Well-known documentary photographers
Documentary photography, even more so than street photography, captures stories that might otherwise go unnoticed. From social inequality to everyday moments, these photographers have shown the world as it really is. Below is an overview of 25 of the most influential documentary photographers of all time, for your inspiration. Of course, there are more, but I have tried to provide a good cross-section!
If you have a project of your own and are looking for a documentary photographer with roots in street photography (unpolished, spontaneous photography) who also thinks along with you, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Well-known documentary photographers
1. Robert Frank (1924–2019, Switzerland)
Known for The Americans, a raw and honest portrait of post-war America.
2. Henri Cartier-Bresson (1908–2004, France)
Founder of "decisive moment" photography and co-founder of Magnum Photos.
3. Sebastião Salgado (1944–present, Brazil)
Captures social and environmental issues in dramatic black-and-white images.
4. Walker Evans (1903–1975, United States)
Documented daily life in the US during the Great Depression.
5. Don McCullin (1935–present, United Kingdom)
Legendary war photographer with confrontational images from conflict zones.
6. Bruce Davidson (1933–present, US)
Documented the civil rights movement and social margins in the US.
7. Diane Arbus (1923–1971, United States)
Photographed outsiders and people on the margins of society.
8. David Goldblatt (1930–2018, South Africa)
Documented apartheid in South Africa with a sober but powerful style.
9. Jill Freedman (1939–2019, United States)
Known for her raw photographs of police officers, firefighters, and homeless people.
10. Susan Meiselas (1948–present, US)
Known for her work on conflicts in Central America.
11. Philip Jones Griffiths (1936–2008, United Kingdom)
His book Vietnam Inc. showed the consequences of the Vietnam War.
12. Raghu Rai (1942–present, India)
Indian documentary photographer with poignant images of his country.
13. LaToya Ruby Frazier (1982–present, US)
Her work focuses on social and economic inequality in the US.
14. Gabriele Basilico (1944–2013, Italy)
Captured the transformation of cities in powerful architectural photography.
15. Claude Dityvon (1937–2008, France)
Documented the Paris student protests of 1968 and urban changes.
16. Paolo Pellegrin (1964–present, Italy)
Magnum photographer with intense images of conflicts and humanitarian crises.
17. Joan Colom (1921–2017, Spain)
Known for his clandestine street photography in the working-class neighborhoods of Barcelona.
18. Christer Strömholm (1918–2002, Sweden)
Captured the transgender community of Paris in intimate black-and-white images.
19. Luigi Ghirri (1943–1992, Italy)
Known for his subtle and poetic documentary photography of the Italian landscape.
20. Josef Koudelka (1938–present, Czech Republic)
Documented the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and nomadic life.
21. Jean Gaumy (1948–present, France)
Known for his raw maritime and industrial photography.
22. Zanele Muholi (1972–present, South Africa)
Captures the LGBTQ+ community in South Africa with an activist perspective.
23. Latif Al Ani (1932–present, Iraq)
Offers a unique view of Iraq before the wars.
24. Mary Ellen Mark (1940–2015, United States)
Photographed socially vulnerable groups, from street children to psychiatric patients.
25. Lewis Hine (1874–1940, United States)
Known for his images of child labor in the US.
These photographers have changed the world through their images. Their work shows how powerful documentary photography can be—from war to poverty, from protests to everyday life. I would like to highlight one who is suddenly back in the news thanks to the recent film (2025) about her life (beautifully played by Kate Winslet):
Lee Miller (1907–1977)
Lee Miller began her career as a model and surrealist photographer before becoming one of the most influential war photographers of the 20th century. During World War II, she worked as a correspondent for Vogue and documented the liberation of concentration camps such as Dachau and Buchenwald. Her work was raw, confrontational, and showed the human impact of war in a way that was unprecedented. In addition to her war photography, she also had strong ties to the surrealist art movement and collaborated with Man Ray.
Her life and work have recently been brought back into the spotlight by the feature film Lee (2023), in which Kate Winslet plays the role of Lee Miller. The film focuses on her time as a war correspondent and shows the complexity of her life—from her career in fashion to the emotional impact of what she saw during the war. The film offers a deeper look at her multifaceted personality and the way she captured the reality of war.
Photography docs on YouTube
A completely random selection of photographic documentaries on YouTube. For your viewing pleasure.