Acclaimed Photographer, Instructor Zucker Dies

Monte Zucker was an influential mentor for many top photographers

Leading portrait and wedding photographer Monte Zucker died on Friday after battling pancreatic cancer. With more than 55 years of experience in the photography industry, Zucker was a highly regarded educator, mentor and author helping many of today's leading photographers take their skills to the next level. He taught a vast array of classes and workshops using an easy-to-understand, flexible approach that made him a popular instructor among photographers of all ages.

Acclaimed throughout the world, Zucker's style has been called simple, direct and emotional. What viewers saw in his photographs was exactly what he wanted them to see, and that usually meant a face or a collection of faces.

Based on classical tradition, his portraiture never strayed far from his original intent, which was to capture a moment in a person's life and memorialize it. He once said, “I don't photograph the world as it is. I photograph the world as I would like it to be.”

To achieve that goal, he captured those moments giving little or no direction to his subjects. He was determined to take photographs of people that were timeless.

In 2002, the United Nations honored Zucker as Portrait Photographer of Year. Along with receiving numerous honors and awards for his contributions, he was a member of Canon's Explorer of Light, the prestigious panel of 78 photographers from around the world that provides insight, inspiration and education to future generations of creative photographers.

Zucker was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year.

A memorial service will be held for him from 1 to 4 p.m. on April 22 in Washington, D.C. Details are still tentative. Those hoping to attend should follow the thread on the Monte Zucker forum at www.montezucker.com for further information.