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Dora Maar -

Best known as Pablo Picasso's muse, Maar was in fact a groundbreaking Surrealist photographer overshadowed by the Cubist master.

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Dora Maar -

She was responsible for numerous of Picasso's photos, but she's sadly less known for her enigmatic and thought-provoking compositions. Her work blurs the line between reality and imagination.

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Man Ray -

But Maar wasn't only Picasso's muse. She often featured as a captivating and enigmatic muse in Man Ray's iconic works. Ray was an avant-garde pioneer, influencing the Dada and Surrealist movements.

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Man Ray -

His photograms, or "Rayographs," are iconic. Pictured is 'Les Larmes' ("Tears"), one of his most iconic photos, which also features Dora Maar.

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Irving Penn -

Renowned for his fashion and portrait photography, Penn's black-and-white images are characterized by elegance and simplicity.

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Irving Penn -

His portraits of celebrities are iconic, and, yes, Picasso was one of his famous portraits, too.

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Richard Avedon -

Richard Avedon was a legendary American fashion and portrait photographer known for his groundbreaking work in the fashion industry, making him one of the most influential photographers of the 20th century.

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Richard Avedon -

With his distinctive minimalist style and attention to detail, Avedon's portraits revealed the inner personalities of his subjects. His iconic fashion images and portraits of cultural luminaries continue to inspire photographers and art enthusiasts worldwide.

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Robert Mapplethorpe -

A controversial individual who pushed the boundaries of art with his provocative black-and-white images, Robert Mapplethorpe's work challenged societal norms.

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Robert Mapplethorpe and Patti Smith -

Having shared a life together with singer-songwriter Patti Smith, some of his famous portraits are of her. In turn, she also published the book 'Just Kids,' mostly about Mapplethorpe, featuring some of his photography.

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Ansel Adams -

Celebrated for his stunning black-and-white landscapes, Adams' work showcases the beauty of the American wilderness with technical precision. His images are a celebration of nature.

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Ansel Adams -

His landscape photos are of meticulous technical detail and composition, capturing the grandeur of America's natural spaces with unparalleled artistry and reverence.

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Vivian Maier -

Posthumously discovered, Maier's street photography reveals intimate glimpses of everyday life in black and white. She's also known for her self-portraits, in what can be called an early approach to what came to be known as the "selfie."

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Vivian Maier -

Her images are a time capsule of 20th-century America. Her style is distinguished by her ability to infuse a sense of mystery and introspection into her visual narrative.

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Gordon Parks -

Blending his roles as both the director of the iconic film 'Shaft' (1971) and a celebrated photographer, he used his creativity to capture the essence of African-American culture, both behind and in front of the camera.

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Gordon Parks -

Parks documented the African-American experience with poignant black-and-white imagery. His images bluntly speak to the civil rights movement.

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Robert Frank -

Following the same line, Robert Frank's seminal work in black-and-white photography offers a unique perspective on 1950s America.

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Robert Frank -

His groundbreaking work 'The Americans' is an intimate and unfiltered look at mid 20th-century America that reflects his raw storytelling style and unconventional composition.

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Anton Corbijn -

Anton Corbijn is a renowned Dutch photographer and director known for his influential work in music photography. His style combines stark black-and-white photography with a sense of intimacy and vulnerability, giving his subjects a unique depth.

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Anton Corbijn -

Capturing iconic images of musicians and bands, such as U2, his signature moody and atmospheric style has left a mark on the world of visual arts and music, bridging the gap between photography and filmmaking.

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Sebastião Salgado -

Renowned for his photojournalism, Salgado's monochrome images convey the raw emotions of social and environmental issues. He captures the human condition with empathy.

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Sebastião Salgado -

'Amazonia' is a photographic series that immerses viewers into the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Through his lens, he captures the lush beauty, rich biodiversity, and the intricate relationship between indigenous people and their environment, shedding light on the urgent need for conservation in this vital ecosystem.

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Mary Ellen Mark -

She is a documentary photographer known for her empathetic approach. Mark's black-and-white images provide deep insights into the lives of her subjects. Her work is a powerful social commentary.

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Mary Ellen Mark -

Pictured: Sandy Reimer, president of World Heritage Productions, stands beside a photo of Indian children by Mary Ellen Mark for an exhibit relating to the heritage, culture, and people of India.

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Eugene Richards -

Eugene Richards is a documentary photographer known for his gritty and emotionally charged black-and-white images. Richards' work sheds light on pressing social issues.

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Eugene Richards -

To achieve his intimate style, he often spends extended periods living among the communities he photographs, forging profound connections that are reflected in his raw and unfiltered narratives.

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Don McCullin -

His powerful black-and-white war photography captures some of the most harrowing moments of the 20th century. McCullin's images are a testament to human resilience.

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Don McCullin -

This is one of his most powerful images, where he documented the unity and resilience of the Bradford community during a protest against the far-right National Front in 1976.

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Daido Moriyama -

Daido Moriyama is a Japanese photographer known for his gritty and raw black-and-white street photography, capturing the energy and chaos of urban life. Moriyama's work reflects the pulse of city life.

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Daido Moriyama -

His iconic photograph titled 'Lips' is an example of his unconventional approach, as he captures sensuality in extreme close-up, highlighting his ability to convey complex emotions through minimalist compositions.

Sources: (The Observer) 

See also: Celebrated pioneers of photography

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