Photographer
Dan K Photography
Posts: 5581
STATEN ISLAND, New York, US
Compared to other artistic endeavors it seems like photographers are the least well known. What brought this to mind is the calendar shoot by Steve McCurry. Now everyone has seen his most famous work but I doubt many outside of photography has a clue who shot it. I know I didn't until I saw that calander thread. The layman can name many painters, writers, directors etc but very few photographers. I know that before I started photography I could probably name maybe Adams and Annie Leibovitz. You would think with the scandals and the high profile work of Terry Richardson would make him well known but I doubt the man on the street has ever heard of him.
Photographer
Llobet Photography
Posts: 4915
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US
This is so true. I don't know why either. The only ones I knew many years ago were Eisenstaedt and Ansel Adams.
Photographer
John Horwitz
Posts: 2920
Raleigh, North Carolina, US
chuckle - I'm world famous...
Photographer
DAN CRUIKSHANK
Posts: 1786
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Possibly because Phoography is a fairly new art form, when compared to painting, drawing, sculpting, etc. For the most part modern artists of any kind who are still alive are not world renowned, they are only know by those who are interested in their particular art form and have done enough research to discover them. Photographers are also very much behind the scenes. When we take pictures of people or things they become the focal point. People are far more concerned about the subject in the phoograph than the guy behind the camera. This is the same for movie directors. Although a Hollywood director may be recognized, they will never be as popular or well known as their leading actor or actress.
Photographer
Guss W
Posts: 10964
Clearwater, Florida, US
How many contemporary sculptors are household names?
Photographer
Lars R Peterson
Posts: 1085
Seattle, Washington, US
Guss W wrote: How many contemporary sculptors are household names? Does Dale Chihuly count?
Model
Christie Gabriel
Posts: 2804
Chicago, Illinois, US
I disagree. We just notice it more because it is the art we are most involved in. The majority of famous painters (for example) were nowhere near household name level until long after they died.
Photographer
toesup
Posts: 1240
Grand Junction, Colorado, US
So you dont know of the works of.. John Swannell Elmer Batters Helmut Newton Bob Carlos Clarke David Bailey Terrence Donovan Don McCullin Patrick Lichfield
Photographer
Dan K Photography
Posts: 5581
STATEN ISLAND, New York, US
toesup wrote: So you dont know of the works of.. John Swannell Elmer Batters Helmut Newton Bob Carlos Clarke David Bailey Terrence Donovan Don McCullin Patrick Lichfield Even now Newton is the only one I have heard of. But I doubt the average person does which is what this thread is about. I will guarantee that most anyone you ask this question to who isn't into photography will not have heard of any of them.
Photographer
Dan K Photography
Posts: 5581
STATEN ISLAND, New York, US
Guss W wrote: How many contemporary sculptors are household names? That is true but you would think that photography being associated with show business would have more traction.
Photographer
Llobet Photography
Posts: 4915
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US
Rembrandt, Picasso, DaVinci are household names. Newton, unless you mean Isaac, is not unfortunately.
Photographer
DAN CRUIKSHANK
Posts: 1786
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
In the end we simply aren't as important as we think we are.
Photographer
toesup
Posts: 1240
Grand Junction, Colorado, US
Dan K Photography wrote: Even now Newton is the only one I have heard of. But I doubt the average person does which is what this thread is about. I will guarantee that most anyone you ask this question to who isn't into photography will not have heard of any of them. But Swannell, Clarke, Bailey, Donovan,Lichfield were all household names in the UK in the 70's and the 80's.. .. especially Bailey and Lichfield!.. And you have heard of non of them?.. yeeessshh..
Photographer
ForeverFotos
Posts: 6662
Indianapolis, Indiana, US
If you know anything at all about photography, you know the name Ashton Kutcher. After all, he is the definition of great photography.......at least if you watch his Nikon commercials. That IS what Nikon wants you to think, right?
Photographer
NothingIsRealButTheGirl
Posts: 35726
Los Angeles, California, US
How many Nobel Prize winners are household names?
Photographer
Photographe
Posts: 2351
Bristol, England, United Kingdom
Dan K Photography wrote: Even now Newton is the only one I have heard of. But I doubt the average person does which is what this thread is about. I will guarantee that most anyone you ask this question to who isn't into photography will not have heard of any of them. 5 of them are British, maybe that is why. Lord Lichfield is a household name here. Bailey and Rankin are more recently well-known for presenting documentaries on TV. Tyra Banks is a household name here due to ANTM, as is anyone who was already a star before they were handed cosmetic or perfume contracts. Elle Macpherson too for BNTM. The opposite is true as well. Probably not many know that Eve Pollard's daughter, Claudia Winkelman was a fashion editor at Tatler magazine. I think the average Brit can not list supermodels past Dean Johnson and Naomi Campbell and photographers past Bailey or Rankin.
Photographer
Woven Thought
Posts: 329
Petersburg, Virginia, US
The public isn't very aware of art. Sure, I know Chihuly, but I'll bet 90% of the folk I know do not.
Photographer
toesup
Posts: 1240
Grand Junction, Colorado, US
So if those here don't know of photographers of the recent past, how do you expect the public to know their names... Mathew Brady Irving Klaw Richard Avedon Bill Brandt Cartier-Bresson Elliott Erwitt Edward and Brett Weston Horst P. Horst George Hurrell Yousuf Karsh Man Ray Irving Penn Herb Ritts Andy Warhol How many of those do you know of?.. PS One of the photographers on my original list was American!
Photographer
J O H N A L L A N
Posts: 12221
Los Angeles, California, US
Because photographers (by many/most - and almost more so today with digital), aren't considered artists (more technicians) - although even those people would probably agree there is an artistic component. Unless you're part of the music industry, name me a top mix engineer (also certainly an artistic component in a very technical endeavor).
Photographer
nyk fury
Posts: 2976
Port Townsend, Washington, US
cause all we do is click.
Photographer
Kevin Greggain Photography
Posts: 6769
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
nyk fury wrote: cause all we do is click. According to many, this is how the people of the world think.
Photographer
Dan K Photography
Posts: 5581
STATEN ISLAND, New York, US
toesup wrote: So if those here don't know of photographers of the recent past, how do you expect the public to know their names... What does who I know have to do with anything? The question is why doesn't the general public know. I only know a few because I have it as an interest. Andy Warhol from your list is of course famous but he is more known as a artist then just a photographer.
Photographer
Dan K Photography
Posts: 5581
STATEN ISLAND, New York, US
Rollo David Snook wrote: 5 of them are British, maybe that is why. Lord Lichfield is a household name here. Bailey and Rankin are more recently well-known for presenting documentaries on TV. Tyra Banks is a household name here due to ANTM, as is anyone who was already a star before they were handed cosmetic or perfume contracts. Elle Macpherson too for BNTM. The opposite is true as well. Probably not many know that Eve Pollard's daughter, Claudia Winkelman was a fashion editor at Tatler magazine. I think the average Brit can not list supermodels past Dean Johnson and Naomi Campbell and photographers past Bailey or Rankin. So most of the 90's supermodels would not be known outside of brits and Top Model shows? Cindy Crawford, Schiffer , Linda Evangelista, Laetitia Casta etc?
Photographer
Christian B Aragon
Posts: 261
Sparks, Nevada, US
I've been asked more than once why I don't really have any photos of myself on my FB profile. Until recently I had none. Currently there's exactly one and it's with a fellow photographer in the shot. My answer to those who asked was, "Because it's not about me. It's about my work." If just one piece of my work survives a thousand years beyond my lifetime, even without my name on it, then I will have achieved a thousand years of immortality from my work. Who will give a shit about me beyond that photo?! If nothing at all survives, who will know of anything I did, even anonymously???
Photographer
MC Photo
Posts: 4144
New York, New York, US
Dan K Photography wrote: Compared to other artistic endeavors it seems like photographers are the least well known. What brought this to mind is the calendar shoot by Steve McCurry. Now everyone has seen his most famous work but I doubt many outside of photography has a clue who shot it. I know I didn't until I saw that calander thread. The layman can name many painters, writers, directors etc but very few photographers. I know that before I started photography I could probably name maybe Adams and Annie Leibovitz. You would think with the scandals and the high profile work of Terry Richardson would make him well known but I doubt the man on the street has ever heard of him. Who directed the last episode of Law and Order? Who's the chief of surgery at the closest trauma center to where you live? Is the closest hospital even a trauma center? Who's your congressman? Who's your city councilman? Who's the head ref for the Superbowl? Who directs the national evening news on any of the three networks? Who produced the current number one song on the Billboard hot 100? Who engineered it? Who wrote it? Who is the COO of iTunes? Who is the director of R&D at Canon/Nikon/whatever brand you use? Who designed the 85 1.2? Who picked the Christmas tree for Rockefeller Center? Who's in charge of decorating it? There are far higher profile jobs than the Pirelli calendar that we don't know the name of the person doing. Who even has a copy of the calendar? As far as I've experienced the most important part of the Pirelli calendar is the discussion of how it's made. I've never seen one. I don't care about what it looks like, but I will always watch the behind the scenes video. The discussion of who's shooting it and what they did gets Pirelli far more publicity than the calendar itself. When know when the shoot happens, do we even know when the calendar is released? Think about all the crappy calendars you've ever been given with a business name on it. That's what the Pirelli calendar is. The bigger question is who is the genius who figured out that if you could turn a piece of shit marketing tool like a calendar into a talked about, high end fashion piece, you've implied that's what the Pirelli brand is - and it is. They are designer tires. They're probably not any better than good year. The calendar is the Leica of calendars x10. That's what they're saying about their tires. Pretty brilliant. Who cares who shot it?
Photographer
Dragon Ink - Sean William
Posts: 1062
Hackettstown, New Jersey, US
nyk fury wrote: cause all we do is click. Exactly what I was going to say. I don't think most people realize how much work goes into photography. Sure, anyone can happen to take a good picture, but to do so consistently is very hard. Molding light, watching angles and composition, posing people, and so many other things all add up to that final image. Until they've tried it, they'll never know. I think most people think it's as simple as pointing the lights and camera the the person. It's also why most can't understand why an 8x10 should cost $100. After all, anyone can click a shutter, and have it printed at walmart.
Photographer
MC Photo
Posts: 4144
New York, New York, US
DAN CRUIKSHANK wrote: In the end we simply aren't as important as we think we are. Especially photographers. Unless it's a self-portrait the photo is about someone or something else. At least it should be.
Photographer
MC Photo
Posts: 4144
New York, New York, US
ForeverFotos wrote: If you know anything at all about photography, you know the name Ashton Kutcher. After all, he is the definition of great photography.......at least if you watch his Nikon commercials. That IS what Nikon wants you to think, right? No. They want you to think cool, popular people use Nikon and if you buy Nikon people will see you like they see Ashton Kutcher.
Photographer
MC Photo
Posts: 4144
New York, New York, US
Dan K Photography wrote: What does who I know have to do with anything? The question is why doesn't the general public know. I only know a few because I have it as an interest. Andy Warhol from your list is of course famous but he is more known as a artist then just a photographer. Because it isn't important at all. Especially fashion. It's made up. It's about luxury, not necessity. Most people have far more important things to worry about than luxury. And if they do, they're going to worry about the brand and the designer and who else likes it long before they'd ever think about who shot the photo in the magazine ad they used to line their bird cage.
Photographer
MC Photo
Posts: 4144
New York, New York, US
Dan K Photography wrote: So most of the 90's supermodels would not be known outside of brits and Top Model shows? Cindy Crawford, Schiffer , Linda Evangelista, Laetitia Casta etc? But the photos are of them and about them. It doesn't matter who shoots the photos, it matters who's in them.
Photographer
MC Photo
Posts: 4144
New York, New York, US
Dragon Ink Photography wrote: Exactly what I was going to say. I don't think most people realize how much work goes into photography. Sure, anyone can happen to take a good picture, but to do so consistently is very hard. Molding light, watching angles and composition, posing people, and so many other things all add up to that final image. Until they've tried it, they'll never know. I think most people think it's as simple as pointing the lights and camera the the person. It's also why most can't understand why an 8x10 should cost $100. After all, anyone can click a shutter, and have it printed at walmart. True, but why should people know who did the work? The guy who picks up my trash does far more work than any photographer does.
Photographer
Erin Dawson Photography
Posts: 334
Olney, Maryland, US
The greats remain unknown because they didn't plaster their logo big enough through the center of all their photos. Seriously though, it's a behind the scenes kinda craft. Like director, writer, painter, etc only a few of any craft are well known. Models & actors are just elements used to convey a story; they'll always be more recognizable than us. It's their job. I like the anonymity. Reminds me of a Modest Mouse lyric: "All the pretty actors Gladly take the credit For the words created by The people tucked away from sight."
Photographer
JK Photos
Posts: 11
Columbia, South Carolina, US
DAN CRUIKSHANK wrote: Possibly because Phoography is a fairly new art form, when compared to painting, drawing, sculpting, etc. Exactly....
BlueMoonPics wrote: Rembrandt, Picasso, DaVinci are household names. Yes, there are other household names when it comes to art, but you have just spanned 485 years with that list (Birth of DaVinci to death of Picasso) give or take a few years if you count "career" but not much. Photography hasn't even been around half of that and once you count in the "clutter" of the amount of information we can process now vs the years 1500-1800 it's going to get harder for anyone to become a household name.. painter, musician, photographer, etc. Give a couple hundred years of collective works and the ability to measure the impact of those works and we should see some photographers in that list. The question should be, "when will a photographer make this list and who will it be? (Daguerre? Brady? Leibovitz? etc)
Photographer
REMOVED
Posts: 1546
Atlanta, Georgia, US
As always, it all gets back to education, or lack thereof. The recent world-wide survey of the quality of education among Nations by the Pearson education firm, and reported in the International Business Times ranked the US in 17th place among 40 countries studied. Here one can go from kindergarden to college degrees without having any exposure to the visual arts, unless that is the actual college major. Schools that do not teach who Edward Hopper was won't be discussing Paul Strand either. So of course, let's cut all funding for arts education in public schools, and let's finally get rid of that National Endowment for the Arts while we're at it, we could rank even lower if we all put our minds to it.
Photographer
LLOYD WRIGHT
Posts: 664
Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
you mean you hadn't heard of me!!! hehehe
Photographer
toesup
Posts: 1240
Grand Junction, Colorado, US
LLOYD WRIGHT wrote: you mean you hadn't heard of me!!! hehehe Yes Frank...
Photographer
Simmagination
Posts: 3129
Westminster, Maryland, US
That's because photographers are not really artists- they just push a button (I keeed I keeed!!!!)
Photographer
name removed3
Posts: 264
Boston, Massachusetts, US
ask me about art or any medium and I can name names. Ask me about football or some shit and I don't really care.
Photographer
M Pandolfo Photography
Posts: 12117
Tampa, Florida, US
toesup wrote: But Swannell, Clarke, Bailey, Donovan,Lichfield were all household names in the UK in the 70's and the 80's.. .. especially Bailey and Lichfield!.. And you have heard of non of them?.. yeeessshh.. I can't say I've heard of Swannell or Lichfield so I can't imagine Martha at the local Walmart has. Other than Helmut Newton I can't imagine most people on the street would have heard of the others. Even the incorrigible and notorious Bailey wouldn't be known to many average joes. I'd say there are a handful that are known, or at least the names are familiar...Dorothea Lange. Sally Mann. Annie Liebowitz? Diane Arbus maybe? OK, so only female photographers are memorable lol. Males? Newton...Ansel Adams, of course. Edward Weston? That might be a reach. And maybe only Newton because every cheesy bachelor had some of his prints up at one point. But it's not fair to compare with Masters like Da Vinci, Rembrandt, etc. They had a BIT of a head start.
Model
JoJo
Posts: 26560
Clearwater, Florida, US
toesup wrote: So if those here don't know of photographers of the recent past, how do you expect the public to know their names... Mathew Brady Irving Klaw Richard Avedon Bill Brandt Cartier-Bresson Elliott Erwitt Edward and Brett Weston Horst P. Horst George Hurrell Yousuf Karsh Man Ray Irving Penn Herb Ritts Andy Warhol How many of those do you know of?.. PS One of the photographers on my original list was American! Many of these are well known, but within the closed circle of the industry. One photographer has become a household name but because of his devious/unscrupulous/unethical methods has cast a tainted view on all photographers... some guy named "Papa Razzi"
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