I believe I learned about the work of Diane Arbus for the first time in college. It was the early 2000s, and never before has I seen a photographer who pushed the boundaries of what was deemed “acceptable” in art and simultaneously challenged traditional notions of beauty and what is “normal.” Her work had a profound influence on the language of photography, and I was hooked.

Arbus's photographs depicted people on the fringes of society, including dwarves, transgender people, and individuals with physical disabilities. Her sensitivity and ability for connection led to an openness from her subjects so that she may capture the humanity of many in these marginalized groups. Her photographs in turn challenged viewers to confront their own biases and preconceptions. Her was her ability to create an emotional connection between the viewer and the subject. Her photographs were not simply documents of a moment in time but captured the essence of the person she was photographing. This was especially evident in her portraits, which revealed a deep understanding of the human condition and the complexity of the individual.

Arbus's influence on myself and on photography as a whole cannot be overstated. Her work inspired a generation of photographers to push boundaries and to use the medium to explore the human experience in all its complexity. Her legacy as one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century lives on, and her work continues to inspire and challenge our perceptions and biases to this day.