HELP photography techniques - famous photographers (Page 3): I don't know if you are in a high school or college photography class, but the suggestion of Ansel Adams is a good choice.

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

I don't know if you are in a high school or college photography class, but the suggestion of Ansel Adams is a good choice. He is obviously known for his images, but the development of the zone system, is what exposure is all based upon and is a much more significant contribution.

Most high school and college classes are still using film. You could pick a subject and create a series of prints that illustrate how the image was manipulated via exposure and development times. His work was more about technique than probably any other photographer.

I asked him at a workshop about photography and he explained that images were from the subject, but his photographs were from the darkroom. This is easier to do with large format than 35mm, but it can be done with either.

You could even illustrate his technique by applying it to the new digital cameras and the HDR process for expanding the camera through sensor exposure latitude in images.

frederdane Loc: Orlando, FL

docrob wrote:

PrairieSeasons wrote:

You're right - I had forgotten about the horse sequences. They were valuable as well, but I think that his more significant work was in human motion.

so you would suggest blurs and motion effects ala Earnest Haas?

Yes, I would absolutely go with Ernst Haas. He legitimized color photography as an art form - previously only B&W only really counted in critics eyes. All kinds of stories about him and how that influenced his work. Kodak's color film rated at 10 ASA, for example. When he heard they were going to discontinue it, he bought as much as he could and stored it in his freezer. His motion work "forced" on him because of the slow film speed. His work for Marlboro (what a dream photographer's assignment that was), stands out as artistry in advertising. Three samples of his work appended.

Black Wave
Black Wave...

Galloping Horses
Galloping Horses...

New York Traffic
New York Traffic...

terrysmay

Try Diane Arbus. Strange but interesting.

mnm

What about Henri Cartier Bresson and his technique of catching that "in the moment" piece. Do a search for him.

BruceM Loc: Swampscott, MA & Longboat Key

I would also like to suggest Elliot Erwitt. His black and white photos always portray not only a wry sense of humor but often have subtleties that are not readily apparent when first looking at his photographs.

Wheezie

George Hurrell for his dynamic & edgy portrait lighting

Mudshark Loc: Illinois

PrairieSeasons wrote:

You probably need to find a photographer who did /... (show quote)

That's interesting, I also thought about Muybridge, but thought the spelling was Edward...then I looked it up to check myself and found it both ways...must be a Euro spelling or something???
Nevertheless, he took photography to a different place and at the time blew a lot of minds.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Bozsik wrote:

. . . the development of the zone system, is what exposure is all based upon and is a much more significant contribution. . .

Not really. The basic research on sensitometry was published by Hurter and Driffield in 1890 and modern film speeds are based on work done by Kodak in the late 1930s and early 1940s.

The naming of Zones was a work of genius, but Adams most emphatically did not create the basis of exposure theory. For more information see http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps%20zone.html

Cheers,

R.

HEART Loc: God's Country - COLORADO

lawana wrote:

I am working on my final assignment for class and have to chose a photographer to emulate. My problem is just doing a google search for famous photographers doesn't really lead me anywhere. I don't want to just chose a good photographer but rather a specific technique the photographer uses. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Vivian Maier - Outstanding b&w photographer from the 40's. Street photographer who was a nanny, and in her spare time photographed over 100,000 images. In an unclaimed storage unit were hundreds of rolls of undeveloped film, thousands and thousands of slides, negatives, and prints. The coupe is noone knew of her. This website was where many of those images have migrated to a gallery. Quintisential photographer. Ansel Adams had nothing on her. The lucky owner of the storage unit has years of work ahead in sorting, cataloging and displaying her work. Good luck on your project!

http://www.vivianmaierprints.com/

jkf8685

Ray Atkeson published several books on the Oregon Coast with his artful Pics from up and down the coast. Some of his work he must have camped for days to get the sun and light just perfect.
Quite the Artist!
JFerguson

neil43

lawana wrote:

I am working on my final assignment for class and have to chose a photographer to emulate. My problem is just doing a google search for famous photographers doesn't really lead me anywhere. I don't want to just chose a good photographer but rather a specific technique the photographer uses. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

Check out William Eggleston.

StonyClove Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

Check out one of my favorites: Clarence John Laughlin - a neglected master of the B/W medium from the first half of the 20th Century.

tenbanshee Loc: Woodstock, IL

lawana wrote:

I am working on my final assignment for class and have to chose a photographer to emulate. My problem is just doing a google search for famous photographers doesn't really lead me anywhere. I don't want to just chose a good photographer but rather a specific technique the photographer uses. Any advice would be greatly appreciated

You said that you did a google search, but don't forget about books in a library. Just a thought. :thumbup:

PhotoArtsLA Loc: Boynton Beach

Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Pete Turner, Imogen Cunningham, Alfred Steiglitz, Francesco Scavullo, David Hume Kennerly... there, that's all I could write down in 30 seconds.

philo Loc: philo, ca

How can anyone not think of the man who has done for modern phography then Ansel Adams. He is considered by many to be the master of the zone system and black and white printing.