Choosing a favourite photographr - who is yours?

Raptor Mike

Raptor Mike

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At our club meet last night some of the members talked about their favourite photographers and how they had inspired them with techniques. I don't have a favourite photographer and the only famous one that pops straight into my head is Joe Cornish.

I have to admit I should spend more time looking at other people photos than I do, which may be a cause of problems with my own work.

So as the title says, who's your favourite, why and how did you discover them?

I like photographing landscapes, motorcycle racing and zoo animals so any links to professional toggers in this field that have inspired you would be great.

Many thanks, Mike
 
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My favourite photographer is me.

;)

I've been inspired by many others though - Michael Kenna's industrial landscapes, Don McCullins work in England, John Davies, Henk van Rensbergen, and the British photo journalists of the 60's such as John Bulmer, Graham Finlayson, etc.
 
Raptor Mike said:
At our club meet last night some of the members talked about their favourite photographers and how they had inspired them with techniques.
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Not really inspired by any sports photographers. No offence to sports photographers, but the vast majority of sports images are capturing what happens.. recording... and I doubt I could tell one good sports photographer's image from another's.

Just techniques? Technique is not usually something that impresses me much, but I admire the photographs of the following.



As for landscape: Edward Burtinsky, Fay Godwin. Nick Brandt, Andy Goldsworthy, Bernd & Hilla Becher are a few that I admire, and have probably influenced me... even though Landscape is not something I do a lot of, but often include the landscape in what I do.
 
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Strange discussion if is was just technique.

For landscapes, seascapes, I like Phillip Plisson, but I've explored and am exploring so many photographers that they've all interested or influenced me .

As for not telling sports photographers images apart, that's probably true of most editorial and some documentary photography.
 
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Not really inspired by any Photographers, but I have been following Peter Hulance on Flickr and I think his work is stunning.
 
snips86x said:
Not really inspired by any Photographers, but I have been following Peter Hulance on Flickr and I think his work is stunning.
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What does inspire you?
 
I'm not sure he's my favourite (there are too many photographers whose work I admire) but André Kertész's pictures made me realise there was more to photography than the stuff I saw in Practical Photography and Amateur Photographer back in 1979 or thereabouts. I don't think you could classify his pictures into a particular genre, either - unless it's documentary in the sense of recording what is in front of him (the distorted nudes aside). Recording is, for me, the essence of photography.
 
Pookeyhead said:
What does inspire you?
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Good question!!

Honestly, I don't really know. I've never followed photographers, so big names I'm not familiar with. He was mentioned to me by a friend as I'm captured by well composed landscapes, which Jake is known for. Its the attention to detail and special/unique images which interest me, but interest is different from inspiration, which I yet have to find what does inspire me!
 
Some interesting comments, thanks folks. I will take a look at the work by people you've mentioned.

Also perhaps I should've said style as well as technique.
 
I tend to be inspired by photographs rather than photographers, and there would be too many to list. Current likes include Doug Chinnery and Valda Bailey.
 
My favourite has to be Sebastiao Salgado. Very inspiring.
 
James Nachtwey, Trent Parke, William Klein, Garry Winogrand, Richard Avedon, and Elliot Erwitt. Nachtwey was the one who really got me into photography though, saw War Photographer and realised how important photographs could be.
 
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I don't have an all time favourite but some I admire:

Joe Cornish
Peter Dombrovskis
Sebastiao Salgado
Fay Godwin
Wynn Bullock
Also Gregory Credwdson (but not a landscape animal or racing photographer).
 
Raptor Mike said:
At our club meet last night some of the members talked about their favourite photographers and how they had inspired them with techniques. I don't have a favourite photographer and the only famous one that pops straight into my head is Joe Cornish.

I have to admit I should spend more time looking at other people photos than I do, which may be a cause of problems with my own work.

So as the title says, who's your favourite, why and how did you discover them?

I like photographing landscapes, motorcycle racing and zoo animals so any links to professional toggers in this field that have inspired you would be great.

Many thanks, Mike
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Have a look at Darren Heath for motorsport, he is one of the few that takes it beyond excellent technique and into an artform for me.
 
Yv said:
Have a look at Darren Heath for motorsport, he is one of the few that takes it beyond excellent technique and into an artform for me.
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Just wow!
I'd never heard of him, now I may never shoot another car :(
 
Miss Aneila, Lara Jade and Anna Bodnar!
 
Just had a quick look at Darren Heath and nothing special. The showcase images leave a lot to be desired!
 
snips86x said:
Just had a quick look at Darren Heath and nothing special. The showcase images leave a lot to be desired!
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You're entitled to your opinion.





(no matter how wrong):D
 
Bythesea said:
I tend to be inspired by photographs rather than photographers, .
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I'm sure that's what we all mean really. I'm sure we don't get inspired by the actual personality :) It just seems a bit purile and pedantic to say "I am inspired by Tim Walker's Photographs"... also sounds like a very subtle insult toward him as a person :)
 
Pookeyhead said:
I'm sure that's what we all mean really. I'm sure we don't get inspired by the actual personality :) It just seems a bit purile and pedantic to say "I am inspired by Tim Walker's Photographs"... also sounds like a very subtle insult toward him as a person :)
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I understand what you mean, but my comment was aimed more at specific photographs rather than photographers. Often my inspiration is from found pictures where I don't know who the photographer is and don't always find out. Yes there are some photographers whose work I will look for, but often that is because I like their work - it isn't necessarily to inspire me. If that makes sense :)
 
Bythesea said:
I understand what you mean, but my comment was aimed more at specific photographs rather than photographers. Often my inspiration is from found pictures where I don't know who the photographer is and don't always find out. Yes there are some photographers whose work I will look for, but often that is because I like their work - it isn't necessarily to inspire me. If that makes sense :)
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Yep.. makes sense... thanks :)
 
Yv said:
Have a look at Darren Heath for motorsport, he is one of the few that takes it beyond excellent technique and into an artform for me.
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Tim Wallace as an Automotive photographer is another to look at
 
Now i dont shoot weddings but there are some superb wedding guys on here, however when the bride is a munter with no teeth and the groom a hog with a massive beer gut there aint no one who can take a good photo of them, not only do you need skill and technique, you also need good subject matter.
 
It seems rather misguided (and limited) to think in terms of a 'favourite' photographer - would you say that one of your children was a favourite? It's a big world out there with millions of good images in it, many of them inspiring.

Inspiration is a question of what you're personally drawn to that extends you beyond where you are now - and I should say that technique is only a mechanical thing, a servant if you like, not the end purpose (though it is for some people) - what's ultimately more important is content, character and meaning.

But then we may slip away from Mike's original question into the deathly arguments and confusions of 'what is art?'
 
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