Your Favorite Photographer?

Obviously a ton of favorites already been listed and there's really no way to choose just one, is there? :)

But, one I haven't seen so far is Raymond Depardon. His "Voyages" book just makes me want to grab a couple cameras and a whole knapsack of film and head off on a year-long trip around the world shooting. I admire the way he uses space in many of his photos, particularly his African images. "Manhattan Out" is excellent, grainy, up close (shot with a 21mm) street work in 1980s NYC, while his autobiographical photobook "Our Farm" is also excellent for its restrained intimacy and familial domesticity (i.e., it's no Nan Goldin exposé). For some ineffable reason, I find that his work gives off a feeling of effortlessness ... like the pictures just fall unhurried into his camera.

Link to him on Magnum: http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP3=ViewBox_VPage&VBID=2K1HZOWEFV30F&CT=Search&DT=Image
 
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Jim, my pleasure! I'm glad you enjoyed it. His books are well worth picking up (though some of them, like Voyages and Errance seem to be not commonly available in the US).

Kevin, Thanks for the link to Raymond Depardon's Magnum page. His stuff is amazing for sure. - Jim
 
Gotta be Helmut Newton. Anyone who at 80 years of age was still getting young ladies to take their clothes off is my hero.
 
In contemplating this question, I had to review my photo books, and I realize I really dont have many monographs, but here is a list, in no particular order,
sophie calle for her conceptual work
salgado and nachtwey for reportage,
joseph koudelka's all over the place work
Gene smith, R. frank, friedlander, stephen shore
 
Nobody has mentioned these yet :

Ragnar Axelson : 'Faces of the North' work in Iceland, Greenland and the Faroes ( Leica M, Tri-x )http://www.rax.is/

Phil Borges : 'Tibetean Portraits' and 'Enduring Spirit' ( Hasselblad - skin hand toned B&W) http://www.philborges.com/book-enduring.html

Nick Brandt : 'A Shadow Falls' - Elephant and other African wildlife ( B&W Pentax 67 ) http://www.nickbrandt.com/

Albert Watson: for 'Maroc' and other works (stylized - interesting print toning mostly B&W) http://www.albertwatson.net/

Michael Kenna: 'Night Work' and 'Hokaido' ( night time exposures Hasselbald B&W) http://www.michaelkenna.net/imagearchive.php

Josef Hoflehner : 'China', 'Unleashed' ( sea, cityscapes night time exposure Hasselblad B&W)http://www.josefhoflehner.com/portfolios.html

Joel Meyerowitz : 'Cape Light' ( soft pastel large format - my only color choice ) http://www.joelmeyerowitz.com/photography/book_2_pics.asp?bookvar=2&ISBN=0821227955

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Not sure if anyone has mentioned here yet--just skimming--but Elinor Carucci is very good. An up-and-coming photographer. Not street photography--something more akin to portraiture and perhaps Nan Goldin, who is also of interest. http://www.elinorcarucci.com/

Other than that there are too many to mention and I'm sure everyone has seen Winogrand, Frank, et al.
 
I love Garry Winogrand's ability to just snap away in public but I must vote for Helmut Newton and Guy Bourdin as my favorite photographers. More Daido Moriyama and lesser of Terry Richardson and Nobuyoshi Araki.
 
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