When I think of rural based photographers, I don’t only think of landscape, wildlife or nature. All of these elements can and do appear in the narratives constructed by photographers based on rural life, but people are often at the centre of these photographers work. Not always obviously, sometimes it can be conceptually. These are photographers who bring us insight into the lives of those who live outside of the urban sprawl. They are interested in the environment and our impact upon it. Their work can be political, social, conceptual and humanistic in its approach. There are no rules, other than a focus on life outside of towns and cities. As always this personal list is in no particular order.

Further reading
https://unitednationsofphotography.com/2026/06/24/the-photography-canon-and-why-it-is-important-not-the-camera-brand/
https://unitednationsofphotography.com/2026/06/25/the-unp-top-20-photographers-working-with-colour/
https://unitednationsofphotography.com/2026/06/26/the-unp-top-20-landscape-photographers/
https://unitednationsofphotography.com/2026/06/28/the-unp-top-20-wandering-photographers/
https://unitednationsofphotography.com/2026/06/29/the-unp-top-20-portrait-photographers/
https://unitednationsofphotography.com/2026/06/28/the-unp-top-20-fashion-photographers/
https://unitednationsofphotography.com/2026/07/02/the-unp-top-20-urban-photographers/
https://unitednationsofphotography.com/2026/07/03/the-unp-top-20-music-photographers/
https://unitednationsofphotography.com/2026/07/05/the-unp-20-top-photographers-who-keep-kept-it-personal/
https://unitednationsofphotography.com/2026/07/06/the-unp-top-20-conflict-photographers/
https://unitednationsofphotography.com/2026/07/08/the-unp-top-20-interesting-photographers/

James Revilious www.jamesravilious.com

Kurt Markus www.kurtmarkus.com

Robert Darch www.robertdarch.com

Stephen Gill www.stephengill.co.uk

Brett Weston https://brettwestonarchive.com

Flor Garduno https://florgarduno.com

Fay Godwin www.faygodwin.com

Sebastian Salgado www.instagram.com/sebastiaosalgadooficial/?hl=en

Dorothea Lange www.icp.org/browse/archive/constituents/dorothea-lange

Marion Post Wolcott www.icp.org/browse/archive/constituents/marion-post-wolcott

Ragnar Axelsson https://rax.is

David Wright www.davidwright.photography

Paul Glazier https://elliott.gallery/a-closer-look-paul-glazier

Eirik Brekke www.eirikbrekke.no

Mark Steinmetz www.marksteinmetz.net

Allessandra Sanguinetti www.magnumphotos.com/photographer/alessandra-sanguinetti/

Jem Southam www.instagram.com/jemsoutham/?hl=en

Raymond Depardon www.magnumphotos.com/arts-culture/nature/living-with-the-land-raymond-depardon-explores-his-rural-roots

Peter Henry Emerson www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/explore-the-collection/explore-by-time-period/victorians/peter-henry-emerson-rural-photography/

Yasuhiro Ogawa https://ogawayasuhiro.com

Image: Robert Darch