Helmut Newton
If I had to pick a favorite photographer, it would probably be the late, great Helmut Newton. Afterall, it was his work that inspired me to persue photography in the first place. His shots both amaze and bewilder me, and his use of line and shadow is fascinating. He also tends to capture an edginess and absurdity that really speaks to my own artistic taste. In this image, the gun is so subtle that you can hardly see it. It's the bullet hole that sets the context and tone of the scene while the characters' body language provides the dramatic tension. Amusingly, I think this was originally an advertisement for bath fixtures...