I have been lucky to have had a lot of interests (passions) in my life.  I have always cared about and studied the history behind those subjects.  Who did what and why?  What do we who now hold this passion owe them?  When I was young I was a student of the history of many of my interests such as baseball, auto racing, wilderness trekking, mountain climbing etc.   As I got older the world of horses and all that came with it was worthy of study.  Who began this breed, or that style of saddlery (western, English etc.) or horse showing.  The same has been true of photography in general and nature photography in specific. 

I may appear to be  “an old fuddy duddy” who only cares about the past and not the future.  I can assure you that it is because I care about the future that I study the past.  Where you have been tells much about where you will go.  Besides that I have always believed that honoring those that have done the “heavy lifting” for me is important as they surely deserve the credit and recognition. 

I have done articles like this before on my website and in my newsletter and many others have done top ten lists as well.  This very piece was provoked by an interesting and well thought out blog written by Richard Wong.  His post was about the top ten most influential nature photographers.  Others have written about the ten best.  This piece is about both, but I too care more about the influence these people have had than their technical or artistic merits.   My list is fairly close to Richard’s.  You will have to trust me that I have done this before and copying others is not what I do.

#1 Galen Rowell:  Like Richard I must make a confession before I continue.  I like Galen’s work very much and his book Mountain Light helped push me into making nature my primary photographic subject.  I have also met and spoken with Galen on more than one occasion.  My real purpose for picking Galen was partially due to the incredible spirit of adventure he embodied.  No mountain was too high.  No subject was too difficult to inhibit him from writing an honest and provocative article on that subject.  Perhaps the most important part was that he was truly the first nature photographer using color imagery to be accepted as a genuine artist.  Everyone who came after Galen and has pursued color nature art owes him a debt of gratitude.  Galen and his wife Barbara who was also a fine nature photographer, died in a plane crash in 2002. 

#2 John Shaw:  I put John far higher on my list than anyone who’s list I have seen.   In the pre-digital age no single photographer has done more to create new generations of nature photographers than John Shaw.  His series of books may be the only financially successful books on the subject ever written.  For a good reason I might add.  They are the best ever written.  Nobody can explain the more complex aspects of photography with understandable language than John.  Possibly the best teacher ever.  To me that is in many ways the definition of influential.  John is also (much like Art Wolfe) the ultimate everything nature photographer.  He is as good at, and is well-known for wildlife, landscapes and macros.  John continues to be successful today and has won awards for his teaching of the principles of Photoshop.

#3 Ansel Adams: I know what some of you older photographers are saying.  How on earth could you put the one “true legend” of nature photography third instead of first?  Believe me I respect and honor Ansel with every fiber in me.  Still he is not the most influential for the generations of nature photographers who followed.  He is the best known and the most influential among ecologists, art gallery owners, and among the general public.  I love and honor the art of black & white photography.  I still own a darkroom.  Yet as soon as flexible color film was created most nature photography turned to color.  Many think of Ansel as a great photographer but not necessarily a nature photographer.  Still his influence is so far-reaching that I could not find it my heart or mind to list him below number three.

#4 Art Wolfe:  Many historian types will chastise me for putting Art so high on this list.  Art is a fine photographer who, may well be the best known current nature photographer.   Still he has been around for long time.  He is in fact the same age as me. Lasting at or near the top of his profession for over 30 years is possibly a good enough reason in and of its self, to list him here.  The truth is that Art is everywhere today.  He has more current influence than any single photographer, and that is just as important as those from the past.  He uses social media such as Facebook and Twitter to the max, and has made a great model for today’s photographers to follow.  Art has brought nature photography to the entire world with his Travels To The Edge television show.  Remember this next statement is coming from a 35 year veteran photographer who has been head over heels in love with nature photography for a long time.  When you watch his show and you see an image begin to come together, be it wildlife, landscape or macro, the enthusiasm you hear in his voice is real.  After 30+ years he is as much an excited child as he ever was.  That my friends, will influence other photographers.

#5 William Henry Jackson:  I list this great pioneer so high because it is imperative that we remember those that were among the very first.  The sheer physical effort that these photographers went through carrying entire darkrooms, enormous wooden tripods  and 8×10 metal and glass plate cameras through the American wilderness should never, ever be forgotten.  The next time you complain about your light weight digital system and the two zoom lenses you carry on a four mile hike, please remember Jackson and the rest of his generation.

#6 David Muench:  The most prolific and influential color landscape photographer ever.  There are many out there today who may surpass David but at over 70 years of age he still hikes the American continent and creates stunning imagery.  I do believe he is the father (even more than his father Joseph) of the modern-day color naturescape.  I made a decision here to list David instead of the great Eliot Porter.  Eliot was the Ansel Adams of color and like Ansel did much to help the environment. He was more of an activist than David Muench but I feel did not have a long-lasting effect on future generations of nature photographers.

#7 Heather Angel:  This fine British lady is the first female nature photographer to hit the very top of that profession.  Certainly Peggy Bauer deserves her credit but was part of a husband and wife team.  They shared their credits.  Many fine woman nature photographers have come since.  Not nearly enough.  Whether we like it or not men & woman are different.  Woman bring a whole new viewpoint to nature photography and it needs to be shown.  Far too many woman photographers quit the pursuit of nature photography when they get married.  How many male photographers quit when they marry?  We need photographers of both sexes and of all colors and nationalities to bring their own sensibilities and culture to the imagery of the natural world.

#8 Jim Brandenburg  Jim’s name is quickly fading from the world of nature photography.  This is my small and humble attempt to see that we don’t forget him.  He had a large influence at one time.  His work at National Geographic has been viewed by millions, including virtually all future nature photographers of an entire generation.  His book White Wolf re-defined wildlife photography.  He showed indeed all forms of nature photography can be art.  Thank you Jim.

# 9 David Doubilet  The art of underwater photography needed an influential leader during the 70s and 80s and David Doubilet was made to order.  He was good at expressing himself on that subject including the technique, the art and the natural history aspects of the underwater world in which he thrives.  He was the best known of that time frame and carried the possibilities of this genre of nature photography far beyond anyone who had come before him.  He has been the master that others learned from for over 30 years.

#10 Leonard Lee Rue  I know that many of you who are knowledgable of nature (wildlife) photographers would say because of the lack of artistic intent in his imagery, Len does not deserve to be here.  I could not disagree more.  He re-defined wildlife photography.  Just going to Yellowstone or The Everglades and photographing whatever you see was not enough anymore.  Nobody knows more about the subjects he photographs that Len.  It is true his books and articles are not generally photography how to books but they are the best word about how to find those subjects.  Len has had more magazine covers than any photographer in the history nature photography. He is the father ( or grandfather) of modern wildlife photography and he belongs in the top ten.

I could easily add 50 honorable mentions.  The truth is that we can all be influential.  I have always tried to lead by my actions in the field.  I have at least attempted to set the example of thoughtfulness towards the wildlife and plants that I have found.  I also try not to do things like walk in front of other photographers.  My photo is not more important than those of others.  Lastly I attempt ( a few failures)  to respect the rights of property owners.  My desires do not trump their rights. I am sure that you have both more and better examples of how to be an influence.