5 Of The Most Acclaimed Photographers Of The 2010s
If you are thinking of getting into photography, then developing your own “eye” and style should be your first priority. A good place to start is to look at old photos that you’ve taken. Another is to learn from the professionals.
Before unearthing old boxes of photos and googling “photo restoration near me”, why not take some inspiration from the great photographers of the past decade? Read on to learn about some of the most acclaimed photographers of the 2010s – their different styles and approaches may give you some ideas for your next project.
Réhahn
Well-known for capturing the soul of his subjects, Réhahn has ascended to the club where only one name is necessary. Réhahn was born in France but has since relocated to Vietnam where he spearheaded the Precious Heritage Project, an initiative to preserve the different cultures of the country.
Réhahn has been ranked one of the best travel photographers in the world by BoredPanda, as well as the second most popular French photographer by Lense.fr. In 2018, the then-president of Vietnam gifted French president Emanuel Macron a photograph by Réhahn to commemorate 45 years of friendship between the two countries.
Rehahn’s advice: The secret to a great portrait is a great interaction.
Annie Leibovitz
No list of notable photographers of this century is complete without Anna-Lou Leibovitz. Her countless famous photographs have graced the covers of many magazines, most notably Vogue and Vanity Fair.
A celebrity portrait photographer, Leibovitz has almost become a celebrity in her own right – a shot by her has become almost a rite of passage. Once you’ve been photographed by Leibovitz, you know if you’ve “made it”.
Leibovitz’s advice: Revisit old photos. Looking back is a lesson, and you never know what you might find.
Harry Fisch
Harry Fisch both won and lost the National Geographic award for “People” in the span of 72 hours. Unfortunately, his award-winning image was disqualified for a bit of editing – Fisch removed a plastic bag on the far side of the frame. Even the judges admit that the photo would have won if he had simply cropped the photo or left the plastic bag in!
Since then, Fisch has won a multitude of other awards including the Grand Prix de la Découverte and the International Photography Awards (Two Awards of Merit).
Fisch’s advice: Read and follow instructions.
Zanele Muholi
Zanele Muholi is a visual activist from South Africa whose work focuses on gender and self-expression. Their photos often pose a challenge to their audience and celebrate South Africa’s LGBTQ+ community.
Their photographs and persona are revolutionary, with a list of accolades spanning from 2009 to 2019. This includes nods from the Chevalier de Ordre des Arts et des Lettres as well as the Infinity Award for Documentary and Photojournalism from the International Center of Photography. Muholi has also exhibited in places like the Tate Gallery in London and the MoMA in NYC.
Alex Stoddard
The youngest on this list, Alex Stoddard is entirely self-taught and relies on his own artistic eye and intuition to create his work. The now-famous photographer started out simple with self-portraits in and around his home in rural Georgia.
Stoddard is most interested in the human form, as well as its connections with nature and art history in the digital age. His photographs are composite works that are moody, moving, and a little eerie – evoking magical realism.
Stoddard’s advice: Don’t rush the process. Experiment with different shooting and post-processing techniques.
Conclusion
Going to galleries and looking at other photographers’ work is a great way to jumpstart your own creative process. Whether you gravitate towards portraiture, composite work, or travel photography, it helps to take notes from the people who have paved the way for you.
These 5 photographers are some of the most acclaimed visual artists in photography of the 2010s, each with a different style and story to tell. Let their photography be an inspiration for you to take your own art to the next level.