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

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. 

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. 

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."

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. 

Fashion: Victor Demarchelier

- Born and raised in New York

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

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.

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

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