Who or what inspired you?

[Rafael]

We have been talking a whole lot of gear lately. How about something a little different? Who or what inspired you to become a photographer in the first place?

This will sound a bit sappy I know, but my primary inspiration was my father. I think he's a great photographer. We always had some of his prints on our walls when I was growing up. So photography was sort of always around. And, though I didn't really pick it up until I was in my early 20s, I always knew that eventually I would.

The other photographer who had a great (but not nearly so personal) impact on me was Alex Webb. It was when I first saw his work that I knew I wanted to take up RF photography. And thus began the slow collection of dust on my SLR gear and the quick depletion of my bank account 😀 .In case you're interested, here is a link to a great little documentary on Webb and his work.

So how about you? How did you get started into this world of images?

 

[back alley]

i can't really pinpoint it.

in elementary school we were always taking some test or another to figure out how smart (or not) we were or what we had an aptitude for.
i scored high as a photographer, interior decorator and lots of social work categories. i questioned the results as my buddy, the smartest kid in the school was pegged to be a farmer. no diss to farmers but this was queens in new york city and the closest most of us got to the farm was the produce isle at the a&p.
interesting, but i wound up working in the human service field.

in university there were a few guys always walking around with cameras, (in the camera club i think). they always looked kinda cool to me.

i started to read photography mags too and eventually bought a oly 35 rc which i still have. i was pretty much hooked after that.

joe

 

[BrianShaw]

This is a great topic... not sappy at all!

I was a casual picture taker as a kid. I had a 127 roll fim, fixed-focus, plastic box camera (yes, it was a long time ago folks). I was interested in photography but since there were no other real photographers in the family there was little in the way of real encouragement. My Dad took pictures of the family with his Argus C3, but I was expected to be standing between my two brothers trying to smile while my older brother was jamming his elbow into my ribs.

When I got my first full-time job after college I ended up doing research in underground mining (both hard-rock and coal) under US government contracts. It quickly became evident that capturing some of my research findings on film would help the studies. It also helped the funding because our contract monitors LOVED pictures to show around and hang on their walls. But I didn't really know my f/stop from my aperture.

One of my colleagues, who was a hobbiest photographer, gave me a quick lesson and from that day forward I was a "professional". Shooting in underground mines was quite a learning experience... it's not the same as 'normal' photography. For one, it's DARK. But also there is a lot of dust, glare, water vapor, dangerous equipment, confined work areas, and grumpy men who don't want to be photographed.

In coal mines there is an additional consideration -- methane gas -- so all of my equipment had to be specially sealed and approved for use in explosive environments. I shot many hundreds of rolls of slide film in these environments and my work was "immortalized" in many government research publications and mining safety training programs.

Then I started working more in the lab so I used photogrammatic data capture for several studies for the Society of Automotive Engineers. That study involved shooting about 75 rolls a week with extremely rigid set-up and calibration procedures. The data we collected was eventually used for design criteria for truck cab design.

For many other work assignments I ended up being "the photographer". Too many to recall, really. For a while I was also shooting for the corporation's annual report and newsletter.. that was a fun but thankless task.

Once I really learned the basics I started shooting for fun, too. My favorite subjects have been landscape and architecture, with a nod toward informal portraiture. Now I shoot in all formats: 4x5, MF, and 35mm. The MF work has been done with TLR, but now a SLR. 35mm work with SLR, but now also RF. For the past decade I've mostly shot for fun. On rare occasional I'll do a paying job but time is scarce and my interests are broad so I most often turn these requests down.

 

[OldNick]

Although I had experimented with some cheap, simple cameras while growing up, I received my first really functioning camera as a gift from my father-in-law following our marriage. He had supported his family with a small studio for a period of time following WWII. He probably wanted someone else in the family to take an interest in photography as a hobby, because he knew the difficulties in making a decent living with the trade. With the simple camera, I found that I enjoyed the process and made a few images that showed promise. When I could afford to buy something better, I looked into a new Kodak Retina III, or a used Leica IIIa that I found in a local shop. I bought the Leica and have never been sorry. The year was 1952.

 

[DougK]

Great question.

My biggest influence was my father. Dad was a camera bug all his life and loved taking pictures. He made sure we always had subscriptions to LIFE and National Geographic; we'd spend hours looking at the photos and talking about the places he'd seen while in the Navy. The one thing I could guarantee would show up under the Christmas tree, if I put it on my wish list, was a camera. He made sure I always had film to shoot on vacations and taught me the basics of photography. It was a huge day for me when he let me take his prized SLR out all by myself.

It wasn't until after my dad passed away that I saw some of the stuff he'd shot before us kids came along. Wow, he really had an eye and was great at using color to make a shot. Too bad most of his stuff is unrestorable, otherwise I'd love to put together a book of his photos.

Everything I do in photography, I owe to him. Thanks, Dad, I miss you.

 

[RML]

I try to write about the photogs and artists who inspire me on _my photo blog_. Eggleston is one, Picasso another. Add Breitner, Salgado and a whole host of other artists, and you'll get an idea. 🙂 I'm not picky about my art. I enjoy many movements and forms, and all can be an inspiration.

 

[Dougg]

As far as immediate guidance, I'll have to thank my uncle who patiently went through a lot of my photos offering suggestions, this over a period of several years. This was much more useful than the big photo club I'd also joined, which turned out to be very formalized and rigid. My uncle had a Retina IIIC as I recall, and wished for an Alpa SLR that he never got. But for him it was never really about the gear, but what could be done despite it!

 

[PlantedTao]

great question.

I would have to say that my major influences would be my mom and my best friend. My mom was an artist...she collected and decorated our house with paintings and always was involved in the art community. It is a discipline that I would like to think was inherited...I've always had a eye for design which I have persued throughout my life...I however never got to know her because she passed away when I was only a year old. Nonetheless, I believe that she has guiding hand in my design sensibilities.
My other influence is my best friend that I met in college. He has been an influence because of his amazing work and humble approach. He casually pursed photography in college and his work made me want to give it a try. It wasn't until later that I actually gave it a try (w/ a GSN) and have been hooked ever since. I continually show him my work and he has always offered his support and advice...for that I'm deeply indepted.
My photography is a nod to both these two individuals.

 

[IGMeanwell]

I like this thread alot ...

Mine is not to easy to pinpoint but I remember my brother being the school year book photographer (6 years older than myself) ... he carried around this Miranda camera with 2 lenses (50 and 135mm)

That inspired me to take a course at a local community college for children and I learned early developing and darkroom procedures. Unforuntately I rarely used them after that and rarely used a camera until I was in college. Then a couple years ago I had a bit of depression (just in an overall rut) ... I found a Minolta X-370 my grandfather purchased before he died (had 3 lenses for it; 50 1.7, 135 2.8, 28 2.8) and started playing around with what I remembered of photography. I found I had an eye... enjoyed myself immensely and started looking into digital as well. In that time span I purchased a Fujifilm S3100 and a Yashica Electro GS; really dove into the medium.

I had this older gentleman that was a trustee at the historical society I worked for whom used to be a Ambassador to the Native Americans during Kennedy's administration. He was showing me all these amazing photos he took with an old Nikkormat SLR ... he and I could talk for hours about photography. He would talk about the cameras he used in WWII for missions as well as for fun (he was a code breaker). He loved my photography and drove me to go further.

In terms of photographers ... I'd hate to say it but Ansel Adam's landscapes really intrigued me into what could be recorded by a camera. Though W.Eugene Smith's war photography as well as his "country doctor" series really has influenced my portraiture and available light photography.

Now I have moved to expand my abilities, I have my Nikon DSLR (a bivy of lenses as well)... I still use my old Polaroid on occasions, my Yashica and my new toy the Fuji Natura. I find all these tools inspire me in different ways to record what is in front of me.

 

[thanatos]

Where else can I marry up my creative side with my love of gadgets? 😀 Well, computer music maybe, but I prefer photography.

I had a Polaroid bought me as a kid and then saved up my pocket money and bought a Zenit. I traded that in for an entry level Cosina SLR that I still have. My grandfather was a merchant seaman, travelled the world and took lots of photos and I now have his Zeiss Ikon MF, that I've yet to put a film through. Funnily enough, I've only recently really had a good look at my grandfather's photos - I can't remember looking at them properly as a kid.

In recent years, with my work being first optometric and then medical, I've had the need to do something creative outside of work. I really got into computer music for a while but I like being outdoors too much so photography wins on that front. I also appreciate photos more than pieces of music.

I can also apply my photography to my work - I'm interested in imaging and image analysis from a medical point of view and a lot of my cancer research is now based on photomicrographs. Previously, retinal imaging was my research interest. More gadgets as well of course 😀

For the first since my early 20s, I've got some dough and good health so have the inclination and ability to get out and take photos on some pretty decent gear. I love using digital and film gear and see no conflict in enjoying both. 😱

What influences me now? Probably Erwitt more than any but many PJs also get my attention.

Now all I need is more time for my wife, photography (and golf)....

 

[oftheherd]

My father was an advid amature photographer. I used to go with him to camera club meetings. Everyone in our circle of friends knew his abilities. Naturally I was interested in what interested my father. He would always give me a box camera to use if I wanted. He even let me into the small closet he used as a darkroom. But frankly, it wasn't as much fun as I thought it would be at that young age. Many years later, when in my first year of college, I got interested again. I got out some of his old gear and began to experiment. It was fun and I was able to get some photos others thought good.

I then joined the US Army and didn't do much except an occassional snapshot, still using a couple of his old cameras. I really enjoyed his Welta Welti. Both I used then were folders because when folded they were easy to carry when parachuting out of a plane. A few years later, I found myself an investigator in Vietnam without an Army provided camera. The Welti and a Minolta 16 were my crime scene cameras.

A few more years and during a tour in Korea, I was apalled at the poor photos from our office Instamatic. I determined to get worthwhile crime scene photos and as soon as my Yashica TL Super joined me, I was off and running. It really got to be fun not only for my own good feelings, but for the recognition I got from my peers. I also enjoyed documenting trips around Korea. Due to the attention I was getting, I really got into it, reading every book and magazine I could find, and experimenting with every idea I read about or could think of. I was often called on for major crime scenes and testified in court. It was fun from then on, both professionally and personally.

Until about 13 years ago when a house fire destroyed or damaged about 10,000 slides and still more negatives. Also some of the photo gear I had acquired myself or from my father. It just didn't seem as much fun as before. I still do a lot of family snapshots, but not much else. I do still enjoy at least that though. I doubt I would ever completely leave photography behind. In fact, I will probably do more when and if I retire. For now, my grandson gets a lot of my photographic attention.

 

[thafred]

Very good thread! Some interesting stories here..

Here´s mine:
PLease don´t hurt me but my interest in photography startet with Lomographie! 😱
I was in my last Years of school when the Lomo craze broke out in Vienna, I saw a print hanging on the wall of a friend of mine and immediatly knew that I liked the Style alot (vignetting, oversaturated look, soft corners...), when I saw his Lomo (which at the time he bought in St. Petersburg for next to nothing) I was sold. The little thingie was my go and take everywere camera and I destroyed three of them in those years until I began to work (and the interest vanished). The Lomos quite cheap back then but still crazy seeing how cheap they must have been in the Soviet union. most of the time I shot about 2-5rolls a week and enjoyed the surprise factor the lomo offered very much.

Other than that, I had a little experience with my fathers Canon 1000f but never liked it much (SLR´s never caught my attention) and used it for one vacation only (NYC in 97...I will never forget this awesome city)

After several years of Photogearlessness (and beeing occupied by "High End" Hifi gear) I purchased a Kodak Digicam and had no Joy at all with it...searching my feelings I found that I dislike quite everything about it, the slow shutter, the long response time, having to turn it "on" actualy and the pictures looked nothing like the oversaturated "kinda sharp" Pics I loved so much years before. I searched for a lomo again and was totaly shocked to see how prices developed over those years! So a little over 1 Year ago my search started for a Camera with fast lens and Auto/half Auto features and when I saw a Yashica GTN on display in a Junk-shop around the corner I had to have it. I was hooked on the GTN for half a year when thanks to the WWW my interest in Bessa´s arose and from that point it was a steep GAS curve until now.

Despite of still having a lot of Ultra100 Films in the freezer to fullfill my Color saturation-needs I think that I learn more about photography when shooting B+W Film and dev./printing myself. I´m developing film myself since Oktober last year and have started Wet Printing around Xmas last year and its a big learning experience for me which I enjoy sooo much! (about 150 rolls since then) I have everything for doing the Digital workflow and even invested in a new Photojet last year but I realized it´s more interesting going to the roots of things and started wet printing, so thats what keeps my Photographie desire burning (and its strong as never before).

Inspiration comes from within and I couldn´t nail down a photographer that influences my style (which I still feel I have to find) or something....allthou I like alot pictures I see from the old "or new" masters.

OT: I went quite the same route with Hifi, where I first thought Dolby digital 5.1 with big 3-Way Speakers and Subs was King and slowly realized that the old stuff was soo much more simple and rewarding... My current Hifi is a DIY Type 45 Triode SE Amp, Linn Record player and DIY SABA Fullrange Horn speakers....retro to the Bone.

 

[Ash]

Definitely my mum. She was the one who gave me that little twitch that said "you gotta take photo's". My grandad gave me his old, and my first, slr. It didn't get used for years until I pulled it out and used it for a few colour films. It'd been through a very young person's idea of storage so it had light leaks and everything.

In college I think a lot of people managed to say nice things, like one person saying "ah but why didn't you take photography?! You're actually good!" kinda pushed me to take it seriously.

Famous photographers like Halsman and HCB are always in my mind that I'm not doing what I *want* to be doing with photo's, that I need to push myself more, be original and get stunning photo's. That's the inspiration I've got to hold onto throughout the rest of my life and try and acheive some great photo's 🙂

 

[Doug Smith]

My father. I had a little Brownie as a kid and when I showed an interest in photography per se, my father gave me his wartime Voigtlander Bessa 66- my first 'real' camera. He taught me - by example - composition and enthusiasm and also the art of presentation with his monthly slide shows. Thanks, dad.

 

[clarence]

I started with Lomography too. An action sampler, the kind that takes 4 shots, was given to me as a birthday present. But I never used it all that often, to be honest.

While I was serving in the army, I borrowed my family's digital p&s and offered to take photos for a particular course I was taking. It started out as a form of mental exercise and stress relief, and I'm still really glad that I had my camera with me during that period.

A friend was then getting interested in photography. We talked about it, and eventually I bought my first analog camera with full manual controls: a Zorki 4K.

With regards to rangefinder photography, I never appreciated it until I sold my Zorki and only had my SLRs to rely on. The limitations were enough of an annoyance that I decided to go back to rangefinders.

Clarence

 

[Rafael]

You guys have such good stories that I feel I should expand upon my own a bit. When my father was heavily into photography, he used to like to shoot people, friends and family mainly. But his primary interest was nature photography, mountain vistas and the like. He started out with Nikon SLRs but soon found that it was a lot of work to lug them up and down mountain trails. So he began to look for a camera that would have great optics but that would be much lighter than the SLRs. He settled on Leica.

When I first got into photography, I bought myself an SLR. As all sons rebel against their fathers in one way or another, I went for Canon over Nikon😎 . But I followed my father in shooting scenics. In fact, for the first while, photography was a very solitary endeavour for me. I would go out on my own for hours in search of great light and great images.

Eventually, friends and family started to ask for prints. Then they started to ask me to shoot events for them. Then friends started recommending me to their friends who were looking for photographers to shoot portraits or events. And so my photography changed. Soon, I was shooting people almost exclusively.

I really like working closely with the people I photograph. And I doubt that I will ever give that type of photography up. But at the same time, I always looked back with fondness on the days that I would spend alone out searching for great photographs. It was right about the time that I started to wonder seriously why I had ever stopped going out on my own like that that I came across Alex Webb's work. Instantly, I knew that I had found the sort of photography I really aspired to do. It combines my love of shooting people with the search for images that I was missing from my earlier days.

It didn't take me long to realise that my big SLRs with motor drives attached were not ideal for this sort of work. By this point, for various reasons, my father had basically stopped taking photographs seriously. He had bought a digital camera and used it quite regularly. But his Leica M4 and lenses had sat unused for quite a few years. Recognising where my photographic interests lay, my father offered me his Leica kit. So, while I have ended up as a very different photographer from him, I would probably never have gotten here without his inspiration and his extraordinary generosity.

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

What inspired me ...

Several years ago, I was flyfishing with my wife on the Gallatin River in Montana. That day, the morning sun was brilliant, the river was flowing in perfect rhythm, my then future wife was looking beautiful ... and it occurred to me that this moment, indeed every moment of note in one's life, should be captured.

That simple.

 

[tkluck]

See avatar...
No windy tale about creativity or inspiration.
I just thought Jimmy Olsen was cool when I was a kid.
Got a job in a university photo department.
Learned how to knock 10 years off old faculty with the celophane off a pack of luckys.
Photography also seemed like a possible way to get artsy chicks naked.

Forty years later Jimmy Olsen is still cool.

 

[jshelly]

Jack Kerouac & Robert Frank

 

[dmr]

My biggest influence was my father. Dad was a camera bug all his life and loved taking pictures.

Same here. My dad loved to take and show off photos, although his style was far different than mine -- he always posed everybody looking straight into the camera and used >>FLASH<< almost like a weapon! 🙂

For some reason, the quote I remember was something like "Super-XX and Verichrome (ortho) were the two best films ever made."

My older brother was really the one who got me into 35mm. He had a Pentax HV (??? - meter on the top, not TTL) and I was really amazed as to what it would do -- and 20 or 36 shots per roll! I thought that was the be-all and end-all. 🙂

I think what really turned me on to 35mm photography is that you could shoot indoors most of the time without flash. I remember he used to use Plus-X indoors and it usually worked.

He made sure we always had subscriptions to LIFE and National Geographic;

We had a subscription to NG and got Life, SE Post, Look, etc. frequently.

I really became familiar with what Kodachrome and Ektachrome could do thru NG. I remember trying to tell what was Kodachrome and what was Ektachrome just by sight. 🙂

I remember Life primarily as B&W. I also loved looking through the Daily News "The Picture Newspaper!" 🙂