Who better to start with than Ansel? His were the first real photographs I saw in person, they were exquisite. I left with an autographed copy of Yosemite and the Range of Light (which met with a very unfortunate accident), still one of the most elegant photography books you will find. His technical series, especially The Negative and The Print, were my bibles for creating large format black and white images decades ago. And Examples: The Making of Forty Photographs is one of the best books to learn about the photographic creative process. Impressive collections of his work can easily be found. I recommend Ansel Adams: 400 Photographs and Ansel Adams at 100. Go to YouTube and enter his name and you’ll come across several fine documentaries about his photography and his life. Criticized by some for becoming too popular and/or being too technical, that does not diminish the true quality of his photographs, his dedication to the art of photography, his gifts as a teacher and his contributions to the National Park System. He was a true American artist and his love for the wildness of the American landscape has inspired countless others.

As one of the first to recognize the potential of the 35-mm camera format for use in a reportage style of photography, Henri Cartier-Bresson became the father of photojournalism and is the icon for street photographers world-wide. Best known for capturing the “decisive moment,” a term inadvertently applied to an English translation of his book, Henri Cartier-Bresson’s images also contain a strength of geometric form and composition equaled by few on film or canvas. He is one of the few photographers I can return to again and again, always to find something new. A co-founder of Magnum Photos agency, Henri Cartier-Bresson bore witness to many of the 20th Century’s great events, and possessed an unparalleled ability to reveal personalities as well as cultures through photography. I can recommend Henri Cartier Bresson: Photographer, but to be honest, I have not found a book about this great that is not worth studying. While some photographers require an exquisitely printed book to truly appreciate their work, Cartier-Bresson’s images have impact even when poorly printed; quality printing only enriches the experience further. This video is well worth watching as is this Charlie Rose interview. Many rightly consider him the greatest photographer of all time; others have referred to him as one of the 5 greatest artists of the 20th Century.

John Sexton is a contemporary master of large-format, black and white photography that continues to work exclusively with film. After serving as Ansel Adam’s assistant for several years, John has continued the craft of fine art photography with his quiet, beautifully composed images. He often photographs at the fringes of the day, after the sun has set or before it rises, to take advantage of the unique quality of light that is present during those periods. I highly recommend (because I own) Listen to the Trees and Quiet Light. While less dramatic than his mentor’s work, John’s photographs are no less moving and beautiful. Among the many short videos about John Sexton is this one by Kodak.

Master of the photo-essay, W. Eugene Smith was one of Life Magazine’s premier photographers during its heyday. His images were the basis of “County Doctor,” “Spanish Village,” and “Nurse Midwife” among other stories. Uncompromising in the making of his photographs, his darkroom work and the editing and displaying of his photographs, he often parted ways with employers over photographic principles. Dedicated in his belief that photographs can affect change in the world, he twice paid a severe physical price for his work. During WWII, Gene was hit by mortar fire photographing the battle of Okinawa. In 1972, while working on his story about heavy metal poisoning in Minimata, Japan, he was severely beaten by corporate employees, permanently losing partial sight in one eye. A lover of jazz, he documented the after-hours New York jazz scene, and jazz music could be heard coming from his darkroom during the hours he spent there. W. Eugene Smith Photographs 1934-1975, Let Truth Be the Prejudice, and W Eugene Smith Master of the Photographic Essay are all worth reading, as I suspect are several more recent compilations of his work. This American Masters Series Video - W Eugene Smith - Photography Made Difficult is well worth watching.

Everyone knows the photograph; it’s the eyes. Too few know that it was Steve McCurry that made it. An editorial photographer best known for his work for National Geographic, he has photographed it all. From wars to natural disasters, from societies in transition to modern life and landscapes, his images have a way of reminding us that we are all part of the same world. For those who love portraits in context, Steve McCurry’s are among the best and you should check out his book Portraits. Other incredible books include Steve McCurry: The Unguarded Moment, Untold: The Stories Behind the Photographs, and Steve McCurry: The Iconic Photographs. Kodak selected Steve to photograph the last ever roll of Kodachrome film it produced. A video documenting his attempt to do justice to the film he shot with for over 30 years can be seen here. Steve McCurry's website does a fantastic job of combining thoughtful quotes in his blog postings with incredible images in his galleries. A video of his work, produced by Magnum Photos of which he is a member, can be seen here.