#12 - Elliot Erwitt

Elliot Erwitt is an American photographer who documents black &white shots in an sarcastic and witty manner in an everyday setting. His works aren't labeled as serious. It is labeled as creative with a certain tone of cheeky ironic humor along.

His main subject has been focusing on 'dogs' in which he describes on how dogs shares the same qualities as a human being. 

Even though his photographs are produced effortlessly, there is an attention towards on the techniques that he uses, his insights and his timing. 

I like how he uses humor in his photographs as humor can be quite subjective. While some of us may be able to take this humor, others might find it quite sensitive. Elliot has, not only, uses the tone of humor but he made it in a slight heart manner so it wouldn't be too upsetting towards the eye of the audience. This has inspired me to not take my subjects too seriously and add an element of fun in my work. This will makes the audience to be attracted to my photos even more deeply and think 'I do have some fun in my life' 

#11 - Sally Mann

Sally Mann is an American photographer whose works are well-known with the color scheme of black & white. Her subjects were her young children. She also does photographs that symbolises death and decay. Although she is a well-known photographer now, she admits that she hasn't really 'read much about photography' 

Although her photographs are mildly disturbing with a few photos showcasing nudity, she describes and tells how 'they are natural in the eyes of the a mother since she has seen her children in so many state : - happy, playful, sadness, angry and even when they are naked. The emotions of a maternal curiosity and care. 

# 10 - Gordon Parks

Gordon Parks was a noted American photographer who became well-known figure in the U.S documentary photojournalism in the 1940-1970s - particularly that involves in the  issues of civil rights, poverty, glamour photography and portraits of African-Americans. He is also known for his iconic photo of poor Americans during the 1940s. He was inspired after seeing a portfolio of photographers in the picture magazines.

The meaning behind his photographs are to uncover the lives of the minorities. Racism and discrimination is a big issue (even till now). The expression through his subjects tells a story. The social impacts of Gordon Parks's photographs are to feature of how serious of black humanity in the past and their struggles against racism His photographs were framed in a way through the color 'Black&White' / monochrome. As featured, a pictures paints a thousand words, his photographs talks about it through visually. He was the voice of the black America.

# 9 - Eikoh Hosoe

Eikoh Hosoe is a post war Japanese Photographers and a filmmaker who recognised for the effect of psychological that explores of a mature themes such as death and erotic. He was born as Toshihio Hosoe but changed it after the war to create a new brand of himself. With the new change of his name, it would also means for a new start for Japan after the Second World War. 

His color scheme is black&white. It is used to create emotion in his photos. Ironically, I can sense humour in his photos even though it has a dark setting.  I think his light setting in his photographs are very well executed because in most of his photographs, the light plays the focal point in his photographs. Because it has no colors, the light has play a role in capturing the emotions of the peoples. 

Source: Clair.me/Portfolio of Eikoh Hosoe 

#8 - Edward Wetson

Edward Weston is an American who is dubbed as one of the innovative and the influential photographers in the 20th Century. His work has explored in a different subjects including landscape, still life, portraits and quirky themes. 

Edward uses visual elements such as such lines and distinctive forms in his vegetables series photography. That is one of the style that he uses in his famous and iconic photographs which he manages to see the beauty of the vegetables. 

I see him playing with the color elements of monochrome to create a mysterious and peculiar feeling. Like for an example, his well-known 'Pepper no.30 ' photograph, one would not know it was a picture of that certain vegetable unless it is looked upon closer. It's intriguing how he is able to make something a household name like our ingredient into something extraordinary. 

Source : Edward Weston's website 

#7 - Ralph Gibson

Ralph Gibson is an American photographer who often incorporates the narrative tone with the slight hint mixture of naughtiness and puzzling undertone. He quotes his inspirations for his photography from the works of Eugene Atget ' Vision of Paris', Evan Walker 'American Photographs' Henri Cartier- Bresson 'Defensive Moments'.

He also explores with the usages of lights with his subjects, creating a contrast between highlight and shadows in his black and white photographs. I could sense the theme of obscure and isolation in his photos. Even though the photos I chose has just two main colors : - black & white, I think he has expresses different emotions in the photos. I wonder what was his vision behind his narrative photos and how much are we allowed to figure out his meaning or how to interpret his photos as they are quite vague and at first, it makes me wonder how does people view this photos as an art? Was it his experimentation of trying to be out of the box? Playing with the cheeky elements that would convey as a taboo at first? 

Source: Ralph Gibson's website 

#6 - Gregory Crewdson

Gregory Crewdson is an American photographer who specialised in Fine Art and landscape photography, His photographs are dubbed as 'dramatic' and 'cinematic'. He elaborately stages his scenes that portrayed a surreal narrative scenes of everyday's life with this big crew. I think his production must have invested in a huge sum of money for his photo shoots. 

His inspirations were from the painter, Edward Hopper and photographer, Diane Arbus along with movie such as Vertigo, The Night of The Hunter, Close Encounter of the Third Kind and Blue Velvet. 

In this photographs, we can see he uses the dark setting of dimly lighted room with the subject as the focal point, looking dazed. The subjects portrays emotions of anxiety, fear. I think. He uses colors, I think to show the comparison of contrast. He also quotes on how 'he finds beauty and mystery in his everyday life' 

I find his photography to be mysterious as if he is visually capturing an untold story with his camera. Knowing how much dedication he has for his art, I respect him for that dedication.