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Every budding photographer needs something to aim for. If you’re on the hunt for photography degree courses, you may want to take a quick break from your search to have a look at the people below. If anyone knows how to take good pictures, it’s them…

Ansel Adams

If you know anything about famous photographers, you’ll almost certainly have heard of this guy (they even mention him in The Simpsons, for crying out loud).  Adams was an American photographer best known for the black-and-white landscapes he shot in his home country; if you’ve ever been to Yosemite National Park in California, for instance, you’ll be familiar with the settings of his most famous work.

Known for: Black-and-white landscapes of America’s National Parks.

Annie Leibovitz

Probably one of the most well-known female photographers (and the first woman to have an exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery), Annie Leibovitz specialises in portrait photographs. She’s photographed a number of famous celebrities and musicians as part of her work for magazines Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone, and she’s even taken official pictures of the Queen. Now that’s an impressive career.

Known for: Photographing the likes of John Lennon and Queen Elizabeth II.

Brian Duffy

From the 50s to the 70s, Brian Duffy worked as a fashion photographer for British magazines such as Vogue, Glamour and Esquire (to name but a few). As well photographing a number of models and working closely with David Bowie to create three album covers, Duffy also had a spell as a film producer (the talented devil).

Known for: Quitting photography and burning a load of negatives, then making a comeback.

Dorothea Lange

Photography doesn’t necessarily have to be influenced by artistic expression – sometimes, great pictures come from the documentation of key historical events. Dorothea Lange is incredibly influential and well-known for her documentary photography, which captured key moments in American history.

Known for: Photographs taken during the Great Depression and at Japanese-American Relocation Camps during the Second World War.

Jeremy Hunter

Describing Jeremy Hunter’s career so far as ‘varied’ would be a massive understatement. As a photojournalist, Jeremy travels the world taking photos of key events and celebrations and contributes to the likes of The Guardian and The Sunday Times. His portfolio includes pictures taken at a 150,000 strong Propaganda Art display in North Korea, and he’s reported from the civil war in Lebanon and the Indira Gandhi assassination.

Known for: Documenting festivals and celebrations across the world in his series ‘Let’s Celebrate 365’.

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