Who is your favourite photographer?

[Tom]

And why?
My favourite photographer always used a 50mm lens and had his prints made with the margin of the negative - to show that he did his composition before pushing the button.

[arnet]

I did a photography course while doing my Degree and we had to do a paper on our favorite photographers. I picked James Nachtwey. I watched a documentary on him and he intrigued me and his pictures are absolutely amazing. Check him out if you get some time. His work speaks for itself.

[David]

I'm not sure I have a favourite photographer but there are a number I admire. One on my list is Edward Weston (http://www.edward-weston.com/edward_weston.htm). His work is often over-shadowed by that of Ansel Adams (the work is similar) but somehow, Weston's work seems less detached.

[Tom]

In case you had not guessed, he is, unchallengably in my view, the greatest photographer - and perhaps the only great photographer. I can take 100,000 pictures without getting one shot nearly as good as HCB. I've proved it! See his work at: http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.PhotographerDetail_VPage&l1=0&pid=2K7O3R14T1LX&nm=Henri%20Cartier%20-%20Bresson

He was also a brave man, who spent 3 years in a concentration camp, and a wise man. Re his wisdom, he said that taking a good photograph involves the eye, the heart and the brain. He used a 50mm lens and had all his negs printed with their margins - to prove that he did his composition before pressing the button.

What can web designers learn from photography? One thing is to select images with the greatest possible care.

[Tom]

We've discussed this before, but please read this clear and personal account of the issues
http://www.flickr.com/groups/central/discuss/72157600541608353/

[TMORSHED]

I don't know much about photography but I like helmut newton's photography. He is famous for nude studies of women. I like any humane based photography or sculpture.

[Tom]

Helmut Newton definitely has a good eye and excellent technique. I once read an article about his personal life in the paper saying that his interest in the models was not entirely abstract! But this fits with Cartier Bresson's axiom that the heart needs to be engaged with what you are photographing.