How about sharing your photographic influences? Who are the photographers who have influenced you most? Try to keep to a maximum of 5. Can be well known or very personal like my last on this list. Here are mine.
Don McCullin
Abbas
Sebastião Salgado
Martin Parr
John Burton Allsop (My father) who gave me my first camera a Brownie!
My #1 is easy: Ansel Adams. I read his Photography Series Books (The Camera / The Negative / The Print) back in the early 80's, was able to see when he was exhibited at the Smithsonian in the late 80's....
One of my first influences was the Life Library of Photography books. I remember studying these in my high school library back in the mid 70's (when I was first learning photography)... I don't remember specific photographers, but I spent a LOT of time with that series.
I'm a photographic philistine, I'd not heard of Mr Ansel Adams before last year,never mind the names listed above.
However my influences since being on 365 include shots I see on PP and TP and I unashamedly try to emulate (copy) the styles of @summerfield@mona65 and @northy and all have been generous with advice, feedback and critique.
Ansel Adams for sure... and sort of vaguely (i never really applied myself to study anyone properly) the early street photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Doisneau, Vivian Maier, etc... when i started on 365 there were a number of photogs (Jase and Jani in particular) here who nudged me into the dark side... and then someone referred me to this slide show video https://vimeo.com/32042861
i will also say that rather early on in my photographic journey when i was still buying "how to" books, i read somewhere about a photog who recalls being told that you should start with the light, and then find a subject worthy of it, rather than the other way around... that really stuck with me...
@30pics4jackiesdiamond - i'm honoured Jackie! but really, i think we all learn and are inspired by one another... there's always tons of eery going give and take... that's one of the things i really like about this community...
What a fascinating thread, so many names to explore. My top influence was always my dear Dad, who is a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and gave me a childhood packed with his amazing prints and his dark room work. The joy of washing a print and seeing the image come through for the first time still makes my heart leap at the memory.
Ansel Adams is amazing. Such depth in his pictures.
Cecil Beaton's portraits fascinate me, so quintessential Jazz.
Martin Parr is sometimes fantastic and sometimes just a little too much for me, which I am sure he would be delighted about.
Nick Upton is an amazing wildlife photographer who also documents conservation projects.
There are many many photographers out there to love for different reasons.
On here? Some marvellous photographers, too many to mention them all that I admire, but if I had to narrow it down? Who do I want to be when I grow up?
Taffy @taffy amazing quality and eye
Junko @jyokota wonderful eye and interesting subject ideas
Faye @fayefaye her wildlife photos blow me away
Fbailey @fbailey her monochrome and IR shots are so classy
@fbailey Well I wasn't expecting that Felicity - I feel honoured and humbled in equal measures.
I don't know about inspire but photographers whose work I enjoy and respect include Steve McCurry, Brassaï, Robert Mapplethorpe and Ansel Adams.
On here - @ukandie for her B&W street work; @gamelee for his B&W landscapes and @northy for being 'Northy' and for contributing hugely to the success of this site.
@northy Thank you so much for the link to the Dark Zone video - all the images were awesome.... and any of them could have been one of yours.
@fbailey Thank you Felicity. Like Richard, I feel honoured and humbled. Also delighted at seeing your own amazing development since you joined 365. @vignouse
At one stage along my 365 journey I was influenced by Robert Mapplethorpe and tried to ape his style with a self portrait, which I now use as my profile pic. There is much about his work that I dislike too (especially his portraits of others) but I have long been interested in black and white shots of flowers and its good to see that he had a similar interest! :-) Henri Cartier Bresson long ago influenced my early street work, but sadly I no longer have the confidence to do more. Sebastio Salgado has published so much fantastic work but there is no point in me trying to copy him .... I couldn't afford the hot air balloons and helicopters etc or the travel costs, back up staff and other facilities! On 365 there are so many influences. I borrow from and don't acknowledge so many of you. I admire the work of Richard @vignouse and Northy @northy is an inspiration, although I have many times failed to imitate her. (Probably because I don't care to spend much time learning about editing!). I would like to be able to do something like the wonderful portraits of Chicago by Andie @ukandie but alas I have no such big city within easy reach and if I did I would be unable to produce anything so good! Recently I have become increasingly impressed with the developmental work of Felicity @fbaily especially with regard to her infra red shots. Then there are those amongst you who seem at ease doing artsy pics without overdoing the editing. I don't feel able to do the same and admire your work so much. I am now feeling bad about the many 365ers I have failed to mention! It would take too much time and space to list you all, but I hope you'll know if you are one of the them!
@northy The 'light first, subject second' is so clear in your work. I have tried but sadly it feels alien to me, If I like the comp, I press the shutter and sod the light.. even though I feel that's the wrong approach! Keep showing me the way!
Freeman Patterson is the well-known photographer who has made a huge impact on my photography through the book Photography and the Art of Seeing. But I think the photographer who made THE MOST impact on me is Bonnie Lusted who used to be on here before succumbing to cancer. It seems like yesterday that I saw a picture of an onion by her and that one photo really changed everything- suddenly there were subjects every place I turned in my house and every where I went outside of it.
I also have to say Peter de Graaf's black and white photography inspired me to use it as an art form more and more. His work with film is amazing and inspirational.
@casablanca That was so kind of you for the call out! I really appreciate it. As for my influences, it's been primarily photographers on 365, from Michael Elliot's work featuring NYC, when I first joined (I saw his and thought "I want to do this for Chicago"), to groups such as Get Pushed and leaders of the weekly themes and monthly ones like February's Flash of Red. So many ideas come from 365 -- subjects, processing tips, themes. This site has been the biggest influence on my work.
Since joining 365 I've learnt so much from many people here who have given me advice, processing tips, ideas for great apps, monthly themes. One theme in particular that has really helped me is February Flash of Red, @olivetreeann Ann has given me a new appreciation for b&w and many ideas and help. Taffy @taffy is another inspiration, she has given many ideas and she has helped me when I purchased my wide angle lens and with some LR techniques, always generous with her help. This site has been a big influence on my photography.
@radiogirl Thank you for those amazing words Kathy! I think I have learned as much if not more than all those who participate in Flash of Red. I am glad it has made such an impact on you.
1. My ex-husband who taught me with a TLR about how to see the world. And, who challenged me to push myself with a Pentax K1000.
2. James Van Der Zee
3. Gordon Parks
4. Ansel Adams
5. Lorna Simpson
@radiogirl Aw...thanks Kathy! I do love this site and all the mentoring I've gotten and have been able to share in return. Aren't we lucky to have found it!!
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One of my first influences was the Life Library of Photography books. I remember studying these in my high school library back in the mid 70's (when I was first learning photography)... I don't remember specific photographers, but I spent a LOT of time with that series.
However my influences since being on 365 include shots I see on PP and TP and I unashamedly try to emulate (copy) the styles of @summerfield @mona65 and @northy and all have been generous with advice, feedback and critique.
i will also say that rather early on in my photographic journey when i was still buying "how to" books, i read somewhere about a photog who recalls being told that you should start with the light, and then find a subject worthy of it, rather than the other way around... that really stuck with me...
@30pics4jackiesdiamond - i'm honoured Jackie! but really, i think we all learn and are inspired by one another... there's always tons of eery going give and take... that's one of the things i really like about this community...
Ansel Adams is amazing. Such depth in his pictures.
Cecil Beaton's portraits fascinate me, so quintessential Jazz.
Martin Parr is sometimes fantastic and sometimes just a little too much for me, which I am sure he would be delighted about.
Nick Upton is an amazing wildlife photographer who also documents conservation projects.
There are many many photographers out there to love for different reasons.
On here? Some marvellous photographers, too many to mention them all that I admire, but if I had to narrow it down? Who do I want to be when I grow up?
Taffy @taffy amazing quality and eye
Junko @jyokota wonderful eye and interesting subject ideas
Faye @fayefaye her wildlife photos blow me away
Fbailey @fbailey her monochrome and IR shots are so classy
David @lostphojo
Richard Sayer @vignouse
Lee @gamelee
Joe @joemuli
Also to anyone who shoots film, you have my utmost respect.
The biggest influence on this site has been the Get Pushed group - I learned so very much from it - thanks @northy
@casablanca What a huge compliment - thank you so much!
I don't know about inspire but photographers whose work I enjoy and respect include Steve McCurry, Brassaï, Robert Mapplethorpe and Ansel Adams.
On here - @ukandie for her B&W street work; @gamelee for his B&W landscapes and @northy for being 'Northy' and for contributing hugely to the success of this site.
@northy Thank you so much for the link to the Dark Zone video - all the images were awesome.... and any of them could have been one of yours.
I also have to say Peter de Graaf's black and white photography inspired me to use it as an art form more and more. His work with film is amazing and inspirational.
Ha ha!
1. My ex-husband who taught me with a TLR about how to see the world. And, who challenged me to push myself with a Pentax K1000.
2. James Van Der Zee
3. Gordon Parks
4. Ansel Adams
5. Lorna Simpson