5. Robert Mapplethorpe: In 1972 Mapplethorpe took his first photos of acquaintances and friends who were socialites, composers and artists. In the 80s he began photographing nude women. And near the end of his life and generally why he is most famous was his flowers. By manipulating shadow. and using black & white lens he created glorious, surreal photos. Until his relatively short life of 1989 only living to 42.