Peter Henry Emerson was a child of privilege. He was born in Cuba in 1856; his mother was a member of British society, his father a wealthy American. His cousin was the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. His youth was divided between Cuba and New England. … Keep readingPeter Henry Emerson
Denis Darzacq was born in a good neighborhood in Paris in 1961. He went to a good school, got a good education, started a good job as a press photographer. He signed up with Agence Vu, the elite French photography agency. That probably would have … Keep readingDenis Darzacq
I have to admit, I was first attracted to Lili Almog by her name. It’s just immense fun to say out loud. People who are much more aware of the photographic art world, though, have been drawn in by her images of women in their … Keep readingLili Almog
He has been called “the hottest war photographer on the contemporary scene.” He’s been accused of ‘war porn.’ He’s been the subject of an Academy Award-nominated documentary film. He’s won the the Alfred Eisenstaedt Award, the World Press Photo award (twice), the Leica Award (twice), … Keep readingJames Nachtwey
Esther Bubley isn’t a familiar name to most photographers. Nonetheless, she was a quietly revolutionary figure. She wasn’t a revolutionary so much by choice; rather Bubley was a product of her time, and her time was one of radical change for women. She was born … Keep readingEsther Bubley
Fazal Ilahi Sheikh came by his interest in displaced people naturally. You could say it was the family business. He was born in New York City in 1965. His father, though, was born in Nairobi, Kenya and his grandfather was born in a part of … Keep readingFazal Sheikh
I know almost nothing about Zhou Hai, this week’s Sunday Salon photographer. I know he was born in 1970 in the city of Guilin, which is located in the Guangxi region of China — a region known for its natural beauty. I know he attended … Keep readingZhou Hai
Larry Burrows arrived in Vietnam in 1962 at the age of thirty-six. He’d been a professional photographer for Life magazine for almost a decade. He’d covered some violent places at violent times (tribal conflict in the Congo, sporadic hostility in the Middle East) and in … Keep readingLarry Burrows
Some photographers have an agenda. They see photography less as a form of expression and more as a tool for bringing public awareness to their cause. Their photography is not intended to please, but to inform; not meant to form an aesthetic, but to form … Keep readingLewis Hine
There are a few fortunate people who know early on what they want to do for the rest of their lives–and actually find a way to do it. One of those felicitous folks is Bruce Davidson. Born in Chicago in 1933, Davidson first picked up … Keep readingBruce Davidson