These legendary photographers—Jay Maisel, Ernst Haas, William Albert Allard, Sam Abell, Steve McCurry, and Henri Cartier-Bresson—have each taught me profound lessons about the art of seeing. From Jay Maisel, I learned to embrace color, light, and gesture as intuitive tools to capture the energy of everyday life. Ernst Haas revealed the poetic potential of motion and abstraction, reminding me that photography is as much about feeling as it is about form. William Albert Allard and Sam Abell taught me the power of quiet observation, the richness of storytelling through layered composition, and the patience required to wait for meaning to unfold within a frame. Steve McCurry emphasized the emotional impact of portraiture and the universal human stories that transcend borders. And Henri Cartier-Bresson instilled in me the discipline of timing—the decisive moment when structure, emotion, and geometry align into something timeless. Together, they’ve shaped not only how I photograph, but how I see the world.
Steve McCurry
Sam Abell
Ernst Haas
Henri Cartier-Bresson
William Albert Allard
