, and aspirations is a challenging task that cannot be achieved by amateur photographers. Most of the portrait photographers are innately gifted to capture in detail the mysteries of a human face, the stories it tells and the future that is held in the eyes.
Portrait photography is an art that requires a photographer to pay attention to minute details and capture the intricacies of the expression of an individual with a craftiness that has never been displayed before.
The most authentic capturing of human expressions, fears, hopes, happiness, and aspirations is a challenging task that cannot be achieved by amateur photographers. Most of the portrait photographers are innately gifted to capture in detail the mysteries of a human face, the stories it tells and the future that is held in the eyes.
Portrait photography is an art that requires a photographer to pay attention to minute details and capture the intricacies of the expression of an individual with a craftiness that has never been displayed before.
The most authentic capturing of human expressions, fears, hopes, happiness, and aspirations is a challenging task that cannot be achieved by amateur photographers. Most of the portrait photographers are innately gifted to capture in detail the mysteries of a human face, the stories it tells and the future that is held in the eyes.
The most famous portrait photographers of the time are listed under:
1. Annie Leibovitz
Unarguable known as the best portrait photographer of US, Leibovitz’s work is a class apart. She is best known for capturing celebrity portraits. Her candid and closer to life portraits of celebrities helped her in gaining global recognition. Known for magazine editorial work, she flaunted her skills in Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair and Vogue with a panache that had been seldom witnessed before. Recipient of many awards and honorary coronations, she epitomized the celebrity portrait work. The usage of bold and vibrant colors along with fascinating lightening details and unique postures made her portraits world renowned.
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2. Steve McCurry
Although Steve McCurry was well known as an editorial portrait photographer, his shot to fame was the highly appreciated portrait of the Afghan Girl that adorned the cover of National Geographic magazine. He is best known for capturing portraits of conflicted zones’ residents. Steve’s startling work of portraits capture the untold stories of conflicts and wars, dying cultures and archaic traditional practices that are breathing they’re last in many regions of the world. What sets him apart from his contemporaries is his attention to capturing the human essence and resilience that survives in spite of all the odds. One can find all the aspects of human beings that make them a fighter in unfavorable changing circumstances; strength, will, courage and desire to fight back.
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3. Dorothea Lange
Known in the whole world as the most influential documentary photographer, Dorothea Lange presented the world with her historic work on the infamous Depression Era’s life and woes. She is best known for her Depression era’s documentary portraits. Though much work had been done in researching the effects and the lifestyle of the people during the depression era none could match the visceral and realistic touch of the documentary photograph work done by Dorothea for Farm Security Administration. She was instrumental in capturing the details of one of the darkest era in the history of US. During World War II, she meticulously documented the changes at the home front that were brought as repercussions of war. Most popularly known for her Migrant Mother series, her work is both sentimental and larger than life at the same time.
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4. Angus McBean
The Welsh photographer, Angus McBean was a devotee of cinema who was used to spending the significant amount of time of his youth in cinema. He is best known for capturing surreal portraits of celebrities. Known for being a born surrealist, his capture of portraits of celebrities and most importantly Audrey Hepburn is nothing short of glamorous and elegant. He is considered the most significant British photographer of modern times who introduced surrealism in portrait photography with such a finesse and beauty that left the audience enthralled and dumbstruck.
5. Diane Arbus
Known as the most original and enormously influential photographer, Diane Arbus’s work cannot be appreciated and understood by everyone. Her work is best known for providing the glimpse of the life of marginalized and non-conformist section. It has an undertone of stark surrealism and truth that is presented with the ugly and depressing undertone. But her work also had the profound effect on lives of those who came to appreciate and understand it in full form. The portraits of marginalized community of the society who are often derided and secluded are shown in so much detail and vividness that sometimes you are flabbergasted by the extent of emotions that are captured in the portraits.
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6. Yousuf Karsh
One of the most famous and talented photographers of all times, Yousuf Karsh’s portraits epitomizes the skill and ingenuity that are the hallmark of portrait photography. He captured portraits of not only famous men and women but also went on to capture the lives and details of thousands of others who formed the crux of Canadian society. The most popular feature of his work is his attention and focus to even ordinary people’s face and realities.
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7. Richard Avedon
The America’s fashion portrait photographer is renowned for defining the American fashion taste with a class that was unique and artistic. His portraits are best known for creating an image of America where fashion and art are valued. He helped in establish photography as the contemporary form of art. Style, culture, and beauty were aptly incorporated in the portraits to deliver masterpieces. All his portraits of celebrities attempt to reveal their truer side, a side that is often hidden from the public.
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8. Edward S. Curtis
With his greatest work, The North American Indian, Edward S. Curtis’s portrait work is unparalleled and unmatched in the field of photography. His work is famous for depicting beautifully the details of Native Indian tribes and their lifestyles. Devoting many years of his life to producing a masterpiece, he finally succeeded in producing something that is still considered an ambitious and a tough project. Deeply moved by primitive traditions and customs, he captured them with a magical, surreal touch that is difficult not to get mesmerized from. He created the timeless vision of the Indian native tribes.
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9. Philippe Halsman
It is often said that when there was no photoshop, there was the one and only Philippe Halsman who was an unusual photographer. He is best known for using unconventional photography techniques in his portraits. His exciting portraits of intellectuals, celebrities, and politicians alike adorned the cover of several magazines. His creative and often dynamic style of photography were in contrast to the more conventional portrait photography techniques. But it was this peculiarity that became the reason for his fame.
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10. Antonin Kartochvil
Antonin Kartochvil may not be recognized as the epitome of civility but he is unarguably the best portrait photography which is meticulous to the point of fanaticism in capturing human pain and suffering. Having lived through the pain and suffering himself, he empathizes with his subjects and knows how to capture the raw feelings. He is best known for capturing raw suffering and turmoil that is brought on by war and suppression.
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Each of the above-mentioned portrait photographers is held as the greatest ones due to their superiority and unmatchable work done in respective fields. Each one of them is an all out winner his/her contemporaries.
