Philippe Halsman

Studied engineering but became interested in photo. Falsely accused of murdering his father while hiking in Austria, spent two years in prison before sister rounded up enough international support to set him free. Collaborated with Salvador Dali on numerous photos, took portraits of people jumping, had his own twin lens reflex 4x5 camera made (by the grandson of the cabinetmaker who built Louis Daguerre's first camera) to remove delay between composing and shooting a portrait. Studied people and their interests, talked to them, got to know them to better portray their personality/psychology.