What Camera Gear do they use?

  René Burri: The Architect of Political and Cultural Photography Introduction René Burri (1933–2014) was one of the most influential photographers to emerge from Magnum Photos in the postwar period. Best known for his iconic portraits of political and cultural figures — including Che Guevara, Pablo Picasso, and Le Corbusier — Burri combined architectural precision with human insight, creating images that are both documentary records and visual essays. Born in Zurich, Burri was trained at the Kunstgewerbeschule under Hans Finsler, where he developed a strong sense of geometry, structure, and form. This background shaped his entire career. Whether photographing global politics, modern architecture, or everyday life across continents, Burri’s images reveal an analytical eye balanced by curiosity and empathy. Burri’s photography is not driven by drama or confrontation. Instead, it unfolds through observation, composition, and intellectual engagement — making him a key figure in the ...

  Bruno Barbey: The Color Humanist of Global Photojournalism Introduction Bruno Barbey (1941–2020) was one of the great humanist photojournalists of the modern era. A longtime member of Magnum Photos , Barbey built a career spanning more than five decades, documenting political change, cultural identity, and everyday life across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Unlike many photojournalists of his generation, Barbey embraced color photography early and confidently , using it not as decoration but as narrative structure. His images are rich, layered, and deeply respectful of place. Whether photographing protests in Paris, daily life in Morocco, or conflict zones across the Middle East, Barbey balanced journalistic clarity with visual poetry. His work stands out for its calm authority: present, observant, and human-centered, never sensational. Barbey showed that documentary photography could be both informative and deeply beautiful. Camera Gear Used by Bruno Barbey Barbey’s...

  Raymond Depardon: The Quiet Witness of Modern France Introduction Raymond Depardon (born 1942) is one of the most important documentary photographers and filmmakers of the postwar era. His work stands at the intersection of photojournalism, personal documentary, and cinematic observation, marked by restraint, clarity, and deep ethical awareness. Born on a farm in rural France, Depardon began photographing as a teenager before becoming a war photographer and co-founding the Gamma photo agency in the 1960s. Over time, he deliberately stepped away from conflict photography, turning his lens toward quieter subjects: institutions, rural landscapes, political power, and the subtle loneliness of modern life. Depardon’s photographs and films are defined by distance — emotional, physical, and moral. He observes without intrusion, allowing reality to unfold without commentary. This approach has made him a central figure in both photography and documentary cinema, particularly in France. C...

  Reuben Radding: The Relentless Observer of Urban Life Introduction Reuben Radding (born 1959) is one of the most uncompromising voices in contemporary street photography. Based in New York City, Radding has spent decades documenting urban life with intensity, persistence, and emotional honesty. His photographs confront the viewer with the raw realities of city streets — poverty, loneliness, aggression, tenderness, and fleeting moments of human connection. Unlike photographers who romanticize the street, Radding engages with it directly. His work is confrontational without being exploitative, empathetic without being sentimental. Influenced by the lineage of Walker Evans, Robert Frank, and Garry Winogrand, Radding’s photography reflects a deep belief that the street is a place of truth — uncomfortable, complex, and deeply human. Radding is also known as a dedicated educator, mentoring generations of photographers through workshops and long-term teaching, emphasizing discipline, co...

  Patrick Zachmann: The Leica Storyteller Who Captured Memory and Identity Introduction Patrick Zachmann, a long-standing member of Magnum Photos , has spent over four decades documenting identity, memory, and cultural dislocation through a deeply humanistic lens. Born in France in 1955, Zachmann’s work traverses continents and generations — from exploring the Jewish diaspora to capturing the lives of Chinese youth during China’s rapid modernization. Zachmann’s photographs carry a rare intimacy — quiet, contemplative, and profoundly emotional. His stories are not told with spectacle but with subtlety. Every frame reflects patience, empathy, and meticulous technical precision, making his oeuvre a cornerstone of contemporary documentary photography. At the heart of this mastery lies his consistent choice of simple, enduring tools: Leica cameras , legendary for their reliability and unobtrusive design — perfect companions for a photographer devoted to truth and nuance. Camera Gear Pat...

  Ralph Gibson: Precision, Light, and the Leica Legacy Ralph Gibson, born in 1939 in Los Angeles, is one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary photography. Known for his striking use of shadow, geometry, and surreal abstraction, Gibson has built an entire career around the discipline of seeing — and the precision of his beloved Leica cameras. Camera Gear Leica M rangefinders – primarily the Leica M6 and later the Leica M9 , M Monochrom , and Leica Q2 Monochrom . Leica M6 Leica M9 Leica M11 Monochrom Leica Q2 Lenses: predominantly 50 mm Summicron and 35 mm Summilux lenses. Film: for decades, Gibson shot exclusively on Kodak Tri-X 400 black-and-white film, which defined his signature tonal style. Digital transition: In recent years, he has embraced digital Leicas while maintaining the same minimalist discipline — one camera, one lens, one idea. Technique and Vision Ralph Gibson’s photographs are about perception rather than documentation. He composes wi...

  Tyler Mitchell: Fresh Eyes on Portrait & Fashion Photography Tyler Mitchell (born 1995) is an American photographer and filmmaker known for his vivid, dreamlike imagery that celebrates youth, identity, and Black culture. In 2018, he made history as the first Black photographer to shoot the cover of Vogue in its 125-year history, featuring Beyoncé. His work blends fine-art, editorial, and documentary influences, offering a poetic yet socially engaged vision of contemporary life. Camera Gear Began shooting as a teenager with a Canon DSLR , which he used to film skateboarding and travel videos before turning to still photography. Frequently photographs with medium-format film cameras such as the Mamiya RZ67 and Mamiya 7 II for portrait and fashion projects. Mamiya RZ 67 Mamiya 7 II Has been seen using Leica M6 film rangefinder cameras in editorial and gallery work. Leica M6 Often works with Kodak Portra and Ektar color film stocks for their luminous tones and...