I always find myself wanting to pick up my camera and shoot after looking at great photographic works. I really love the work of Erik Almas.http://www.erikalmas.com/ Who inspires you?
To be honest...I think the person who inspired me the most is probably my eldest brother. He was sort of the first one who introduced me to the idea of finding beauty in something you wouldn't normally notice. That was however close to 15 years ago. I'm now influenced mostly by my friends and a few local artists here and there (like my buddy Boffo who takes amazing exploration photos, or this artist named Ravengirl who can always put a smile on my face).
I love Larry Burrows and a lot of the Vietnam era war photographers, they managed to capture some heart breaking moments and faced incredible situations. Requiem by Horst Faas is an amazing study of war photographers who died in search of their art, there's an amazing and sad picture on the back cover of a camera through which a Japanese journalist was shot dead. Humbling.
There are many people right here on 365 who inspire me! Outside of here it's Trey Ratcliffe, Simon Carter and Kamil Bialous. But I'm always looking for and stumbling across photography websites. Some I find merely interesting while others, inspiring.
I'm not a very good photographer, but I love photography and am inspired by many many people... here are some of my favourite photographers, I hope you might find them as fascinating as I do!:
Gregory Crewdson.
he 'stages' his photos, the same amount of work as building a film set, and creates dark / gothic images of American suburbia. You could write a novel based on each image.
The person who I admire most is my dad. Back in the day he was carrying around his Minolta film camera to every family gathering and often stood out on the porch to snap lightening photo's . All the while my mom yelling for him to get indoors.
I remember the day he took me to get my first Minolta 35mm camera,carrying bag and a few lenses. I admire him for the ability to see beauty in the midst of everyday life.
So there are lots of great photographers I have yet to discover but what my dad taught me was to shoot with your heart.
As I watched him throughout my life I learned it is ok to be the one with the camera happily clicking away, preserving memories.
Cathy - what lovely memories to have. I remember my dad with a very early Polaroid we bought back from the States in the 60's. Everyone was intrigued by the magical photo! When it was cold he used to put it in his inside jacket pocket to make it develop! If he is still with you, don't forget to tell him these memories.
My mother actually inspires me to a degree. I've always had a love for cameras, even as a kid. These last few years, my mother has become obsessed with getting better lenses and photographing nearly everything she sees, and to be honest, she sees a lot of great things. :o I wish she had internet, I'd pester her to join here. XD
Not who, but what at this time and that has to be this web site. As sais in my profile, I have been taking pictures for many years and have slacked off but now
I am more eager to start shooting again. But if I have to say (who) I would have to say my GOD, who has given us so many beautiful natural things to shoot.
As well as people, there are a few things that inspire me: music, seasons (especially autumn) and cities. It appears the colour red gets my creative juices flowing too.
Love the work of Rankin and Lorenzo Aguis - I dream of being a portrait photographer.
My two best friends really inspire me - they make me happy, we have lots of fun together and they are really encouraging of my photography, plus they love to dress up in big vintage over the top clobber, we've taken it quiet so far this year but they will feature in my 365 later down the line when we're partying through the summer! My cousin too - six years ago he did an amateur evening course and now he shoots for Armani and the like. Late last year he was flown out to shoot Nelson Mandela.
There's a few 365ers that I knew through other means that keep me inspired too - thanks guys :)
My sister, Cassie Cummings, is doing a project on here, and her stuff is very good. For an amature, I think her pics are a beautiful documentation of her family's life. I copy her ideas all the time! However, I rarely post them because I'm just not as good! I aspire. :)
I take inspiration from just about everything in life.. sometimes it's a rock or a flower.. other times it's a sunset. As far as who inspired me to begin photographing it was a mixture of falling in love with the darkroom and my mentor John.. who inspired me to just take photos of everything.
These days I would have to say I find most of my inspiration from the things and people who are closest to me.. My son.. my husband.. and my dogs.. and of course I am getting inspiration every day from everyone here on 365.
Oh.. I feel the need to mention Sally Mann and Walker Evans.. I am in love with their work.
I love most people's photography. Each day I find someone I love. I found Andrea's photography yesterday...her landscape photos are great www.andreasphotography.com and I love Doreen Kilfeather...I found them on flickr. I love Sarah Cornish, Annie Manning.....oh the list could go on forever....and I guess I love it all.
The world. I'm an observer. Thats why photography is such a wonderful medium for me. The world is my inspiration. The world is my canvas. =)
Oh, and 365 does a darn good job of getting me off my butt and behind the camera.
Everyone, everything, anything probably sums it up for me. There's something to be learned from things you don't like as much as things you do like.
I've got such a lot to learn - 365project is inspirational.
I agree with Sandi, everyday everything everyone inspires me. I'm not a professional photographer and not planning to be one either. I just like taking photos to catch the moments in my life, the good, the bad, the beautiful, the strange... things/emotions...that I see and I feel. life is inspiring!
Joey Lawrence
If I decide to pursue a career in photography, I definitely would LOVE to follow in the footsteps of joey lawrence. his work is unbelievably amazing and inspiring. and best of all, he's Canadian. hehe :)
Lara Jade
amaaaazing fashion photographer. I adore her style.
annie leibovitz
her name speaks for herself. everybody wants to be leibovitz, her work is beyond stunning.
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I have some fav's here on 365, and the top ones are these:
Annie Manning
Sarah Beebe
Sarah Cornish
Gregory Crewdson.
he 'stages' his photos, the same amount of work as building a film set, and creates dark / gothic images of American suburbia. You could write a novel based on each image.
his modern take on Orphelia: http://www.tea-tron.com/cristinablanco/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/gregory-crewdson02.jpg
more images: http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=gregory+crewdson&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1WZPB_en-GB___GB366&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=nXp6S8XEPI7KjAeE1oStCg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQsAQwAA
Jeff Wall
This guy is a genius. He builds pictures out of many shots, not that you would know. Legendary stuff. http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=jeff+wall&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1WZPB_en-GB___GB366&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=k3x6S5uRNtS5jAf98bWvCg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQsAQwAA
Naoya Hatakeyama
Possibly my fave photographer, his 'River Series' is one of the most inspiring things I've ever seen:
http://lagallery-frankfurt.de/hatakeyama4.html
but all of his stuff is amazing:
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1WZPB_en-GB___GB366&hs=gqL&q=Naoya+hatakeyama&oq=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=wXx6S9a2OtjPjAeu17C1Cg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQsAQwAA
Tim Walker
A fashion photographer, but... wow.
the cats: http://ihavenoideawhatiamdoing.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/tim-walker-5.jpg
more: http://images.google.co.uk/images?q=tim+walker&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1WZPB_en-GB___GB366&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=6X16S9KyNcbKjAeahdSZCg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBcQsAQwAA
I remember the day he took me to get my first Minolta 35mm camera,carrying bag and a few lenses. I admire him for the ability to see beauty in the midst of everyday life.
So there are lots of great photographers I have yet to discover but what my dad taught me was to shoot with your heart.
As I watched him throughout my life I learned it is ok to be the one with the camera happily clicking away, preserving memories.
I am more eager to start shooting again. But if I have to say (who) I would have to say my GOD, who has given us so many beautiful natural things to shoot.
Love the work of Rankin and Lorenzo Aguis - I dream of being a portrait photographer.
My two best friends really inspire me - they make me happy, we have lots of fun together and they are really encouraging of my photography, plus they love to dress up in big vintage over the top clobber, we've taken it quiet so far this year but they will feature in my 365 later down the line when we're partying through the summer! My cousin too - six years ago he did an amateur evening course and now he shoots for Armani and the like. Late last year he was flown out to shoot Nelson Mandela.
There's a few 365ers that I knew through other means that keep me inspired too - thanks guys :)
These days I would have to say I find most of my inspiration from the things and people who are closest to me.. My son.. my husband.. and my dogs.. and of course I am getting inspiration every day from everyone here on 365.
Oh.. I feel the need to mention Sally Mann and Walker Evans.. I am in love with their work.
When I started researching DSLRs late last year, I came across some awesome photographers along the way.
For me, the awesome HDR work from Trey Ratcliff is pretty inspiring.
( http://www.stuckincustoms.com/)
Also, Valerie Ardini has some amazing images across so many different photographic styles.
( http://www.flickr.com/people/falleri/)
xx
Oh, and 365 does a darn good job of getting me off my butt and behind the camera.
I've got such a lot to learn - 365project is inspirational.
Joey Lawrence
If I decide to pursue a career in photography, I definitely would LOVE to follow in the footsteps of joey lawrence. his work is unbelievably amazing and inspiring. and best of all, he's Canadian. hehe :)
Lara Jade
amaaaazing fashion photographer. I adore her style.
annie leibovitz
her name speaks for herself. everybody wants to be leibovitz, her work is beyond stunning.
marty bell
amazing.
hannah khymch
amazinggggg
anna szczekutowicz
sooooooooo amazing!
oh man, the list goes on and on and on and on.
but, those are my main inspirations.
hope that helps
xxx