Researching Photographers
1.Man Ray
Man Ray was born into a Jewish/Russian family in South Philadelphia on the August 27, 1890 and his father worked as a tailor. When Ray was a young child him and his family moved to Brooklyn, New York. He showed a great deal of interest in art and after finishing high school he followed his passion for art by studying drawing at the Ferrer Center. He found inspiration at the Armory Show of 1913, which featured work from artists like Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky and Marcel. He is most well known for his work of the young women, who had the violin f holes on her naked back, which turned her body into an instrument. His work is mostly centered on the female body and transformed something so simple into ‘surrealist tropes’. I find his picture very alluring and quiet syndical, mainly due to the colour scheme, but also very clever and smart.
Man Ray was born into a Jewish/Russian family in South Philadelphia on the August 27, 1890 and his father worked as a tailor. When Ray was a young child him and his family moved to Brooklyn, New York. He showed a great deal of interest in art and after finishing high school he followed his passion for art by studying drawing at the Ferrer Center. He found inspiration at the Armory Show of 1913, which featured work from artists like Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky and Marcel. He is most well known for his work of the young women, who had the violin f holes on her naked back, which turned her body into an instrument. His work is mostly centered on the female body and transformed something so simple into ‘surrealist tropes’. I find his picture very alluring and quiet syndical, mainly due to the colour scheme, but also very clever and smart.
2.Steave McCurry
He was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, US and attended Penn State University. Although he did not graduate in film or photography, hiss passion for his hobby started when he began taking pictures for the Penn State University newspaper called 'The Daily Collegian.' After 2 years of doing this, he traveled to India and discovered his passion for the colours and religions and fell in love with the country’s vibrant coulours and now his pictures mostly focus in mid East Asia. His most known picture is one where he has captured a scared Afghan girl, who’s eyes really do tell us the story of her origin. I really like his use of rich energetic colour prints that transfer small moments of daily life with its struggles and joy into something that is quiet extraordinary and into art, his work is one of my favorite work as it’s very different to most others.
He was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, US and attended Penn State University. Although he did not graduate in film or photography, hiss passion for his hobby started when he began taking pictures for the Penn State University newspaper called 'The Daily Collegian.' After 2 years of doing this, he traveled to India and discovered his passion for the colours and religions and fell in love with the country’s vibrant coulours and now his pictures mostly focus in mid East Asia. His most known picture is one where he has captured a scared Afghan girl, who’s eyes really do tell us the story of her origin. I really like his use of rich energetic colour prints that transfer small moments of daily life with its struggles and joy into something that is quiet extraordinary and into art, his work is one of my favorite work as it’s very different to most others.
3.John Baldassari
John Anthony Baldassari was born in National City, CA on the 17th June 1931, who later became an American conceptual artist who is still known to this day for his work in photography, and was awarded with Honorary Doctorate from Sab Diego State University. Initially, Baldassari was a painter however he started to incorporate texts and photography into his canvass in the mid 1960’s. In 2009, his work exhibition ‘John Baldassari’ was opened at the Tate Modern in London. Personally, I do not really understand the intentions behind his photograph as they to me come across being quiet confusing. The main theme in most of his pictures is to use a very contrasting coulour, which he lays on top of the images that he initially took and this to me is very confusing, as I do not see the reason behind it.
John Anthony Baldassari was born in National City, CA on the 17th June 1931, who later became an American conceptual artist who is still known to this day for his work in photography, and was awarded with Honorary Doctorate from Sab Diego State University. Initially, Baldassari was a painter however he started to incorporate texts and photography into his canvass in the mid 1960’s. In 2009, his work exhibition ‘John Baldassari’ was opened at the Tate Modern in London. Personally, I do not really understand the intentions behind his photograph as they to me come across being quiet confusing. The main theme in most of his pictures is to use a very contrasting coulour, which he lays on top of the images that he initially took and this to me is very confusing, as I do not see the reason behind it.
4.Annue Leibowitz
Annue Lou Leibowitz was born on October 2, 1949, in Waterbury, Connecticut into a family of 6 other siblings with her father Sam, who was an Air Force lieutenant, and her mother Marilyn Leibovitz, who was a modern dance instructor. In 1967, Annue enrolled at the San Francisco Art Institute, where although she was studying painting, fell in love with photography. In 1970 she applied for a job with the magazine ‘Rolling Stone’ and after getting the job, she was promoted to be the chief photographer after just 2 years of working for the magazine. The ‘Rolling Stone’ developed her trademark technique, which encouraged her use of bold primary colours. I really like her photography work because although they don’t seem as adventurous as the other work they are all simple but very alluring.
Annue Lou Leibowitz was born on October 2, 1949, in Waterbury, Connecticut into a family of 6 other siblings with her father Sam, who was an Air Force lieutenant, and her mother Marilyn Leibovitz, who was a modern dance instructor. In 1967, Annue enrolled at the San Francisco Art Institute, where although she was studying painting, fell in love with photography. In 1970 she applied for a job with the magazine ‘Rolling Stone’ and after getting the job, she was promoted to be the chief photographer after just 2 years of working for the magazine. The ‘Rolling Stone’ developed her trademark technique, which encouraged her use of bold primary colours. I really like her photography work because although they don’t seem as adventurous as the other work they are all simple but very alluring.
5.Barbara Kruger
Barbara Kruger was born in Newark, New Jersey on January 26th, 1945 where her father worked as a chemical technician and her mother was a legal secretary. After she attended Syracuse University the school of Design in New York, she obtained a design job at publication, working for mademoiselle Magazine, she was quickly promoted to head designer. After this, she worked as a graphic designer, art director and a picture editor. In her early years as a visual artist, Kruger, she started to develop her significant idea behind her photography, which was to explore gender and identity. I think her photography is very different to the other artists as hers includes text so that we are able to really understand the picture.
Barbara Kruger was born in Newark, New Jersey on January 26th, 1945 where her father worked as a chemical technician and her mother was a legal secretary. After she attended Syracuse University the school of Design in New York, she obtained a design job at publication, working for mademoiselle Magazine, she was quickly promoted to head designer. After this, she worked as a graphic designer, art director and a picture editor. In her early years as a visual artist, Kruger, she started to develop her significant idea behind her photography, which was to explore gender and identity. I think her photography is very different to the other artists as hers includes text so that we are able to really understand the picture.
6.Irving penn
Irving Penn was born on 16th June 1917 in Plainfield, N.J, and educated in public school; he attended the Philadelphia Museum School of Art for 4 years, where he was taught advertising design. While training for a career as an art director, Penn worked the last two summers for ‘Harper’s Bazzar’ magazine as an office boy and apprentice artist, sketching shoes; this is when he wanted to pursue the career as a photographer. His work consists of him taking many creative risks for example at one time he placed two backgrounds to form a corner into which his two subjects was asked to enter. In 1950 Penn founded his very own studio in New York where he continued to pursue his love of photography.
Irving Penn was born on 16th June 1917 in Plainfield, N.J, and educated in public school; he attended the Philadelphia Museum School of Art for 4 years, where he was taught advertising design. While training for a career as an art director, Penn worked the last two summers for ‘Harper’s Bazzar’ magazine as an office boy and apprentice artist, sketching shoes; this is when he wanted to pursue the career as a photographer. His work consists of him taking many creative risks for example at one time he placed two backgrounds to form a corner into which his two subjects was asked to enter. In 1950 Penn founded his very own studio in New York where he continued to pursue his love of photography.
7.Anne Gedds
Anne Gedds was born on 13th September 1956 in Australia and was born into a childhood full of hardships, as she had to work in a cattle farm with her family. She didn’t do so well in school so she dropped out of school and home at the age of 17. After she met and married Kel, her husband, she moved to Hong Kong and by the age of 25, she had taught herself photography using her husband’s camera. 2 years later she had already built/started a small portfolio, where she specialized in baby photography. As her work is heavily focused on babies, I find that after seeing a few of them, it can seem rather repetitive or boring.
Anne Gedds was born on 13th September 1956 in Australia and was born into a childhood full of hardships, as she had to work in a cattle farm with her family. She didn’t do so well in school so she dropped out of school and home at the age of 17. After she met and married Kel, her husband, she moved to Hong Kong and by the age of 25, she had taught herself photography using her husband’s camera. 2 years later she had already built/started a small portfolio, where she specialized in baby photography. As her work is heavily focused on babies, I find that after seeing a few of them, it can seem rather repetitive or boring.
8.Nick Knight
Nick Knight was born on 24th November 1958 in Chiswick, west London. He studied photography at Bournemouth& Poole College of Art and Design, where he graduated with a distinction in 1982. After graduation he published Skinheads, his first ever photography book. During this time, Terry Jones, the magazine editor of I-D, commissioned him to produce 100 portraits for the fifth anniversary issue of the magazine. Due to this he was commissioned to calibrate with Peter Saville (graphic designer). Knight has also received a lot of awards for throughout his years as a photographer. He also has a book out called ‘Nick Knight’ which has more fashion photographs by him and explores new photographic gadgets and techniques. I find his work to be very exciting and it instantly got my attention by the vibrant colours as well as the mystery behind the photo.
8.Nick Knight
Nick Knight was born on 24th November 1958 in Chiswick, west London. He studied photography at Bournemouth& Poole College of Art and Design, where he graduated with a distinction in 1982. After graduation he published Skinheads, his first ever photography book. During this time, Terry Jones, the magazine editor of I-D, commissioned him to produce 100 portraits for the fifth anniversary issue of the magazine. Due to this he was commissioned to calibrate with Peter Saville (graphic designer). Knight has also received a lot of awards for throughout his years as a photographer. He also has a book out called ‘Nick Knight’ which has more fashion photographs by him and explores new photographic gadgets and techniques. I find his work to be very exciting and it instantly got my attention by the vibrant colours as well as the mystery behind the photo.
9.William Klein
William Klein was born in New York on 19th April 1928, into a poor Jewish family, his father who worked at a clothing business. Growing up he faced a lot of anti-Semitism from not only his friends but also society in general. Growing up he was described as a bright, sarcastic kid who had a true passion for art. He loved the ‘MOMA’ (museum of modern art) and said that from the age of 12 it was his second home. As an artist using photography, he set out to re-invent the photographic document. His photo are often blurred or out of focus, highly contrasted prints, high grain and wide angles and is known for his ironic approach to both media and his own photographic techniques, this is why he is ranked 25th on professional photographer’s list.
William Klein was born in New York on 19th April 1928, into a poor Jewish family, his father who worked at a clothing business. Growing up he faced a lot of anti-Semitism from not only his friends but also society in general. Growing up he was described as a bright, sarcastic kid who had a true passion for art. He loved the ‘MOMA’ (museum of modern art) and said that from the age of 12 it was his second home. As an artist using photography, he set out to re-invent the photographic document. His photo are often blurred or out of focus, highly contrasted prints, high grain and wide angles and is known for his ironic approach to both media and his own photographic techniques, this is why he is ranked 25th on professional photographer’s list.
10.Andreas Gursky
Andreas Gursky, is a German photographer, born on the 15th January 1955 in Leipzig, who is also a Professor at a German school. Gursky was born into a family with the history of photography, practiced by his father and grandfather.
He studied photography in Essen at the Folkwang Academy during the late 1970’s. He is best known for his large format architecture and landscape colour photography. His unique compositional strategies result in dramatic images that walk the line between representation and abstraction. By the late 1980’s Gursky was producing photographs so large that they could only be printed only in commercial labs. I think that Andreas’s work is in a very large scale, where you can see the full picture however its very hard to notice the very small and faint details, because of this I am not a huge fan of his work.
Andreas Gursky, is a German photographer, born on the 15th January 1955 in Leipzig, who is also a Professor at a German school. Gursky was born into a family with the history of photography, practiced by his father and grandfather.
He studied photography in Essen at the Folkwang Academy during the late 1970’s. He is best known for his large format architecture and landscape colour photography. His unique compositional strategies result in dramatic images that walk the line between representation and abstraction. By the late 1980’s Gursky was producing photographs so large that they could only be printed only in commercial labs. I think that Andreas’s work is in a very large scale, where you can see the full picture however its very hard to notice the very small and faint details, because of this I am not a huge fan of his work.
My photography inspired by Man Ray
I used Man Ray as an inspiration to turn this hand into an instrument(recorder) as he did the same by turning the woman's back into a violin. I also made the picture black and white to fit in with his theme of images which are all captured in black and white.