Final answer:
Famous American photographers include Ansel Adams known for his landscapes, Dorothea Lange for her Depression-era work, Edward Steichen for fine art and commercial photography, and Cindy Sherman for conceptual portraiture.
Step-by-step explanation:
Famous American Photographers:
Throughout American history, several photographers have had a profound impact on the medium of photography as an art form and on photojournalism. Ansel Adams is celebrated for his black and white landscape photographs of the American West, especially Yosemite National Park. His work with the Group f/64 sought to promote a new modernist aesthetic characterized by sharp focus and careful composition. Dorothea Lange is known for her influential documentary photography during the Great Depression, capturing the plight of the unemployed and displaced, with her most iconic image being 'Migrant Mother'. Edward Steichen's contributions to both fine art photography and commercial photography are significant; he created the first commercial image 'Pear and Apple' in 1919, and his work was widely featured in magazines. Cindy Sherman became well-known in the late 20th century for her conceptual portraits that challenged the role of women in society and the nature of representation in photography.
Pioneers like these have laid the groundwork for how we understand and appreciate photography today, both as a means of artistic expression and as a method for conveying powerful messages about society and its challenges.