Photography

Decorative arts (Fine arts)

A picture can speak a thousand words.
From the traditional pinhole camera to the
sassy digital cameras of today, photography
has witnessed a metamorphosis in terms of
equipments used and in the style of approach
to obtain a good picture.
 Fashion Photography
Irving Penn
This American photographer was known for his chic and elegant frames especially
post World War II. After his graduation in 1938, he was part of the Vogue
magazine, where he employed techniques such as the use of white or grey
backdrops which was a big leap for his period. Always a step ahead of his times,
Penns series on nudes created quite a stir.

Terence Donovan
This British photographer was widely known for his fashion photography in the
60s. With a flair for adventure, it was reflected in his work when his models had to
accomplish daredevil stunts for a pretty picture! With around 3000 commercials
under his belt, he rubbed shoulders with Londons rich and famous and became a
most sought after celebrity photographer as well.
Richard Avedon
He broke away from the traditional way models faced the camera. This New York
born talented photographer, set up his own studio in 1946. He showcased his
models in a natural light and his works found their way into the pages of
magazines like Vogue and Life. Avedon bagged many awards for his translation
of fashion photography during his time.
Coco Chanel may have been the creator of
'The Little Black Dress' but nobody did it
better than Audrey in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'
Marilyn created ripples in this dress which she
had to be sewn into. Singing Happy Birthday
to JFK at Madison Square Garden.
Whilst Prince Charles was spilling the beans on the
BBC, Diana turned up to an event wearing this dress,
a new beginning for Diana. This was the start of
Diana's modern and sexier new look.
Irving Penn
 Irving Penn

Cafe in Lima by Irving Penn,

One of Penn's iconic Vogue covers
Vogue, Feb 15, 1949
Kate Moss by Irving Penn - It is no surprise that Kate Moss
makes this list again, this time shot by Irving Penn.
This iconic shot cemented her position as the perennial waif.
Terence Donovan

Diana, Princess of Wales

by Terence Daniel Donovan
bromide print, 1990
12 in. x 7 7/8 in. (306 mm x 201 mm)
Given by the photographer's widow, Diana Donovan, 1998
 Richard Avedon

Nastassja Kinski snake

Richard Avedon
 Nature/Wildlife Photography
Ansel Adams
A hard-core environmentalist, this San Francisco born photographer was best
known for his contribution towards black and white photographs. He always
highlighted issues related to nature and created some epic photographic murals
during his time. A recipient of three Guggenheim fellowships, he was first inspired
by the works of Paul Strand.
Frans Lanting
Born in Rotterdam, Lanting is a popular name for magazines like the National
Geographic, Life and Outdoor Photographer. Having traveled to various places,
Frans had an inclination towards the flora and fauna of the tropical rainforests,
which culminated in an exhibition in the Field Museum of natural history.
Galen Avery Rowell
For years Galen explored his relationship with the wilderness and captured in on
his camera to captivate people. A winner of the Ansel Adams Award for wilderness
photography in 1984, he also worked for reputed publications. He went in-depth
when it came to his photography and scaled new heights in this subject. He went
on excursions, climbed mountains, which added a different flavor to his frames.
Ansel Adam
Ansel Adams (1902-1984) was a
groundbreaking photographer
credited with devising the zone
system technique (a method of
concentrating light on negatives to
control the look of finished pictures)
and the theory of visualization (the
act of measuring a scenes light to
imagine a finished photo).
He is most famously known for his
black and white photo series of the
Yosemite Valley in California.
He also authored many instructional
books defining and developing his
theories.
Ansel Adam
Frans Lanting
Galen Avery Rowell
 Photojournalism
Henri Cartier-Bresson
A French photographer, he has influenced photojournalists for many years. From
the modest brownie box he moved on to the Leica camera and created visual
sagas. He received international acclaim for his coverage of Gandhis funeral in
India in 1948. He traveled extensively around the globe and firmly believed that
photography was all about capturing the image at the right moment.
Eddie Adams
Recipient of the Pulitzer award and over 500 prizes to his credit, it was the
Vietnam War that saw him get recognition for his best-known photograph which
shocked people around the globe (clicked on Saigon street). Adams was a known
figure for his portraits of celebrities, politicians and wars. He believed the
particular scene could always be manipulated to change the actual truth as seen
by the photographer.
Felice Beato
Although his origins have created confusion, Felice Beato was one of the first
famous war photographers. His inclination to travel saw him capture many moods
and moments of the people from different lands. He went from India to Japan and
even China. Felice captured the Indian rebellion of 1857 and the second Opium
War on film. His powerful and long-lasting images influenced other photographers
as well.
February 1, 1968. South Vietnam police chief
Nguyen Ngoc Loan shots a young man, whom
he suspects to be a Viet Kong soldier. Photo
Credits: Eddie Adams, USA, The Associated
Press.
Felice Beato Taj Mahal 1865
1963. Thich Quang Duc, the Buddhist priest in Southern Vietnam ,
burns himself to death protesting the governments torture policy
against priests. Thich Quang Dug never made a sound or moved
while he was burning. Photo Credits:Malcolm W. Browne,The
Associated Press.

Nagao, Japan, Mainichi Shimbun

1972. Trangbang, South Vietnam, 8 June 1972. Phan Thi Kim
Phuc (center) flees from the scene where South Vietnamese
planes have mistakenly dropped napalm. Photo Credit:
(Nick) Ut Cong Huynh, Vietnam, The Associated Press.
1989. Beijing, China, 4 June 1989. A demonstrator confronts a
line of Peoples Liberation Army tanks during Tiananmen
Square demonstrations for democratic reform. Photo Credits:
Charlie Cole, USA, Newsweek.
 Portrait photography
Ueno Hikoma
Born in Nagasaki, Ueno had exceptional judgment when it came to portrait and also landscape
photography. He started out with his own commercial studio and gained experience in portrait
photography by snapping a lot of Japanese people (who were hesitant initially) and even foreigners. He
even photographed the Russian Crown Prince in 1891. The "Kyushu Sangyo University Photo Contest" was
established in 2000 in memory of Ueno Hikoma to encourage budding photographers.

Philippe Halsman
Although Halsman suffered a few setbacks in his personal life early on, he went on to gain a reputation as
one of the leading portrait photographers of his time. A Latvian-born American, his images were sharp and
dark unlike the soft look generally used for portraits. After contributing to magazines like the Vogue, he
scaled new heights when he met the surrealist artist Salvador Dali. It took him three hours to photograph
the Voluptas Mors, which was a surrealist portrait of Dali, a skull and seven nude figures. He also
developed the philosophy of jump Photography, to display the real person within. In his booming career,
he had also captured celebrities like Alfred Hitchcock, Marilyn Monroe, Winston Churchill, Judy Garland
and Pablo Picasso on frame.

Hiroh Kikai
This Japanese photographer was best known for his monochrome portraits in the Asakusa area of Tokyo.
His early years witnessed a lot of struggle, and spent his free time photographing visitors in Asakusa. A
perfectionist at what he captured, Kikai would wait for a period of three days in the sole expectation of
finding a subject he liked. He used the backdrop of Asakusa because he was really fond of the natural
environs. In the year 1987, Ecce Homo was the first collection of these portraits to be published. His
portraits from India though were contrasting to his formal pictures in Asakusa.
Ueno Hikoma

"Matsudaira Tadanari, lord of the Ueda

Salvador Dali by Philippie Halsman
Philippe Halsman shots an unsurpassed 101
covers for Life magazine, working with some of
the most iconic and influential public figures of
that era. And at the end of his sessions, he
would ask his models to jump.
 Aerial Photography
Talbert Abrams
It was when he served the US Marine Corps during World War-I, that connected
Abrams with aerial photography. Seeing his squadrons photographic depictions of
the rebel activities in Haiti, he decided to pursue this art. It was in 1923, he
purchased the Standard J-1 and founded the Abrams Aerial Survey Corporation. It
researched ways to develop better-equipped cameras and other gadgets related to
this field.
William Garnett
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Garnett began his career as a photographer and a graphic
designer in 1938. He assisted the U.S. army in the production of training films for
the U.S. Signal Corps. By 1949, he had purchased his first plane and moved on to
aerial photography, a subject that had held his interest for long. A winner of the
first three Guggenheim fellowships, he moved on to purchase a Cessna 170B in
1956, which underwent modifications to suit his photographic requirements.
Armed with a Pentax, he created many visual stories that were featured in the
leading national magazines in the years to come.
Photography has branched out into many
more categories than the ones covered here.
Underwater photography, satellite
photography, documentary photography and
advertising photography are also becoming
increasingly popular.

By Kashmira Lad