The masters of portrait photography. Who are they?

[DocFrankenstein]

What are the Ansel Adamses of portrait photography?

[Tlee05]

Me....

[aam1234]

One name that comes to mind is Karsh (hope I got the name right). Check him out, he is really special.

Edit: Here's a site about Yousuf Karsh (http://www.westongallery.com/artists/y_karsh/yousuf_karsh.html).

Edit2: Another one is the British photographer who just passed away, maybe 3-4 weeks ago. Hope somebody knows his name. He has an outstanding work, and some of his photos are icons.

[cdifoto]

Anyone who makes a lot of (make up your own definition of a lot) money at it is a master. Doesn't matter if they're actually good or not.

[Curtis N]

Steve McCurry.

[scotgasch]

Don Blair, Dean Collins, Hugh Frazier, and Frank Cricchio to name a few.

[grego]

Greg Gorman http://www.greggormanphotography.com/
Annie Leibovitz (can't find a site of hers)

[Robert_Lay]

That is soooo subjective. Each of us can think of several portrait photographers who stand above the crowd. It really depends on the "style" of portraiture that you like. In many ways, Irving Penn's approach is ludicrous, with his grey bedsheet backdrops, but I like the end result. His concept of isolating his subjects while preserving their unique attributes is very revealing and appealing.

[grego]

That is soooo subjective. Each of us can think of several portrait photographers who stand above the crowd. It really depends on the "style" of portraiture that you like. In many ways, Irving Penn's approach is ludicrous, with his grey bedsheet backdrops, but I like the end result. His concept of isolating his subjects while preserving their unique attributes is very revealing and appealing.

Yup, that's photography for you, even in a more isolated topic like portraits. :)

[Jon]

Halsmann.

[Sageg]

I'd include Anton Corbijn

http://www.corbijn.co.uk/

[Longwatcher]

I will add my vote for Annie Leibovitz.
Everyone else will get a lot of "who?"

I have a lot of favorites who do portraits, but when I think of THE portrait photographer I think of Annie Leibovitz.

[DocFrankenstein]

I wouldnt' mind any "whos?" as long as they have nice work.

[F. Stop Fitzgerald]

In many ways, Irving Penn's approach is ludicrous, with his grey bedsheet backdrops, but I like the end result. His concept of isolating his subjects while preserving their unique attributes is very revealing and appealing.


Interesting thought here. My sentiments too, but strangely, his name and Yusef Karsh's name came to mind first.

[Barb42]

That is soooo subjective. Each of us can think of several portrait photographers who stand above the crowd. It really depends on the "style" of portraiture that you like. In many ways, Irving Penn's approach is ludicrous, with his grey bedsheet backdrops, but I like the end result. His concept of isolating his subjects while preserving their unique attributes is very revealing and appealing.

Ludicrous? Strong word. I can't say that I understand why using a background is ever 'ludicrous'.

[Robert_Lay]

Ludicrous? Strong word. I can't say that I understand why using a background is ever 'ludicrous'.

You are correct. "Using a background" is not ludicrous.

Perhaps you have never seen the actual backdrops that he used in his Neutral Ground series. If not, visit your nearest Pizza Hut! Then decide what the proper adjective should be. Maybe I should have said that they were "amusing", or "very unusual".

[Mark_Cohran]

Another vote for Steve McCurry here. He gets the job done in the field and under the worst conditions. That makes him a master in my book.

Mark

[F. Stop Fitzgerald]

Ludicrous? Strong word. I can't say that I understand why using a background is ever 'ludicrous'.

You need to see Penn's work from this time period. He was reaching for minimalism, hence, the plain gray background.

[Nightcrawler]

My vote is for Kevyn Major Howard. http://www.headshot-photography.com/

[maderito]

My vote is for Kevyn Major Howard. http://www.headshot-photography.com/ Interesting site. Howard's approach is to capture the eyes. In looking through samples of his work, it's really interesting how your viewing eye is drawn immediately to the subject's eye. Well conceived and executed photographic technique.

[Barb42]

I searched for Penn's work on the Internet, specifically looking for his gray backgrounds. Quite interesting actually. It is apparent that he wants the subject alone to hold sway over the visual stage he establishes and the background appears to help. It has an interesting effect of pulling the subject out of its own time.

[garbidz]

I really like Sally Mann
http://www.art-forum.org/z_Mann/gallery.htm

[dietcookie]

Steve McCurry is good, David Lachapelle is really really good too.

[HJMinard]

Herb Ritts

[TheFlyOnTheWall]

Another Corbijn fan here...

[NickUK]

Lichfield and Bailey.

[aam1234]

Martin.

[ctymom]

Annie Leibovitz (can't find a site of hers)
Wish she did have a site. Would love to see some other takes on the photo session she did with the Carpenters for Rolling Stone Magazine.

Pamela