Biggest photographic influences

[Lauffray]

Just curious to know what are or have been your major photographic influences ?
If you can identify them, I know some people say not one in particular or more than others

To be clear, this isn't a "what's your favourite photographer" question

 

[jsrockit]

I think the one's I've learned the most from and that have influenced me in some form are:

William Eggleston
Walker Evans
Lee Friedlander

Obviously not all of their work... but certain lessons were learned from viewing each that I still use today.

 

[willie_901]

As soon as I could read I looked forward to the weekly arrival of Life magazine. I looked at every photo published in Life for about a decade.

Life's photographers and photo editors must have had a significant impact on my work.

 

[Bob Michaels]

in alphabetical order:
Linda Carpenter
Rick Lang
Sue Michaels
Gary Monroe
David Wharton

Now you probably have not heard of any of them. 4 of the 5 are personal friends and photographers of some note. Their influence comes from continuing dialogue, a two way street, rather simply me looking at their photos. My late wife is also on that list because she constantly insisted I keep working on projects. She never took a photo in her life but had the ability to look at my work and make a very good assessment that it was beginning to formulate into something or ask if I thought there was any hope of things start to gel in the future.

 

[Lauffray]

Now you probably have not heard of any of them. 4 of the 5 are personal friends and photographers of some note.

Very cool, I was wondering at which point someone would list a personal friend. You're right I didn't recognize any of them 😀

 

[burancap]

Very cool, I was wondering at which point someone would list a personal friend. You're right I didn't recognize any of them 😀

How about some you might recognize? Lots of YOU folks in RFf land.

 

[Sparrow]

On here at the moment, well, I've enjoyed watching Keith go from talented novice to just talented over the last few years and Bob France for doing the vision thing to such good effect ... both in what is such a conservative environment ...

 

[Roger Hicks]

48 years reading books and magazines, and going to exhibitions whenever feasible.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Canyongazer]

Willy Ronis
Robert Doisneau
H C-B
Brassai

Yes, "street" and "Paris" being the common links.

 

[daveleo]

Not to evade the question, but, really, just about every photo and painting (and even some music) has influenced the pictures that I make.
Some of the strongest influences don't really appeal to my style of photographing - it was the "attitude" that impressed me, yet I never said "I want to make pictures like that".

 

[emraphoto]

Telex Iran - completely changed how I think about composition

Participating and exhibiting at Lagos Photo - I was blown away by the sheer enthusiasm of the youth who came to hear the lectures and see exhibits

A few years of covering conflict - changed my life and forced me to reassess why I take photographs

 

[Roger Hicks]

Not to evade the question, but, really, just about every photo and painting (and even some music) has influenced the pictures that I make.
Some of the strongest influences don't really appeal to my style of photographing - it was the "attitude" that impressed me, yet I never said "I want to make pictures like that".

Dear Dave,

Thanks for a much better phrased version of the answer I attempted to give. "Influences" and "favourite photographers" are very, very separate. You can learn from almost anyone -- and that includes learning what not to do, too.

Cheers,

R.

 

[peterm1]

For me its undoubtedly Saul Leiter. Actually I disccovered a style of photography I liked first, then found Leiter and realised my style of photography - at least my favourite images sometimes bore similarities to his.

 

[michaelwj]

Galen Rowell.
Sure I like his photos, but the influence is more in the method, quick, light, adaptable. I like to work light and fast, no second guessing. His "Inner game to outdoor photography" really spoke to me.

My favorite photographers on the other hand (those whose photographs I like the most) tend to be more methodical, or patient, or experimental.

Michael

 

[YYV_146]

My parents, especially my father who was a commercial photographer before he was married.

As for famous photographers, mostly Mr. Winogrand and Ralph Gibson.