Fine Art: Ansel Adams

- February 20, 1902 - April 22, 1984

- American photographer and environmentalist

- His black-and-white landscape photographs of the American West, especially Yosemite National Park, have been widely reproduced on calendars and posters, and in books.

   THE TETONS AND THE SNAKE RIVER, 1942

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I absolutely love the different tones in this photograph, and the way the light follows the curve of the river adds depth to the scene. There is a gradual progression from dark tones in the foreground, to lighter tones in the middleground and then a range in the background across the mountains. I also like the way the clouds roll over the mountains, adding even more depth and making the whole scene feel very dramatic. 

STORM IN YOSEMITE VALLEY, 1935

MOONRISE, HERNANDEZ, NEW MEXICO, 1941

Fine Art

Also known as "photographic art”, the term "fine art photography" has no agreed meaning or definition. It refers to an imprecise category of photographs, created in accordance with the creative vision of the photographer. 

Instead of capturing a realistic rendition of the subject, the photographer is aiming to produce a more personal - typically more evocative or atmospheric - impression.

Fashion: Ben Hassett

- Ben Hassett shoots for Vogue, Numéro, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, and more, often abstracting elements of his images like hair, shadows, and poses. 

- His work contains the boldness necessary for fashion photography. He’s done iconic ad campaigns for Calvin Klein Cosmetics, Bulgari, YSL Beauté, Lanvin, Burberry, L’Oreal, and Christian Dior Beauté.

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I love the way Hassett focuses on the subject’s hair to make the mood bold and extravagent. The tones create a tense, dramatic atmosphere and reflect the power behind the fashion industry. I also like how it's obviously been composed and rehearsed, but it looks natural and spontaneous. 

Architectural: Randy Scott Slavin

- New York-based photographer Randy Scott Slavin's work takes on a form that strays from traditional photography of city skylines. 

- Instead of going for the typical view of the landscape format following the horizon line, he opts to disorientate the viewer all together by joining hundreds of photographs together to create distorted views of familiar American cityscapes.

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I absolutely love the technique that Slavin has used, and the way it fully captures New York and how built up it is. He represents the true image of the city and the angles he’s used emphasise the large scale of the buildings. I feel as though this photo almost transports you into the city because it seems to enclose you and the tones make it appear almost magical as well as warm and welcoming. It’s easy to get lost in the photo and feel part of something, just as you do in New York. 

Street: Richard Sandler

- Richard Sandler is a street photographer, based in New York City. Photographing in black and white, he makes either subtle or overt suggestions about social injustice in powerful ways.

- He has been a photographer since 1977 and a filmmaker since 1992. 

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I personally feel as though the dull tones of this photograph highlight the issues with society in a powerful, effective way. Sandler clearly wants to create controversy and raise awareness of issues, and he does this by focusing on two separate signs. On the left, you can just about see “GOD GAVE ADAM EVE, NOT STEVE!” and on the right, you can see a contrasting message “GOD REALLY LOVES HOMOSEXUALS, GOD REALLY HATES HOMOSEXUALITY” a lot clearer. He also uses a low angle to capture the whole scene, which also shows the man speaking as being quite intimidating and dominant. 

Illustration

Illustration photography is just what it sounds like: using photos to illustrate an action, story or item that is presented better with some form of visualisation.

Illustration photography was first used in magazines, newsletters and on TV to show readers and viewers exactly what an advertisement was talking about.

Catalog producers wanted to get the most information they could about their products into the hands of potential customers. The illustrations started as drawings, but popularity soon turned toward photos. Following this market growth, companies either employed full-time photographers or hired independent ones to design and create photo layouts that showed products in their best light.

Photographers can use their photos to illustrate the items at historic sites or museums. Brochures guide visitors to a historic site by giving a photo for each destination, along with a caption that tells visitors what they are looking at. For museums, photographs illustrating the exhibits are often used for self-guided tours.

Medical

Medical Photography is a specialised area of photography that involves the documentation of the clinical presentation of patients, medical and surgical procedures, medical devices and specimens from autopsy.The practice requires a high level of technical skill to prevent misleading information that may cause misinterpretation. The photographs are used in clinical documentation, research, publication in scientific journals and teaching. 

The sciences were quick to realise the merits of photography because of its perceived ability to present an objective image of what was seen. This solved a problem of representation by artists who were asked to produce illustrations only from description or highly influenced by the interpretation of physicians and surgeons. 

Dr. Reed. B. Bontecou, a physician and soldier from New York, took a camera to the American Civil War (1861–1865) and photographed wounded soldiers as well as documenting treatments, surgeries and working conditions of the physician.

Architectural

Architectural photography is the photographing of buildings and similar structures that are both aesthetically pleasing and accurate representations of their subjects. 

Architectural photographers are usually skilled in the use of specialised techniques and equipment.

As building designs changed, architectural photography also evolved. During the early-to-mid-20th century, architectural photography became more creative as photographers used diagonal lines and bold shadows in their compositions.

Studio: Terry Richardson

- Throughout his career, Richardson has shot the campaigns of fashion brands and designers such as: Marc Jacobs, Aldo, Tom Ford, and Yves Saint Laurent. He has done work for magazines such as Rolling Stone, GQ, Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, i-D, and Vice.

- There are several repeating themes in Richardson's work, including putting high-profile celebrities in mundane situations and photographing them using traditional methods such as the use of an instant camera.

- His work also explores ideas of sexuality, with many of the pieces featured in his books involving full-frontal nudity and both simulated and actual sexual acts.Initially, many of Richardson's subjects would be shot before a white background but he eventually expanded to other backdrops. 

- Richardson is also known for his nonsexual portraiture. He has taken portraits of celebrities and politicians including Samuel L. Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jon Bon Jovi, Pharrell Williams, Daft Punk, and Barack Obama.

- Some models he has worked with, including Jamie Peck and Charlotte Waters, have accused Richardson of inappropriate sexual behaviour and exploiting young female models. 

Studio

A photographic studio is a workspace, providing space to take, develop, print and duplicate photographs. Photographic training and the display of finished photographs may also be accommodated in a photographic studio. Accordingly, the workspace may possess a darkroom, storage space, a studio proper - where photographs are taken, and a display room, as well as space for other related work.

Street: Humans of New York

Brandon Stanton came to New York after a three-year stint as a bond trader in Chicago. He decided to pursue his passion of photography professionally after he lost his job in 2010. He started to take candid portraits on streets which became a hit on his Facebook page. Brandon is most known for his photo blog Humans of New York (HONY), started in 2010.

“Is that your Rolls Royce?”

“No but I can pretend like I’m getting in.”

"After my last child left the house, it really hit home that at the end of every life is loneliness." 

"If I’m ever arguing with her mom, I just look down and remind myself 

that this beautiful woman gave me this beautiful child. And this 

child doesn’t care who’s right or who’s wrong, all she cares 

about is that mommy and daddy are there."

Street

Street photography is photography that features the human condition within public places and does not necessitate the presence of a street or an urban environment.

The introduction of digital photography, and the popularity of photo-sharing via the internet, has greatly expanded an awareness of the genre. 

Street photographers create fine art photography (including street portraits) by capturing people in public places, often with a focus on emotions displayed by people in public, resulting in recording people's history from an emotional point of view.

Portraiture: Bryan Adams

- Adams works as a photographer as well as musician, aside from being published in British Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Esquire, Interview magazine and i-D, he has also shot advertising campaigns for Guess Jeans, Converse, Fred Perry, and more recently for Escada.

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I love how this photograph is a professional portrait, taken for a magazine, yet the set up and the subject look so relaxed. The light tones of the subject's hair and dress, as well as her dramatic posture are all that's needed to make it look well-composed, striking and powerful. 

Portraiture

A portrait is a painting, drawing or photograph of a person. It usually consists of the subjects shoulders and upwards, with the face being the focal point of the image, in order to display the expression, personality, and mood of the subject. 

Subjects are generally seated against plain backgrounds and lit with the soft light of an overhead window or with studio lighting. Advances in photographic equipment and techniques have developed, and given photographers the ability to capture images with shorter exposure times and experiment outside of the studio.

Portrait photography is not something that can be effectively achieved by just anyone. There is more to this application of photography than family photos, it's more about taking a well composed photograph of a subject and creating something more artistic and powerful.

Some of the most highly anticipated portraits are those of the British Royal Family. There are official ones which tend to be painting and are unveiled at big events, and there are unofficial ones which tend to be photographs taken by other well-respected photographers.

Mario Testino is considered to be the 'King' of Royal photographs, and Princess Diana is remembered at her best in her last ever photoshoot in which she chose Testino as the photographer.

Fashion: Victor Demarchelier

- Born and raised in New York

- Victor’s work has appeared in Vogue, Bazaar, Numero, V and Wonderland

Fashion

Devoted to displaying clothing and other fashion items. Fashion photography is most often conducted for advertisements or fashion magazines such as Vogue or Vanity Fair.

Fashion photography was born in the 1830s and over the years has produced fashion icons such as Tyra Banks, Kate Moss, Heidi Klum, Gisele Bündchen and Naomi Campbell.  It has become very much a mainstream part of photography, enabling models to launch their careers and influence young girls across the world. 

I consider fashion photography to be something that everyone thinks they can do, but I believe that in order to make your mark in the industry, you have to create something different. The best known fashion photographers aren't afraid to break boundaries and experiment, and they are the kind of people who will get their work published in Vogue and big fashion magazines. 

Promotional

Photographs made to promote a service or product. A short term, cheaper equivalent to advertising. Often used for band promotions. 

Advertising: Jonathan Knowles

- Jonathan Knowles is a London based photographer specialising in graphic still life, liquid and people photography.

-His unique photographic style has earned him award winning, national and international advertising commissions working with agencies worldwide.

Advertising

Photographs that are generally taken for an advertising agency or design firm. The photographer's aim is not usually to create a piece of art, but rather to influence the sale of a product or service.   

During the First World War, photographs were used to advertise and inform people of the benefits of a certain product. It was soon discovered that photographs could help make products more appealing.

In modern times, Advertising photography is very common and appears all around us; at bus stops and on the backs of buses, on billboards, the sides of buildings, in shop windows etc . It can be very expensive but since we are all forced to take notice of adverts in day to day life, it's obviously very effective. This form of photography can often be deemed as controversial for not representing a product or service accurately. For example, fast food chains always advertise their food in an appealing manor but fail to tell consumers exactly what the food contains. 

Documentary: Lewis Hine

September 26, 1874 – November 3, 1940

- He documented child labour after becoming the photographer for The National Child Labour Committee

- In 1913 he documented child labourers among cotton mill children 

- As a photographer he was frequently threatened with violence or even death by factory police and foreman. 

- The immorality of child labour was meant to be hidden from the public so in order to gain entry into these mills, mines and factories, Hines was forced to assume many disguises. At times he was a fire inspector, post card vendor or a bible salesman

Documentary

Documentary photography refers to a popular form of photography used to chronicle both significant and historical events and everyday life. 

The photographer attempts to produce truthful, objective, and usually candid photography of a particular subject, most often pictures of people.

Documentary photography has been used to document everything from world-scale events such as war and terrorism, to people's every day lives.

From the 1850s in America, photography was used for war reportage.

Lewis Hine's images helped to pass the Child Labor Law in America and during the Depression, Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans documented the lives of farm workers in America and how the depression had affected them.

In the 1930s, the concept of a story told through a series of photographs, a photographic essay, was created. This series of images is more powerful in conveying the photographers than a single image alone.

I personally believe that documentary photography often relies on being in the right place at the right time. Some of the best photographs of all time were only captured out of luck, therefore it is easy for anyone to take good photos and share them with the world. Professional photographers, however, usually have an idea in their head of the way in which they want to capture something, or what they want to achieve through their work. 

Photojournalism: Mary Ellen Mark

- Born in Philadelphia, 1940

- Started her career as a freelance photojournalist in the mid 1960s

- Her signature style involved combining a documentary approach with a fascination with the bizarre 

- One of the key themes in her work was children acting like adults

- Moved to New York in 1967 and published photo-stories in The New York Times and Life

- Worked on film sets, taking production stills

Photojournalism: Politics

Erich Salomon pioneered candid photography with a compilation of portraiture in 1931, titled ‘Famous Contemporaries in Unguarded Moments’. He disguised his camera in order to gain entrance to political conferences and court cases. 

As the world gained insight into politics, politicians ensured they were always ready to be in front of camera and shared notable moments and achievements, as well as disasters. 

WINSTON CHURCHILL RE-ELECTED TO PARLIAMENT, 1959

Photojournalism: Celebrity

In the 20th century, people became obsessed with publicity and people such as Frida Kahlo and Albert Einstein used this to shape their image. 

Film stars such as Lana Turner used photojournalism to present themselves as ‘real people’ to the outside world, while others such as Gloria Swanson attempted to make themselves appear untouchable. 

LANA TURNER AND JOHN GAVIN ON THE SET OF ‘IMITATION OF LIFE’ 1959

ALBERT EINSTEIN, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY 1941

   GLORIA SWANSON, INTERVIEW 1969