Inspiration

jacob12_1993

jacob12_1993

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,941
Name
Jacob
Edit My Images
Yes
I have recently been working on a blog post for my new website when it goes live in the next few weeks. The idea is to look at how certain photographers has influenced my work. I chose 4 photographers that I believe have had a major impact on my work. There are others such as Karl Grobl, David duChemin etc however these four are the ones I noticed for having the largest impact. Have you been inspired by any particular photographers and do you see their influence in the work you produce?

1) Ami Vitale (http://www.amivitale.com/) Ami is an extremely talented multimedia journalist. As a photographer/documentary film maker her work is as close to what I want to achieve as anybody else I am aware of. Working in hostile regions, Ami manages to portray the true personality of every person she photographs.

2) Chris Rainier (http://www.chrisrainier.com/) Chris actually spent time working as Ansel Adam's assistant earlier on in his career. Now he spends most of his time working on assignment for National Geographic. Chris is an inspiration to me through the way he combines black and white imagery in his documentary work. His work for the Enduring Voices project is incredible and hopefully changing the rate of extinction for languages.

3) Ansel Adams - The master of Black and White. I don't feel this needs any more explanation.

4) Steve McCurry (http://stevemccurry.com/) Like Ami, Steve is a photographer who's work represent the point I wish to aspire to. His images in publications such as National Geographic are what inspired me to get into Documentary photography in the first place. A legend of photography and who's images have defined a generation
 
I often try to be original with my photos and don't consciously mimic the work of famous protogs. However I am into learning about photographers and their styles. My inspiration often comes from photos I've seen on the Flickr explore pages. Those often cause slight mimicking in my work. But that's learning - to me. EXIF data is really helpful on Flickr too. Allows you to see exactly how someone achieved a photo.
 
wallyboy said:
i am new to photography, my inspiration comes from this forum, i haven't reached a level i can relate to yet,
good luck with blog.
Click to expand...

Hell wallyboy, I don't think you have to reach a certain level to be inspired by photographers at the top of the game. I'm not even 1% as good as the photographers above but they are at the level I aim to be at. I was always told 'aim at the moon and even if you don't make it you will fall between the stars'
 
Jarrrp said:
I often try to be original with my photos and don't consciously mimic the work of famous protogs. However I am into learning about photographers and their styles. My inspiration often comes from photos I've seen on the Flickr explore pages. Those often cause slight mimicking in my work. But that's learning - to me. EXIF data is really helpful on Flickr too. Allows you to see exactly how someone achieved a photo.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong I'm trying to weave my own style into the work I do because without creativity and originality you will never be more than just an average photographer, however looking at my work I often see glimpses of influence from photographers who inspire me. This come from viewing lots of images, listening to interviews, reading books etc and it will naturally happen. I try and embrace this and put my own spin on it
 
if you aim for moon you will fall back to earth, stars are higher,
no you are spot on you dont have to be at a level to be inspired,
to start i will learn from forum, then who knows the moon
 
wallyboy said:
if you aim for moon you will fall back to earth, stars are higher,
no you are spot on you dont have to be at a level to be inspired,
to start i will learn from forum, then who knows the moon
Click to expand...

Haha ill give you that one...there is some excellent work on here so you will be virtually there already
 
I draw inspiration from anywhere ~ dreams, books, photographs.
My most inspirational photographers are probably Paolo Roversi, Keith Carter & Lara Jade.
Other photographers include Jerry Uelsmann, Eugenio Recuenco, Tina Patni, & Tim Walker.
I'll often combine techniques & ideas influenced by other photographers as well as ideas I've
developed myself over some time. I guess I tend to get real thoughtful on train journeys
{which is often} & develop ideas there too hahaha.
 
Last edited:
Interesting topic.

I think that over time, your inspirations influence and inform your photographic style. I take my inspiration from all over the place, primarily due to the fact that there are very few well known / really good photographers doing what I do (urbex and industrial landscapes). I've long been inspired by the pictorial style of the 1960's British photojournalists known as the 'young meteors' (Don McCullin, Graham Finlayson, ian Thorpe, etc), as well as the craftmanship of the likes of Ansel Adams. In my own genre, I enjoy the photographs of Hank van Rensbergen, although my style is somewhat different.
 
Im fairly new to photography and I pick up ideas from all over, magazines, websites, films alsorts really.

I dont want to get focused too much on anyone thing so I keep getting plenty of different ideas from all over.
 
jacob12_1993 said:
Nobody been inspired recently?
Click to expand...

I don't always look to photographers for inspiration, at the back end of last year I was forutunate to be in Bavaria and catch some winter snow.. it's difficult under those conditions not to be inspired by the German romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich. And back in the UK I keep seeing his elements of his trademark motifs in the local landscape as well.

And at the same time, I'm also currently feeling inspired by photographer Kevin Meredith (aka lomokev) to get out more often with just a compact and grab the shot, concentrating on the image and less on the technicalities.

Inspiration is a starting point, it's where you then take it that matters..
 
interesting thread Jacob :)

I really like Gregory Crewdsons work, but I know I'll never ever be that good...

his work has such distinctive and interesting lighting, and I love the way the images always make you do a double take. Very atmospheric too!
 
Alastair said:
Inspiration is a starting point, it's where you then take it that matters..
Click to expand...

Exactly :} it's interesting reading what inspires different people.
 
HopefulM said:
I really like Gregory Crewdsons work, but I know I'll never ever be that good...
Click to expand...

I really rate Crewdson's technique and ability, having seen some of his work printed ultralarge at C/O Berlin last year I was amazed by the additional details that the full size prinrt shows compared to how you see it in books (I treated myself to his published works Christmas before last). I just wish he was less of a mysogynistic **** in the narratives he portrays. He really has this woman-as-victim thing stuck in his head.
 
HopefulM said:
interesting thread Jacob :)

I really like Gregory Crewdsons work, but I know I'll never ever be that good...

his work has such distinctive and interesting lighting, and I love the way the images always make you do a double take. Very atmospheric too!
Click to expand...

I'd never heard of him until now, wow his work is like a movie set. Probably the opposite end of the spectrum to the majority of photographers who I chose however equally as inspiring but in a different way
 
Alastair said:
I don't always look to photographers for inspiration, at the back end of last year I was forutunate to be in Bavaria and catch some winter snow.. it's difficult under those conditions not to be inspired by the German romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich. And back in the UK I keep seeing his elements of his trademark motifs in the local landscape as well.

And at the same time, I'm also currently feeling inspired by photographer Kevin Meredith (aka lomokev) to get out more often with just a compact and grab the shot, concentrating on the image and less on the technicalities.

Inspiration is a starting point, it's where you then take it that matters..
Click to expand...

I can't agree enough, I think the most difficult part is being able to take the influence of others and adapt and improve it to suit your own style.
 
nickbrown_500 said:
Im fairly new to photography and I pick up ideas from all over, magazines, websites, films alsorts really.

I dont want to get focused too much on anyone thing so I keep getting plenty of different ideas from all over.
Click to expand...

It will probably come from the more experience you get, I have been shooting for 5 years now and I am slowly finding my style and the way I wish to take my photography/film making. Doors are slowly opening for me in ways I wouldn't have expected 2-3 years ago. I feel this has partly to do with finding myself as a photographer and knowing where I want to go which came from years of trying everything.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top