100 Most Influential Photogs of all Time

[Robbie Shymanski]

Added I have always found such lists far more fascinating when posted by an individual. For example, I'd be much more interested to read who Avedon's 100 photographic influences were.

[QT Luong]

I recognized about 2/3 of the names, most of the others seem to be living portrait/fashion/commercial photographers, whom I doubt the work will endure as much as the classics (eg: Dorothea Lange, Margaret Bourke-White, Eliot Porter ... not on the list). Two most glaring omissions in my opinion.. and large format photographers: Eugene Atget, considered by some to be the most important photographer of all time. Not only Bernd & Hilla Becher typologies were hugely influential in contemporary photography, but their Dusseldorff "school" of photography produced a dozen or so important photographers, including Gursky.

[cdholden]

Hey, my name isn't on the list either! I was very influential in my photography.

[psychoanalyst]

I am definitely not qualified to comment on the list (or this thread itself), but I have attended a Martin Parr presentation at the High Museum in Atlanta and I honestly felt that his humor was far far better than his photographs. FWIW....

Avi

[Kimberly Anderson]

I love lists like this. Rolling Stone did their top 100 guitar players and Pat Metheny wasn't even on it. Now you may or may not like Pat, but he is DEFINITELY in the top 100.

I agree with Robbie. I would love to see who Avedon's top 100 would be.

[Kirk Gittings]

yes lists.......The Rolling Stone's Top 100 Rock Vocalist List included Bob Dylan at number ten (if I remember correctly). I am a huge Bob Dylan fan but top ten vocalist or even top 100 vocalist?

[BradS]

hmmmm....no mention of Carleton E. Watkins or William Henry Jackson?

[r.e.]

The list is starting to attract comment on the site itself. Might be interesting to check in on what people are saying over the next few days.

If the list is supposed to be a ranking in order of influence, I would have though that Cartier-Bresson would be closer to the top, if not the first name.

Lots of names missing, Jeff Wall among them, which to me is surprising. Perhaps the thinking is that his influence on others is limited.

[jmooney]

Moriyama and Sudek are two big holes I think.

Seems like the list depends on commercial work and shock value.

[pdmoylan]

Influential to whom? Noticably missing are Elliot Porter, Ernst Haas, and Steve McCurry. We should perhaps be speaking in terms of their effect upon the world at large vs. their styles being emulated by later generations.