Who's your (photographic) inspiration?

Hmmm ..... I'm feeling a little inadequate here. I only know a couple of names put up by the members. Ansel Adams, Karsh and Freeman Patterson. All very competent and good at what they did/do. I don't own a book by them. They are not influences.

The guy I like because he is different is Man Ray. I like him for his departure from picture taking. I don't feel influenced by him either though. I wish I could be as original as he was.

For me photography is sort of like watercolour painting really, you either get it or you don't. You don't get a second chance while you shoot.

My influences are George Carlin, Richard Prior, Joan Miro, JMW Turner, Paul Gaugin, Bill Evans, Miles Davis

Maybe I should read about photographers, I'm not sure.

Jan
 
I know the names, seen some of their stuff, and sure I like it, some more than others, but do they inspire me ? ... No
I get my inspiration mostly by being somewhere without a camera, wishing I had it with me, and later once I arrive home think about the beautiful shots I could of made. I note this down in a little moleskin, of which I have 7 by now and browse through them from time to time, this together with browsing through my past shot provides me with plenty of inspiration. I also get inspired by shots I have already taken, looking how I could improve....
I guess I shoot about 3 x 36-er's a week and roughly 20 or so 6x6, I shoot everything, scenes inspire me, people, light, texture, skies ... but not big names.
 
.... and some Big names are just Big names, no more no less ......
 
pecker, you're out of character. lemme see that smile!

i've never given much thought to it, but i guess my shortlist would consist of frank, moriyama, levitt, and erwitt. throw in cindy sherman's "untitled film stills" and various cinematographers while i'm at it.
 
Graksi and Rich. Maybe Oscar too if he's kind enough to get this M4 for me. ;)
 
Kris said:
Graksi and Rich. Maybe Oscar too if he's kind enough to get this M4 for me. ;)
Click to expand...

Bad bad Kris... do you remember Boromir ? Do you remember what happened when he hold the ring for a while ?...

Do you want to see me with 3 or 4 broom stick sized arrows on my chest ? :p

Now seriously, if you want me to take a look just let me know, I PM'ed you.

Sorry for the OT :(
 
Some of my favourites (not in any order) .... Atget, Brassai, Giacomelli, HCB, Capa, Kertesz, Bischof, Reza, Nachtwey, Trent Parke. :)
 
Please excuse me Oscar but I don't know Lord of the Rings (?) down to the details. I haven't even seen Return of the King yet. :eek:

By the way, add Todd to my list of inspiring photogs.
 
There are some photogs above I hadn't known. Thanks. I'll throw in a new name, not French, not well-known unfortunately: Milton Rogovin http://www.miltonrogovin.com/home.php Google him for more info. His book The Forgotten Ones brought tears to my eyes. Recently I discovered that Rogovin's son lives in my hometown and is a founder of the Peace Museum in Chicago. The son is speaking at our local photo club meeting in March, if anyone wants to visit Oak Park, Illinois.
 
backalley photo said:
russ, you have inspired me but i'm seeing a therapist now and will soon recover!
;)

joe
Click to expand...

Speaking of inspiration, did your Neopan 400CN arrive yet? That should inspire you a bit...

Russ
 
not yet!

have i mentioned how much i hate the canadian post office? lately...

the other day i got a 'final notice' on a parcel they never attempted to deliver. the clerk in the postal outlet told me. (not sure how she could tell)
i'm waiting on a filter for one of the olys for a month now.
in total i have about 6 parcels i'm waiting on.

aarrggghhhh...joe
 
For city photographs, Eugene Atget

For nature photography, Eliot Porter

For every day inspiration, fellow RFF'ers!
 
aizan said:
pecker, you're out of character. lemme see that smile!

i've never given much thought to it, but i guess my shortlist would consist of frank, moriyama, levitt, and erwitt. throw in cindy sherman's "untitled film stills" and various cinematographers while i'm at it.
Click to expand...

Aizan,
Truth is the omission of three smileys was an oversight. I had just finished a wonderful martini, was dead tired and submitted the post with one eye open just before bedtime! ;)

I like Brian and I like to razz him a little on occasion -- he's a good guy and a good sport. I thought about the missing smileys earlier today and realized I screwed up. We all have our well known heroes and influences but there is plenty of remarkable inspiration right here on this forum -- I'm not going to mention names because I would inadvertently omit someone.

I just need to move past my lowly Canonet 28 and into one of those "best ever" Leica M3 cameras -- right Brian? :D :D :D Perhaps I'm not worthy...

Pecker
 
Last edited by a moderator:
look towards the light pecker and away from the darkness.

for a whole lot less money you get a great camera and access to a world of great lenses also.
what camera, did i hear you say?
why the canon p, of course!!

joe
 
Some of Capa's work. I actually respond more to his brother, Cornell's work, though. There's a bunch of Australian photographers whose names escape me, but I love a lot of them for their excellent portraiture.

Who else? John Brownlow, not just for his photography, but for his enthusiasm for experimentation (have a look at his "project hipshot" - an interesting idea):

http://www.pinkheadedbug.com/home.html

and here, there are almost too many to mention, but just off the top of my head:

Taffer, Gene, Mr. Mattock, Pablo Antonio (love those wide open shots of your son), Kris. You guys have really helped to open my eyes. Oh, the Mongolian and African shots, too (sorry, names escape me right now). Ah crap, I could go on and on about you lot. Thanks for showing me pointers to where I can go.

Cheers,
Steve
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom