Here is a short list of some of my favourite photographers.
Ansel Adams
You don’t take a photograph, you make it.
Maybe one of the most renowned U.S. landscape photographers. Being a fan of outdoors photography and hiking it is impossible not to admire his work and his love for nature. Here you can find more about his life and images: Ansel Adams Gallery.
Ansel Adams, "Church" 1942. The image is a link to its original site at Wikimedia Commons.
Elliott Erwitt
Nothing happens when you sit at home. I always make it a point to carry a camera with me at all times.
Elliott Erwitt - Felix, Gladys and Rover, New York. 1974. This image is a link to its original site at Elliot Erwitt Gallery.
Henri Cartier-Bresson
...teaching and learning is nothing. It’s living and looking.
He was a French photographer who created the concept of "street photography". Unlike most of the other photographers in this list he mostly made photographs in 35mm format, which helped him capture intimate moments and depict life candidly. His "decisive moment" concept influenced all photographers after him. You can find more of his work at: Henri Cartier-Bresson and Magnum Photos
Henri Cartier-Bresson - Behind Saint-Lazare station, Paris, France, 1932. The image is a link to its original site at Henri Cartier-Bresson Gallery
Alfred Stieglitz
Alfred Stieglitz was an American Photographer from New Jersey. He has a beautiful portfolio of photographs from around New York City. You can find more of his work at: Alfred Stieglitz' Collection at George Eastman House.
Alfred Stieglitz, "Venetian Canal" 1894. The image is a link to its original site at Wikimedia Commons.
Robert Capa
If your photographs aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.
He was also one of the founders of Magnum Photos together with other photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson. You can find his portfolio here:
Robert Capa's Portfolio at Magnum Photos.
Robert Capa, "D-Day landings, 6-6-1944" photo from "The Magnificent Eleven" 1944. The image is a link to its original site at Wikipedia.
Michael Kenna
Michael Kenna is an English photographer. His black and white landscapes are beautiful in their simplicity, using shadows and shapes to catch your attention and leave you inserted in his photographs. He mostly uses a square format (6x6), which adds more interest to the photograph in my opinion.
You can see his amazing portfolio, at Michael Kenna Portfolio
Michael Kenna - Kussharo Lake Tree, Study 1, Kotan, Hokkaido, Japan, 2002. The image is a link to its original site at Michael Kenna Portfolio.
Edward Weston
Another American photographer whose organic images I find incredible. I enjoy how the forms and shadows draw your eye through the photograph, no matter if the subject is a nude figure, a mountain, or a pepper. You can find more of his photographs at Edward Weston.
Edward Weston - Pepper No. 30 (1930). The image is a link to its original site at Wikipedia.
Steve McCurry
An American photojournalist with an amazing portfolio. I specially love his portraits as he is able to get unique expressions from unique people. His most famous picture, taken in 1984, was the cover of National Geographic which I show below. You can find more about him and his work at Steve McCurry Photography.
Steve McCurry, "Afghan Girl" 1984. The image is a link to its original site at Wikimedia Commons.
Joe McNally
Joe McNally is also an American photojournalist, that has been working for the National Geographic Society for almost 30 years, and many other important magazines.
He has a unique sense of storytelling and uses off-camera flashes all the time to enhance he light quality and complete the story in his images. He is also a master at using these small flashes to get any effect he wants. You can find more of his photographs in his site: Joe McNally Photography.
Joe McNally - Cover of his book "The Hot Shoe Diaries". This image is a link to its original site at Joe McNally's Blog.
Disclaimer: I don't claim ownership of any of the photos in this section. They are there just to show you a sample of the photographers I admire, and they are just a link that goes directly to the source of the file at an open source content site or the photographer's website.