Remembering Bryan Peterson, A Photography Legend
April 24, 2025 by Marie Joabar
Some of you may have heard about the recent passing of one of the most incredible photography instructors I’ve ever had the chance to learn from: Bryan Peterson. Truly, the photography world lost a legend.
A Passion for Teaching
Not only was Bryan an amazing photographer, he was truly passionate about teaching and helping others learn.
Bryan led Photo Workshops in the US and internationally. While many of the locations were well-known, Bryan always had a knack for guiding participants to the lesser-known corners—the kind of places most people would overlook.
If photographing an iconic scene or landmark, Bryan would show us how to create an image of it that most people probably would not have thought of. He was extremely talented for finding unusual perspectives and one-of-a-kind shots. His gift was seeing the world in a way most of us didn’t... and then helping us see it that way too.
Learning Through His Books
Long before I had met Bryan, I learned so much about photography from his book, “Understanding Exposure.” It became my bible and it gave me such a strong foundation to build on. Written during the days of film, Bryan later updated it to include digital photography.
The way he explained things made so much sense that I ended up buying many of his books; “Exposure Solutions,” “Understanding Composition Field Guide,” “Learning to See Creatively,” “Understanding Flash Photography,” just to name a few.
Each one expanded my knowledge and helped shape how I approach a scene to this day.
Workshop Experiences: Seeing Through New Eyes
Eventually, I took two of his photo workshops—one here in D.C. and another in New York. I learned hands-on how to see differently and look for photos even in the mundane. Bryan encouraged us to always ask, “What haven’t I seen yet?” “What photo opportunities are right here in front of me?”
Learning Live: Humor & Knowledge
I also had the chance to sit in on one of Bryan’s presentations. He wasn’t just teaching photography; he was teaching us how to see the world through our lens differently and more creatively. Not only did I walk away with a ton of practical knowledge, I also laughed—a lot. His humor made learning fun and his charisma was contagious.
He was humble and so personable and I’m sure he touched millions. Despite his popularity and his huge following, he would often reply to the comments on his social media sites or leave thoughtful feedback on your posts. That generosity is rare, especially for someone of his stature.
Bryan’s Legacy Lives On
Bryan will surely be missed, but I know he holds a special place in the hearts of anyone who listened to one of his talks or participated in one of his photo workshops. He made an indelible mark on the photography community and I can’t help but think of how fortunate I was to have had the benefit of learning from him. His brilliance lives on, not only in his words and images but in every photographer he helped shape.
His books are still for sale and I highly recommend them to photographers at any skill level. My all-time favorite is still “Understanding Exposure.”
Bryan knew photography like the back of his hand and he had the creative vision to go along with it. Lucky for us, he had the skill and the passion to share it!
As he was known for saying, “You keep Shooting!”
Bryan’s Articles on the CPC Blog
Years ago I had asked Bryan if I could share some of his articles with my readers on the CPC Blog, he was thrilled and more than happy to share! Though these are several years old, when you read them, you'll see the principles are timeless… as was Bryan!
Learning to See... by Bryan F. Peterson
The Language of Seeing... by Bryan F. Peterson
Correct Exposures VS Creatively Correct Exposures... by Bryan F. Peterson