Top 8 Photographers

So in my research.. and opinon.. this is MY top 8 (if you dont like it start your own blog.. no no no....better yet.. argue it out in the comment box).

Originally a skateboarder who caught the eye of legendary photographer Herb Ritts, and.later became Ritt's assistant..Yet influenced by Ritts he has defineatly found his own unique style.

His photography is very distinct, natural, fun, and sexy.

#8. Brian Bowen Smith

While modeling for Marlboro, Banana Republic, Burberry and Mens Health magazine, He discovered he had a love and talent for photography, and inevitably found his place behind the camera. He's shot LA's hottest stars from Salma Heyak to Steve Carell, to Keifer Sutherland.

Hes won the prestigious award of haasleblad master..

#7. Jack Guy

I think a lot of people will disagree with me on this, and feel that he deserves to be higher up on the list. Its just a matter of (my) taste people..( if you dont like it start your own blog.. no no no better yet.. argue it out in the comment box).

He's been called the modern day Warhol, His colorful images have been described as weird, slightly disturbing, and a bit of an acid trip, with his use of unconventional props,and extraordinary backdrops he makes the list at number

#4. Michael Muller
 

He's Los Angeles based photographer who has a distinct ability to make an image "pop", and he's incredible at bringing someones personality to life in a photograph. In 2009 his book Faces of Sunset tied with Annie Liebovitz's 'At Work' for the prestigious SCIBA Book Award. He funds his personal projects by shooting advertising campaigns for popular television shows such as Glee and 90210, and blockbuster films like The Expendables. His clients include DreamWorks, Paramount, Lionsgate, Showtime, Warner Bros, FOX and others. He is also a contributing photographer to Vanity Fair - Patrick Ecclesine.

# 3. Patrick Ecclesine

She started as a staff photographer for Rolling Stones magazine in the 70's, where she quickly moved up to chief photographer and shot over 170 covers. In 1983 she worked for Vanity Fair Magazine

and in 1998 joined forces with Vouge Magazine. In addition to her magazine work, she also has done ads for American Express, Gap, Disney, and Louis Vitton.

With 6 books under her belt, and the worlds most iconic images of John Lennon, Demi Moore, and Queen Elizabeth just to name a few.

2. Annie Leibovitz

Another LA based photographer, He started his career as a sports photographer shooting everything from surfing, to football players, to boxers,and then he found himself drawn to fashion and portraiture. But he seems to be amazing at whatever it is he shoots. He's done ad campaigns for Speedo, Kodak, Boost Mobile,

He's shoot countless amounts of TV and movie ads ranging from from Iron Man (1 and 2), Spiderman 3, The A-team, Fantastic 4, Nip Tuck, The Entourage, 24, The X Files, 
 

1. Michael Muller

What makes a good photographer??

Have you ever wondered.. What makes a good photographer?
Is it the equipment? Perhaps the lighting technique? Is it the knowledge of aperture? Or the knowledge of software such as lightroom, photoshop.. etc? Or is it just the talent (or "eye") behind the lens?

I know many Hollywood Photographers and Celebrity Photographers. From the ones who have the right equipment, yet know nothing about ISO, Aperture, or Photoshop.. but take so many pictures that every so often I will see a really good photo come from them, and wonder how I didn't get an equal or better  image. And I still don't know if its the camera or the fact that they take so many shots. that they're bound to get one good shot, out of the five hundred pictures taken.. or perhaps its the combination of the two.

Than there's the super technical photographers, who know everything about lighting, aperture, ISO, and have all the right software, and though I may like some of their work.. for the most I'm not inspired by it.

There's the photographers that use a simple point and shoot camera, and come up with amazing pictures.
Or the photographers that have less than great images and photoshop the hell out of it. Are those photographers though? Or just photoshop artists?

And lastly there's the photographers who have assistants light everything, and all they do is pick up the camera, and click away, then hand their images to a retoucher. Which I believe is the case with a lot of professional photographers.

After much evaluation, In my opinion this is what makes a great photographer:
Someone who cared enough about the art of photography to at least learn photography 101. Whether self taught or in a classroom. Someone who also knows the basics of composition and lighting.

The less photoshop, the better..I strongly dislike over processed images. If I can't tell if its a painting or a photograph.. What's the point? I do feel that some knowledge of photoshop is important, because models aren't as perfect as we'd like them to be, and sometimes there's just a thing or two you need to fix in a photo. Someone who can take inspiration from other photographers without being a copycat.

And last, but most certainly not least:  Talent.. someone with "an eye". This is the hardest to write about because its the "IT factor". It's something almost unexplainable.. Something that stands out for reasons unknown. I feel all these components are important..without one, you just feel like something is lacking.