Your photography influence...

Rangefinder 35

Rangefinder 35

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Who was your photography influence, somebody that make you want to become the photographer that you are today?
I was immersed in photography for a while and working in a photo-lab in New York City, when my boss showed me an exhibit catalog to Robert Glen Ketchum large format Cibachromes. I never knew that photography could be so impressionistic. Later on I met RGK during one of his seminars he gave on Camano Island, Washington. He was everything I expected. Here's the image that made that impression;
Robert Glen Ketchum_Brewster Boogiee by Paul Cooper, on Flickr
Robert Len Ketchum "Brewster Boogie"
 
My biggest influence has been a photographer named Toshihiro "Tommy" Oshima.

I don’t remember how I stumbled on to him but when I saw his images I was inspired. He was excelling at the kind of photography I was aspiring to create. He has a flickr account but he doesn't post much these days. Just looking at his “Faves' ' on flickr can be inspiring for me.

All the best,
Mike
 
Skateboard photographers back when they all shot medium format and slide film with multiple flashes. That look is unbeatable. Got hooked on film photography then and been with it every since.

Photo by Jordan Conway
548682775_48d60bb836_z.jpg


Photo by MIKE O’MEALLY
bobby-puleo-by-mike-omeally.jpg
 
My father was my greatest influence. When I was 5-years old, I was very impressed when I saw some of the images he captured in Iwo Jima during World War II. He also allowed me to use his camera to take my first photograph.
 
The people that I meet through the process keep me inspired daily. Amazing stories, depth of character and openness. It catches me off guard and amazes me every single time.
 
zenza said:
Skateboard photographers back when they all shot medium format and slide film with multiple flashes. That look is unbeatable. Got hooked on film photography then and been with it every since.

Photo by Jordan Conway
548682775_48d60bb836_z.jpg


Photo by MIKE O’MEALLY
bobby-puleo-by-mike-omeally.jpg
Click to expand...

That’s some beautiful stuff. Having skated most of my life I know you don’t get many chances to get it right.
 
narsuitus said:
My father was my greatest influence. When I was 5-years old, I was very impressed when I saw some of the images he captured in Iwo Jima during World War II. He also allowed me to use his camera to take my first photograph.
Click to expand...
Who is your father?! I'm very interested in the history of the USMC and USN (and Army too) island hopping campaign in the Pacific Theater. Not many military photographers have seen combat and only a handful saw Iwo Jima. It would be very interesting to hear more about this man. Thanks for sharing that!
Phil Forrest
 
I couldn't even tell you. I know there have been well-known photographers who have influenced me once I became aware of their work, but I took a lot of photos long before I took notice of photographers. So I am a product of a melange over the years, through the 90's and 2000's primarily.
 
There are several that influenced me to see differently than before I saw their work - Aaron Siskind, Lee Friedlander, Ray Metzger... others I am sure have rubbed off in some way. Most of us don't take photos in a vacuum, we appropriate bits and pieces from the work of others we see that leave an impression. That's the great thing about looking at books and online work. The challenge is figuring out what's mine and what's not. IMHO...
 
Phil_F_NM said:
It would be very interesting to hear more about this man.
Click to expand...

Before he was drafted, my father was a cook on a ship that hauled iron ore across the Great Lakes. The army drafted him and assigned him to a cooking detail. He was shipped to Iwo Jima but when he arrived, the support units were unable to leave the ship because the island had not yet been secured. After much fighting, the island was secure enough for the support units to disembark. He was able to capture photos of the fighting troops, the dead enemy, and the clean-up operations that were still in progress. All his photos were for his personal use.

Also, he was on the island when the two famous Mount Suribachi flag raisings occurred but he did not witness either.
 
I'd have to say it was probably "LIFE" Magazine...I started classes around 1975 and at that time we had been subscribing to the magazine...I loved looking at those photos, especially the B&W stuff...
 
In the 1970s I first saw the work of Elliott Erwitt and Ernst Haas. Both influenced how I saw from then on. Erwitt for people, humour and dogs; Haas for colour, nature and movement. Around that time there was a Life magazine photography contest. An issue was devoted to the winners and shortlisted entries. There were many excellent images that opened my eyes on ways to see with a camera.
 
I had been a photographer for 20+ years before I really started to pay attention to the work of Walker Evans. I'm still in awe of his photos. From there I discovered Eugene Atget and I paid attention to Lee Friedlander. I began to appreciate Robert Frank even more than I had. William Eggleston began to make sense to me. And I felt comfortable with Kertesz, Doisneau, Boubat, Brassai. The list goes on but it all started with an appreciation of Evans.
 
Early influences were NatGeo and Life...

Weston and Stieglitz and others of that ilk

contemporary photographers like Charlie Kirk who pushed me into wireless flash

a number of Japanese photographers including e.g. 小島　一郎 (Kojima Ichiro 1924-1964)
below image © Ichiro Kojima from Aomori Prefecture

photo_5470149.jpg
 
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