This months blog will focus on the talent of others. It’s not easy to boil hundreds of uber talented photographers down to a select few as all of them are incredibly gifted and dedicated to their craft.
There are plenty of social media platforms to choose from these days. My Space started the revolution in 2003 and others have joined the fray since then. These days I find myself spending most of my time on Instagram as it seems to be more photography related than the other platforms.
I like various photographers for different reasons and here are my top 10 Instagram feeds at present.
In no particular order… let’s get started.
1. Joe Mcnally(@joemcnallyphoto) A master of his craft. If you ask professional photographers who they admire, Joe’s name is always part of the conversation. Often remembered as the last Staff Photographer at Life Magazine, I think of him as a humble, brilliant photographer always looking to improve (if that’s possible!).
2. Phil Penman (@PhilPenman) A street photographer with a Leica camera isn’t a big deal. If you’re UK born and NY based Phil Penman, thing gets elevated to a different level. His gritty black & white photography of NYC for the last 25+ years is truly impressive.
3. Walter Iooss Jr.(@walteriooss) Considered by many to be the most influential photographer in the sports world, he is credited with shooting the first 52 Super Bowls and has 300+ Sports Illustrated covers to his credit. Enough Said... he’s a legend.
4. Jim Richardson (@jimrichardsonng) One of my favorite National Geographic photographers. He’s a pioneer who’s been shooting for 40+ years. His numerous assignments in Scotland makes him the ‘Go To’ source for images in this part of the world. Earlier this year, I had the privilege to take an iPhone Photography course with Jim and was not disappointed. The endless enthusiasm he shows for his craft is only surpassed by his excitement to learn & experiment.
5. Donald Miralle(@donaldmiralle) For the last 30+ years, Donald Miralle has spanned the globe for the constant variety of sports. Okay… maybe this is the old Wide World of Sports introduction, but they might as well be talking about him. His six (6) World Photography Awards and numerous other recognitions speak for themselves. A former Sports Illustrated Photo Editor was quoted as saying, “He definitely sees things in a different way. He thinks differently. And I think a lot can be learned by other photographers. They’re all at the same event, but nobody else saw the same thing.”
6. Paul Nicklen (@paulnicklen) A Canadian born photographer, filmmaker and Marine Biologist, Paul has documented our changing planet for 20+ years. His ability to link emotional attachment with wild animals in the most extreme climates around the globe is truly remarkable.
7. Lee Cohen (@leecohen_pics) The ski world has a hand full of great action photographers and Utah based Lee Cohen is one of them. Since my days of living in Lake Tahoe (circa 1987), I followed Lee’s epic powder images of Alta & Snowbird in the various ski magazines of the day. His images have the ability to make skiers dream.
8. Bryan Peterson(@bryanfpeterson) As a best selling author & photographer for 35+ years, there aren’t many people who don’t know his name. His books, online photography school (BPSOP) and worldwide workshops are utilized by almost everyone I know. Even though his signature phrase is “You Keep Shooting,” I would argue it should be “I Like Color!” His ability to capture color imagery is brilliant. Whatever the photographic scene, he’ll be sure to come back with the most vivid image(s) imaginable.
9. Keith Ladzinski (@ladzinski) Born in New York and raised in Colorado, Keith is a National Geographic photographer and Emmy nominated Director. He’s worked on all seven continents and focuses on natural history, climate change & extreme sports. His work is truly inspirational.
10. Chris Burkard (@chrisburkard) I don’t think I know anyone with 3.9 million followers on Instagram. Chris is the first one and quick look at his imagery will make you understand why people are fascinated with his photography. An uber talented outdoor & lifestyle enthusiast, he’s captured surfing in the Arctic to mountain biking in Iceland. He’s a Sony Ambassador for obvious reasons.
And there you have it. All the news fit to print on a post Thanksgiving weekend.