Non-photography movies or documentaries that inspired you to go out and take photos

[zvos1]

Strange thing happened to me last night, watched a documentary called "Searching for Sugar Man" (excellent doco by the way) and I felt inspired to pick up my M4 and go out and take photos.

The thing is, I am not sure why, the film was about a music artist and didn't have much to do with photography. 😕😕😕😕

Has the similar thing happened to you, and if it has, I'd love to know?

P.S. The interesting fact is that I had an urge to burn some film, no urge to use my digital camera whatsoever, go figure......😱

 

[Chris101]

I often look at the cinematography of movies from a still photography standpoint. Most movies inspire or at least suggest photography to me. I remember after seeing Blair Witch I was all about washed out B&W.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

I've had similar feelings after watching documentaries on the "grunge" movement.
Since having the opportunity to work on the Oglala Lacota reservation for a few weeks in 2012, every time I see anything about Native Americans or endemic poverty wherever, I feel compelled to work up a project to go shoot photos.

Phil Forrest

 

[zvos1]

I've had similar feelings after watching documentaries on the "grunge" movement.
Since having the opportunity to work on the Oglala Lacota reservation for a few weeks in 2012, every time I see anything about Native Americans or endemic poverty wherever, I feel compelled to work up a project to go shoot photos.

Phil Forrest

Phil, since you mentioned poverty..this doco had lots of scenes of run down areas of Detroit, maybe that is what got stuck in my head...

 

[petronius]

Great idea for a thread! I find non photocentric dokus and movies very inspiring:

Michael Glawoggers documentaries: Glawogger

Vier Leben

Koyaanisqatsi

"The Gleaners and I" by Agnes Varda

 

[zvos1]

I often look at the cinematography of movies from a still photography standpoint. Most movies inspire or at least suggest photography to me. I remember after seeing Blair Witch I was all about washed out B&W.

I've been paying a lot more attention to cinematography lately, however as far as I remember Blair Witch only gave me a headache...😀

 

[Keith]

I've been watching a british series from a few years back called 'Life On Mars' and have been struck by how much I like the way it's been shot. The lighting and locations are exceptional IMO.

 

[Sparrow]

I've been watching a british series from a few years back called 'Life On Mars' and have been struck by how much I like the way it's been shot. The lighting and locations are exceptional IMO.

I've been the same with the Scandinavian Noir on the beeb recently, The Killing one and two ... The Bridge, Wallander and the like ... beautifully filmed and everything looks like it's on fast Ektachrome

 

[Coopersounds]

glad this came up. for me "man with a movie camera" Dziga Vertov's 1929 film makes me want to go out with my camera more.
I was watching it last night on a nightshift at work.

 

[sreed2006]

"Three Days of the Condor is a 1975 American political thriller film directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway, Cliff Robertson, and Max von Sydow." (from a Google search).

In the movie, Faye Dunaway's character does black and white photography, and has some of her work framed and hung on the walls of her home. The pictures are very well done, and while not a central theme of the movie, the pictures play an important part. The pictures shown in the movie have inspired my black and white photography, both to use black and white film, and in my scene selection and composition.

 

[DominikDUK]

Hour of the Wolf/Vargtimmen by Ingmar Bergmann shot by Sven Nykvist one of the Gods of cinematography always inspires me to go out and shoot some B/W Film another Movie that has that effect on me is Touch of Evil by Orson Welles shot by Russel Metty another god of cinematography.

Anyone interested in B/W Film noir cinematography should read John Alton's Painting with light

 

[j j]

Not only Koyaanisqatsi (recommended by petronius) but also Baraka (my favourite in that genre) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0103767/?ref_=nv_sr_5 and Samsara http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770802/?ref_=tt_rec_tt

I have to tip my hat to Ken Loach generally and particularly Kes http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064541/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

It is not rangefinder-style imagery but Microcosmos appeals to the wildlife photographer in me http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117040/?ref_=nv_sr_1