The Top 10 Photojournalists of All Time

There are many people out there that have defined photojournalism as a dying art. Online shared sources for photos and the emergence of millions of amateur photographs has taken away some of the prestige and status that used to coincide with photojournalism. However, what many people do not understand is that photojournalism is more about capturing a story and conveying a message to the people, than simply just the look of the picture. That is an idea that will never die and to embrace that thought let’s take a look at the 10 best photojournalists of all time. The people that braved their lives, dealt with trauma, and carried on, in order to bring the stories to people like us and share lasting memories of trauma, triumph, and tribulations.

To see examples of their work or to learn more please click on the images (a new window will open)

1. Robert Capa

Robert Capa is often considered to be the most accomplished war photographer of all time. Capa was born in Budapest in 1913 and was a combat photojournalist that covered five wars in total. He was involved with the Spanish Civil War, the First Indochina War, the Second Sino-Japanese War, World War II and the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Capa was known for often shunning the technical aspect of photography in favor of capturing the most dramatic photo possible. He is remembered for his work as he landed on Omaha Beach with US Soldiers during D Day and his stunning photos that survived in Indochina, even though he did not make it home after encountering a landmine. His work was inspiring, timeless, and nothing short of remarkable. He is also remembered for co-founding Magum Photos along with the second photojournalist on our list.

2. Henri Cartier-Bresson

Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French photojournalist born in August of 1908. He was a co-founder of the inspiring Magnum Photos group and managed to survive for close to 96 years. When his name is mentioned he is often referred to as the father of photojournalism and was one of the first to work in the 35 mm format. It was Cartier-Bresson who inspired the real life reporting style that became so popular for years after his work came into the scene. His most memorable work would have to be his coverage of the Chinese Civil War and the photos he produced from Gandhi’s funeral in 1948. His understanding of different people and impeccable ability to capture the moment and tell the entire story is unrivaled to this day.

3. Robert Frank

Robert Frank was born in Switzerland in 1924 and is most remembered for his photographic book that was called, “The Americans” which he produced in 1958.  The book itself was undeniably influential after the war had ended. Frank was often referred to as a new, modern version of de Tocqueville due to his cynical and in depth look at American society and how it was developing. After that moment Frank began to experiment more with the manipulation of photos and video rather than stick to field work. However, that book is instilled in history and is a true symbol of photojournalism at its best.

4. Dorothea Lange

The depression was an incredibly hard time in America and no one documented it quite as well as Dorothea Lange. Lange was born in 1895 in the USA and even though she moved on and did a great deal of other work, it is those depression era photos that defined Lange’s abilities as a photojournalist. Lange was immortalized in the California Hall of Fame in 2008 after her work was displayed in exhibits all around the world. They were displaying the harsh realities of the depression as well as her work from World War 2 involving the Japanese Internment.

5. James Nachtwey

There are many photographers and journalism experts that consider James Nachtwey to be the best photojournalist alive today. He was born in 1948 and is definitely one of the most influential American photojournalists ever. He has been awarded the Robert Capa Gold Medal five times and was even injured by a grenade while reporting for Time magazine in 2003. His ability to convey extremely powerful messages through just one photo inspired the movie “War Photographer” which went on to win an academy award for best documentary. Even when his photos revolve around a horrific topic or problem, Nachtwey can find a way to make them look beautiful and inspirational.

6. Zoriah Miller

Zoriah Miller is one of the most well known and popular journalists of the 21^st Century. He was born in 1976 and has been labeled exclusively as a war photographer. Miller began his career working for Humanitarian Aid and providing disaster management help to developing countries. After years of work he returned to his passion of photography and has chosen to only work on a freelance basis, despite having worked with World Picture News and a number of other prevalent agencies. The photos he has captured from places such as the Gaza Strip, Iraq, and Afghanistan have been published all over the world. It hasn’t all been a bed of roses for Miller though as there was quite a bit of backlash over photos he released of dead US Marines as the issue of Wartime Censorship rang out loudly.

7. Don McCullin

Don McCullin was born in 1935 in London and is one of the most highly regarded photojournalists to ever come out of Britain. He will always be remembered for his close examination of the underside of different societies and his in depth focus on impoverished and downtrodden people. He began his career in 1959 and made an instant name for himself with a photo of a London gang. In terms of war photography his work during the Vietnam War is thought to be some of the most powerful photojournalism ever done. In fact, his ability to hit hard with his photos forced the British government to refuse him access to cover the Falklands War. McCullin fans will often tell the story that happened in 1968 when his camera protected him from a bullet that was intended to kill him.

8. Eugene Richards

Eugene Richards was born in 1944 in Massachusetts and holds his place among some of the best American photojournalists to ever pick up a camera. He is noted for his documentary work and has focused his camera on events that are meant to bring forth social awareness. Many people have classified his work as being deeply personal and hard hitting and most of his photos can be found within a number of popular collections. One of his most notable publications was the collection titled “Few Comforts or Surprises” which came out in 1973 and put faces to poverty within inner America. He is noted as one of the best for his ability to connect with the people he was portraying and add their personal story to every moment.

9. Luc Delahaye

Luc Delahaye is a new age French photographer that broke free from the restrictions of black and white photography and found a way to depict rich details of situations through large, brightly colored works. He tends to take a documentary approach to his work but then blends it with an undeniably and often overwhelming dramatic touch. His career of course began as a photojournalist and began to take off when he joined Magnum Photos and Newsweek Magazine. He truly made a name for himself with his raw and direct work that came out of places like Rwanda, Lebanon, and Chechnya. In 2001 he turned a new leaf and began to use imposing sized pictures in museums that almost instantly make his work timeless and inspire reflection.

10. William Eugene Smith

Another American photojournalist has made the list but not because he is alike any of the others. Smith was born in 1918 in Kansas and stood out from other photographers due to his professional attitude and unrivaled commitment to his work. He refused to even take a picture that he did not feel was perfect and published some brutally vivid moments from World War II. He will be remembered for his in depth photo essays on topics such as mercury poisoning in Japan, psychiatric institutes, and humanitarian work dealing with Africa.

While there are arguments made by people stating that photojournalism is a dying trade, these men and women prove how much deeper thing can be than just a picture. Yes many photographers can take great pictures, but it takes special talent to truly put meaning, conviction and inspiration all into one single shot. These 10 best photojournalists of all time had that eye for deeper meaning and that ability to capture society in one picture that simply cannot be taught. Their photos inspire, their work will always be remembered, and they are classic examples of what true photojournalism is all about.

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