Robert Mapplethorpe was an American photographer who opened the world to sexuality, gender and identity through photography. His work was highly controversial and criticized due to the amount of exposure he captured but realistically he pushed the boundaries of photography and challenged societies views. He mainly shot black and white portraits, still lifes and homoerotic imagery which made many people question the meanings and purpose of his work but this opened a new world in photography. His use of light, shadow, attention to details helped shape his work and leave an impact in the photography world.