Your Favorite Portraitists

[William Whitaker]

That's a word, right? Portraitist? Someone who specializes in portraiture?
I've grown quite interested in portraiture, especially after seeing some of the talent here in the ongoing monthly portraits threads.

I'm interested to hear about who inspires you and if you can recommend any books or other resources about them.

When I first thought about this I thought the list would be lengthy. But after a couple of names (Karsh, of course, and Hurrell) I drew a blank. And that left me wanting to learn more.

Looking forward to your comments.

[Tin Can]

I recently, like last week, became aware of Berenice Abbott.

Waiting for a picture book of her images.

I am setting up a copycat portrait of hers this week.

[DrTang]

Alfred Cheney Johnston

Irving Penn

Diane Arbus

[mdarnton]

Steichen's work for Vogue magazine,
Cartier-Bresson (it took me a long time to realize he made a large proportion of his income from editorial portraiture!)

[Merg Ross]

August Sander

Imogen Cunningham

Another vote for Steichen

[Emmanuel BIGLER]

To the names mentioned above I wish to add August Sander (1876 - 1964)

I had the opportunity to visit, in Dudelange (Luxemburg), an exhibition, about 100 images (modern baryt prints from the original glass plates) from this famous series
August Sander, People of the 20th Century, ISBN 9783829606448

Prior to this, I knew of course several European portraitists of the XIX-st century like Nadar, and of course I knew some iconic portraits by Karsh, but after I visited this exhibition, I realized that August Sander's work would be my guide if I wanted to enter the delicate domain of portrait photography.
All his life, August Sander used only available light and large format cameras.
He photographed with the same talent all kinds of people, not only celebrities.

Regarding Irving Penn, there was a nice exhibition in Paris last year, his portraits of "small trades" as well as celebrities in the 1940s-1950s are stunning.

[Hugo Zhang]

Julia M Cameron
Paul Strand
August Sander

[Tin Can]

NSFW

http://whmortensen.com/

[robshepherd]

Robert Demachy

[William Whitaker]

Thank you Randy. Love Mortensen's work! (Is it because AA detested it so much?)
The Vimeo video, Monsters and Madonnas by Stephen Romano was a treat, especially because it was narrated (almost certainly, but no credit shown) by Vincent Price. Very appropriate!

And fwiw, I'd vote for Steichen any day of the week. Love his work and work, generally, from that period!