Most influential of the decade?
At least because of curiosity, take a look to this “informal” list of the most influential photographers of the decade as listed by PDN. The survey has lots a caveats, as described in the article, but will give you a sense of of which names are popular. When I took a look to the list with the most distinct votes I saw many names that I never heard about. Surprised about that I check them out and realized that every single photographer I did not know about was a wedding photographer. It was surprising to see so many wedding photographers in the list, and probably reflects the reader audience of PDN, I guess.
Of course the list have some remarkably influential photographers whose legend extends beyond a decade of influence to be photographers that are in the golden list for many. Of the top list at PDN, if I have to select one photographer, it would be Irving Penn, for his life and work, and for being one photographer that combined art with commercial work and new vision like few others have done. His photography was pure in ways that each photograph was about the essence of the image with the qualities that we all refer to aesthetics excellence , light, composition and interest. Irving Penn passed away in October 7th, 2009, and so it was hist last decade of life, it was an example of how at the old age a photographer with passion is full of creativity.
Irving Penn
