Portrait photographers

[cliveh]

Are there any famous portrait photographers who don’t photograph famous people?

 

[cliveh]

Actually, Edward Sheriff Curtis may qualify for this.

 

[miha]

August Sander for sure.

 

[cliveh]

August Sander for sure.

miha, I agree, but was that because of the volume of images in a topographical context?

 

[batwister]

First one that pops to mind (as he's kind of everywhere at the minute) is Steve McCurry. It is a tricky one though, because famous people do tend to hang around in famous people land! While some famous portraitists might not focus on celebrities, you'll be hard pressed to find one who hasn't shot a few. David Eustace comes to mind for that point. See his 'The Character Project' for non-celebs.

Actually, Edward Sheriff Curtis may qualify for this.

You'll need to reformat your OP in past tense of course, if Edward Curtis is being counted as an exception to the rule. There weren't many celebs back then! Indian or otherwise...

 

[miha]

miha, I agree, but was that because of the volume of images in a topographical context?

That made him famous? I don't think so as his work is exquisite. An interesting read: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/03/20/augustsander

 

[batwister]

miha, I agree, but was that because of the volume of images in a [typological] context?

That made him famous?

It's certainly the main reason he has remained famous - for later influencing typology as a photographic genre; the Bechers, Ed Ruscha etc. But his real accomplishment was humanitarian of course.

 

[miha]

FSA photographers: Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans.

 

[cliveh]

FSA photographers: Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans.

But portraiture wasn't really there speciality.

 

[miha]

But portraiture wasn't really there speciality.

That's true, but it's because of the portraits they've made that we remember them mostly. Whenever I read their names, photos of Allie Mae Burroughs and Migrant mother come to my mind.

 

[jumbosilverette]

Diane Arbus

 

[adelorenzo]

Elsa Dorfman? Most of the famous people she has shot weren't famous when she shot them.

 

[garysamson]

Shelby Lee Adams' portraits of rural Kentucky people come to mind.

 

[removed account4]

disfarmer

 

[illumiquest]

me

 

[Rlibersky]

Edward Weston. At least they weren't famous we he photographed them.

 

[darkosaric]

Steve McCurry?

 

[George Papantoniou]

Avedon made a great series of portraits of common people and published them in a book titled "In the American west"

https://www.google.gr/search?q=aved...INNCqhAfj9YDgDg&ved=0CCoQsAQ&biw=1600&bih=854

 

[jp498]

Just like many of us, the big names of 100 years ago often photographed mostly whoever they associated with. A painting was more dignified than an art-photo.

Most of Stieglitz photos are of Okeefe who probably wasn't famous when he took them.
Most of Edward Weston's portraits are of the women he was banging
Clarence White's generally photographed family and friends, creating most of his good work before he got into teaching famous people.
Kasabier, with the exception of her Indians, mostly photographed unfamous people.
Day was famous for his selfies on the cross, but mostly photographed unfamous people


illumiquest has photographed me, and I have been on local access TV, in the newspaper, and generally see 4-5 people I know whenever I go to the grocery store or walmart. If I were a musician rather than an amateur photographer, I'd be famous, but I have determined I have no talent in singing, piano, or drums.

 

[George Papantoniou]

Jock Sturges too, has photographed lots of unknown people.

 

[jumbosilverette]

Elsa Dorfman? Most of the famous people she has shot weren't famous when she shot them.

I love Elsa's Housebook, but most of those poets were known in their time. Thanks for bringing her up.

 

[Claudia Moroni]

sally mann

 

[SuzanneR]

Andrea Modica

 

[Dan Quan]

I LOVE this shot! I cannot even express how much! Really good call!
http://art.findartinfo.com/images/artwork/2011/12/a002619075-001.jpg

 

[msbarnes]

illumniquest