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Showing posts with the label Contax G2

Terry Richardson

Terry Richardson: The Provocateur Who Redefined Fashion Photography Introduction Terry Richardson (born 1965) is one of the most recognizable — and controversial — figures in late 20th- and early 21st-century fashion photography. Rising to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Richardson developed a visual style that was raw, confrontational, and deliberately anti-glamour, standing in sharp contrast to the polished aesthetics of traditional fashion imagery. His photographs blurred the line between fashion, celebrity portraiture, and snapshot-style documentary. With harsh flash, direct eye contact, and casual settings, Richardson created images that felt immediate, unfiltered, and provocative. He photographed an enormous range of cultural figures, from supermodels and musicians to actors and artists, helping define the visual language of magazines, advertising, and pop culture during that period. Richardson’s career has also been marked by serious controversy and allegati...

Antoine d'Agata

  Antoine d’Agata: Darkness, Desire, and the Camera Antoine d’Agata (b. 1961) is a French photographer and filmmaker whose work explores themes of addiction, sexuality, violence, and marginality. A member of Magnum Photos since 2004, d’Agata’s imagery is raw, visceral, and unapologetically confrontational. His photographs blur the line between document and confession, placing himself and his experiences at the heart of his art. Camera Gear Antoine d’Agata has used a range of gear over the years, often chosen for its ability to work in low light and produce gritty, atmospheric images: Leica M film cameras – For street and intimate documentary work, paired with classic lenses like 35mm and 50mm. Nikon SLRs (film) – Used during his early projects, reliable for reportage in harsh conditions. Digital Leica M (M9, M10) – Continuing his Leica tradition in the digital era. Leica M10 Compact cameras & point-and-shoots – D’Agata sometimes employs smaller cameras for dis...

Wolfgang Tillmans

  Wolfgang Tillmans: Redefining Contemporary Photography Wolfgang Tillmans is a German photographer celebrated for his experimental approach and groundbreaking work in contemporary art. Blurring the lines between fine art, documentary, and abstraction, Tillmans explores themes of identity, politics, intimacy, and perception. His photographs range from highly personal portraits to abstract color experiments, installations, and everyday scenes elevated to art. Winner of the Turner Prize, Tillmans is considered one of the most influential photographers of his generation. Camera Gear Wolfgang Tillmans has used a variety of gear throughout his career, reflecting his openness to experimentation rather than loyalty to a single system: Canon EOS 5D (and later 5D Mark II/III) – Widely documented as one of his go-to digital cameras, valued for flexibility and image quality. Canon Eos 5D Mark III Contax G2 – 35mm rangefinder film camera, used for portraits and intimate work in the 1...

Juergen Teller

  Juergen Teller (b. 1964, Erlangen, Germany) is a celebrated fashion and fine-art photographer renowned for his intimate, arresting, and often ironic images. His work—whether self-portraits, celebrity campaigns, or everyday moments—is known for a raw emotional immediacy and a refusal to glamorize subjects or settings. Camera Gear & Setup Contax G2 with TLA‑200 Flash For the majority of his early career, Teller shot analog exclusively using Contax G2 35mm rangefinder cameras , often carrying two at once for constant firing. He typically paired these with the on-camera Contax TLA‑200 flash , which produced the high-contrast, shadow-modeling light that became his visual signature . I used the hell out of the silver Contax G2. The flash on it was fantastic Contax G2 Multiple Bodies in Dual-Hand Stance Teller famously held one Contax in each hand, firing in rapid alternating bursts to disarm and engage subjects. This method created an intense rhythm that helped freeze candid emot...

Daniel Arnold

  Daniel Arnold is best known for his stealthy, cinematic street photography , and his gear reflects that: Smartphones & Film: The Unexpected Duo iPhone 5 / 5S Early in his career, Arnold shot extensively with these phones—using the volume button as a hidden shutter—though he now critiques their inconsistent image quality . iPhone 5S Yashica T4 A compact 35 mm point-and-shoot that gave him occasional film backup, valued for its simplicity and portability. Yashica T4 Contax G2 + Flash (His Signature Setup) Contax G2 rangefinder The camera most closely associated with Arnold’s iconic gritty digitial film style. 28 mm Carl Zeiss Biogon lens Known for sharpness and contrast—ideal for run-and-gun shooting . Hot shoe-mounted external flash Used off-camera, handheld, to create dramatic lighting and freeze spontaneous moments—Arnold often shoots without looking through the viewfinder. Contax G2 Film Stocks Kodak Portra 400 and 800 His preferred color film stocks...

Martin Parr

  Martin Parr: The Colorful Chronicler of British Life and Global Leisure Introduction Martin Parr (1952-2025) was one of the most influential documentary photographers of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Known for his bold use of color, sharp social observations, and humor-infused style, Parr spent decades documenting the quirks, habits, and contradictions of everyday life. From British seaside culture to global tourism, consumerism, and food, Parr framed society with a mixture of affection, irony, and critique. His images highlight the extraordinary within the ordinary — capturing moments that are funny, awkward, sometimes unflattering, but always human. A longtime member of Magnum Photos , Parr’s work helped redefine documentary photography by embracing vibrant color, satire, and the visual language of mass culture. Camera Gear Used by Martin Parr Martin Parr’s gear choices were always practical, allowing him to move quickly and capture candid scenes with clarity an...

William Eggleston

  William Eggleston – The Man Who Taught the World to See in Color William Eggleston transformed photography forever with a simple but radical idea: color deserves the same respect as black and white . His pictures — a tricycle towering against a suburban sky, the lurid glow of a supermarket, a woman’s red hair on the vinyl seat of a car — elevated the ordinary into a new American mythology. Eggleston doesn’t document moments; he discovers revelations hidden in everyday objects. His visual world is democratic — everything, no matter how banal, is worthy of attention. Primary Cameras Leica M Series : Eggleston extensively used Leica M rangefinder cameras, including models like the M3, M4, M5, and M6. These cameras, known for their precision and compactness, complemented his spontaneous shooting style. William Eggleston's Leica collection Leica M5 Leica M6 Canon Rangefinders : His first camera was a Canon 35mm rangefinder, acquired during his college years. This initial f...