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Ferj

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Where do people look for inspiration? Who are the true legendary photographers of our time, at this time? Who is capturing amazing images & doing little or nothing in PP?

While I stumble across the odd person whose work I like, I spend a lot of time wasted on mediocre portfolios! So many people doing the same thing, billions of images to sift through etc etc.

So, I wondered (preferably portrait related) whose work inspires you, dares you to challenge what you are doing and keeps you going back to look at their work!
 
Ferj said:
So, I wondered (preferably portrait related) whose work inspires you, dares you to challenge what you are doing and keeps you going back to look at their work!
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Antoine D'agata (NSFW).
His work certainly doesn't inspire me to try to imitate it (you'd have to be crazy, like he is), but it certainly inspires me to challenge my ideas about photography (particularly portrait photography) in a broad sense and I certainly keep going back to look at his work.
 
Ferj said:
While I stumble across the odd person whose work I like, I spend a lot of time wasted on mediocre portfolios! So many people doing the same thing, billions of images to sift through etc etc.
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The time you waste is almost entirely up to you. Why dwell on stuff that's unsatisfying? Pointless qusetion. Get a grip.
 
Thanks for the constructive replies & links, some great stuff to have a look at!
 
Anna Kuperberg's work is always worth looking at IMO.
 
Ferj said:
Who is capturing amazing images & doing little or nothing in PP?
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Can an image only be amazing if little PP work is done? I ask this because, as far as I'm concerned, all digital images require PP, whether the photographer abdicates responsibility for that to the camera maker or takes it upon themselves to manipulate the image.

I'm not really into portraiture, so I won't make suggestions of other photographers work to look at, but it seems to me that there are several questions/criticisms bound up in your initial post instead of simply asking "who is creating the best portraits right now?".
 
ancient_mariner said:
Can an image only be amazing if little PP work is done? I ask this because, as far as I'm concerned, all digital images require PP, whether the photographer abdicates responsibility for that to the camera maker or takes it upon themselves to manipulate the image.

I'm not really into portraiture, so I won't make suggestions of other photographers work to look at, but it seems to me that there are several questions/criticisms bound up in your initial post instead of simply asking "who is creating the best portraits right now?".
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Good observation! I wrote it quite late, perhaps the question, who is creating best portraits now? Is a better and simpler one!
 
I appreciate the time I waste is mine, hence asking for recommendations to reduce the wasted time!

As it is I've had some great responses that will help me direct my time wasting & those links are greatly appreciated!
 
"I spend a lot of time wasted on mediocre portfolios! So many people doing the same thing, billions of images to sift through etc etc. "

droj said:
The time you waste is almost entirely up to you. Why dwell on stuff that's unsatisfying? Pointless qusetion. Get a grip.
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@droj, you butthurt that yours is one of many mediocre portfolios? ;)
 
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Eddzz!! said:
"I spend a lot of time wasted on mediocre portfolios! So many people doing the same thing, billions of images to sift through etc etc. "

Butthurt that yours is one of many mediocre portfolios? ;)
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Yours is hardly ground breaking is it!

Furthermore, how would you know what his folio is like. He has no links to anything.
 
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Hey Ferj,

To answer your very first question, "where do people look for inspiration?", I look everywhere other than photographers in my field. I stopped looking at other photographers work in the similar fields (weddings) and started being inspired by everything else. When the session is almost over and I'm wondering 'what next' I don't want to have other folks styles or approaches help me out...it's harder but pushes your creativity more and helps develop your 'self' in your images.
Tate Modern, National Portrait Gallery, local exhibitions, music, literature etc. etc. Keep a notebook of all your ideas.

Happy shooting!
 
Pookeyhead said:
Yours is hardly ground breaking is it!

Furthermore, how would you know what his folio is like. He has no links to anything.
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I think you misinterpreted the intended target of my post. I was calling out @droj for being unnecessarily rude in his response to the OP.
 
Then I apologise. Thought you were sticking the boot into the OP.
 
To answer the OPs question, most of my inspiration I draw from photographers that I've worked with or live locally to me... I think that's probably my competitive nature shining through, but I'd never claim to be the best, not until I can equal the successes of those around me. Even then I'm fairly modest about my work. I don't often take pride in my photographs, but I think you have to if you want to be successful - that's just something I personally struggle with. I also draw inspiration from online communities such as TP. It's far less detached than Flickr, so you can pick the brains of those whose work you admire.
 
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