What photographer(s) inspire your photography

[ttempest]

Hi all,

 

recently, I've been doing a bit of soul searching and wrestling with the question of, "What photographer(s) inspire me to be a better

photographer?" and "Which photographer(s) work do I really admire?"

 

I'm ashamde to say, not one name tumbles of the end of my tongue, and I'd be pretty hard pressed to name more than three or four

photographers where I'm familiar with their name, let alone their work [Adams, Collins, Moriama, Seper, ...really struggling now, hmmm,

ummm, Bill, the new-cyanotype guy? ...you get the picture.]

 

The reason I'm so bad at this is because I'm don't consider myself a 'celebrity follower' i.e. I might look at something and go, wow that's

great, but I'd rarely take the additional effort to find out who made the shot. Same with music, film, sports, book authors etc. Just never

really been my bag.

 

Anyway, Food Photography has been an on again, off again interest of mine, so I thought I'd try and identify a few leading lights of the

genre, take a look at their stuff and ask myself a few 'disect the picture' questions based on the ones I really liked. What a minefield that

has proven to be.

 

1. Most successful togs, work with very capable stylists, e.g.

Delores Custer, Charlotte Plimmer, Jaqueline Buckner, John Carafoli... (searched them from this site)

 

2. Glamoa togs seem to be very few and far between, e.g.

Patrice de Villiers, Richard Jung...

 

So, here is where I need some help. IYHO who would you say is a leaing contemporary light of food photography, really out there and

inspiring. Can such a person exist without a stylist? and, for inspiration should I be looking at the tog or the stylist?

 

To keep this topic also relevant to others, who would you say is a really inspiring contemporary photographer? What genre? Why do you

think they are so good?

 

I welcome any responses and discussion and look forward to turning around my contemporary ignorance, and indifference to what's

going on around me.

 

Cheers,

 

TT

 

* the new cyanotype guy is Mike Ware, but I guess you knew that. ;-)

[ttempest]

Glamoa = Glamour, high profile

[AlanKlein]

<p>Lupo: The fact that you can eat your subject when you're done shooting is a scrumptious idea!</p>

[AlanKlein]

<p>Very thoughtful of you. Waste not. Want not.</p>

[ttempest]

Hi Lupo,

 

thanks for the link, a useful site that. I too started out in food very young. Have from time to time made a living out of it as well. Same with

photography, also attempest to make a living out of it as well.Now, I'm reviewing and refining my interests and consolidating my

diversions, hence the interest in the inspiring photographers bit.

 

Would you care to share your setup? As unconventional as that might be?

[richardsperry]

Rolf Horne and Edward Weston(Brett and Cole too).

 

Roman Loranc right now. I am still in awe of his prints.

 

Man Ray and Jerry Uelsmann to remind me that what I print does not need to look real. Franscesca Woodman to remind

me that poor image quality prints can have an artistic impact and value.

[DWScott]

<p>I am always inspired by the portrait work of Cheryl Nicolai Jacobs.<br>

<a href="http://www.cheryljacobsportraits.com/">http://www.cheryljacobsportraits.com/</a></p>

[parv]

I like Rachael Masako's work -- http://photo.rachaelmasako.com/. AFAIK, her work is in daylight. A profile with|of her is http://cosplayphotographers.com/2011/12/masakocha/.

[KenPapai]

<p>Our own S<em><strong>imon Jenkins</strong></em> does outstanding landscape work.<br /> He inspires me to see more and improve!</p>

<p>And Lupo for his food/cooking shots.</p>

[parv]

Macro work of Brain V (LordV): http://www.flickr.com/photos/lordv/;

 

Ken mentioned, I forgot to, Lupo L for food photography;

 

Moth photography of Roger C K: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hkmoths/.

 

(If I could go back in time, I would shorten the last name of Rachael M too.)

[parv]

On another note, I am personally more inclined to shoot portraits (of family members, strangers) these days. I have yet to find a photographer that would appeal to me. I know seeing some of mine might help others to suggest some names. Problem is I do not want to put the likeness of family members (& mine) in public; images of strangers are not taken in as much favourable conditions as those of others.

[dan_south]

If I were inspired by photographers, I would open an art gallery. I am inspired by the world; therefore, I make

photographs.

[Spearhead]

<p>I'm inspired by George Romero. He makes films, not photos. I find he has ideas that are different than mine once in a while. In general, I find movies inspirational, I'm doing a shoot based on<a href="http://www.profwagstaff.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/maniac.jpg"> this</a> (with a few changes, like a woman holding the severed head). </p>

[leslie_cheung]

<p>This <a href="http://www.auesobol.dk/">photog</a> inspires me among many other things in life...</p>

[nathangardner]

<p>I'm not sure I get direct inspiration from any one photographer's work itself, but instead the techniques and processes of the masters have influenced the way most of the community makes photos. I don't study Ansel Adams' work extensively, but I'm not dumb enough to think that his trailblazing (figuratively and literally) doesn't have an affect of how I make my photos. The same goes for wildlife photography, especially birding, and the greats like Arthur Morris. </p>

[sarah_fox]

<p>You pitched the question in terms of contemporary photographers, but many of us find our inspiration from photographers long gone. For instance, you mention Ansel Adams, the only photographer many people recognize by name, but his hayday was long, long ago. I think he died in the 80's. He continues to inspire nature photographers to this day.</p>

<p>I find my inspiration in many of the social/cultural photographers from the Great Depression -- for instance Dorothea Lange and Jack Delano (whose style I love). I am also particularly inspired by the raw determination of Toyo Miyatake, who smuggled a lens into his Japanese internment camp to photograph life there. These photographers make me want to photograph things that matter.</p>

[denzil_jennings]

<p>I've been pursuing photography as a hobby for about 6 years now, and can still only name maybe 4 big name photographers. When I started out I couldn't name one; I didn't even know who Ansel Adams was. The photographer that inspires me the most though is David duChemin. It isn't so much his images that inspire me, but his words. I've read a few of his books, but my favorites are "Within the Frame: The Journey of the Photographic Vision," and "Visionmongers." Both excellent books. I'd gladly pick them up and read them again for the stories he shares alone. </p>

<h1 ></h1>

[hana_mohalo]

<p>Well I'm a portrait/fashion photographer and I find Ellen von Unwerth, Bruce webber and Patrick Demarchelier very inspiring. But I am inspired by travel photography, and non fashion portraits, an issue of national geographic always inspires me.</p>

[mark_drutz]

<p>I can't single out one in particular. I'd say the whole staff of National Geographic and the old LIFE Magazine.</p>

[ttempest]

Hew folks thanks for responding. There's a few names in this thread certainly worth looking at.

 

It's funny now that I look at this and think back to when I was just starting out and still a little kiddie, I  used to just browse

magazines for inspiration, a visual diet so to speak. Later I studied photography at school but I can't remember much

beyond considering the greats already mentioned.

 

Later I started building up a library of photo books. The two main authors that stay in mind, were Fabian K. Beal and John

Hedgecoe - I particularly like Beal's view on photography.

 

I realise now, that I was for a long time secretly  jealous of Litchfield and Snowdon, and many of the Nat Geo

photographers; maybe because of their access to some really great photo oportunities.

 

In recent times I dabbled with the idea of alternative print processes and found Mike Ware to be quite influentioal, but I

never did any follow up in a practical way.  I also like gritty b&w but with digital that seems to have a dirty name to it.

However, I kinda like following in Daido moryama's footsteps, to some extent.

 

The photographer that has strongly influenced my technical understanding of photographic technique over the last 4-5

years, was Dean Collins through his Finelight Series. I frequently return to it to review periodically. Second to Beal,

Collins would probably be my greatest influence. 

 

But none of these particularly address stylistic influences, just the general background against wihich I've struggled and

continued with photography. Is this inspiration? I judt don't know.

 

My most current influence is George Seper through his Photography Institute course, and it's his guidance that led me to

look at which photographers inspire me.

 

My work has revolved around product photography, individual portraiture, the occasional property/food shots, and

magazine illustration. When not working I always shot landscapes/street scenes (travel photography, I guess)

 

Now, Seper isn't that bad as a food photographer, and it seems that food is where my on again off again struggle with

photography keeps returning me to, that and pinhole experiments. However the photographers that reall rock my world

image wise in food are Caren Albert and Patrice de Villiers.

 

However there doesn't seem to be particularly easy to nail down high profile names in photography at this time. That is,

well known names with established, recognisable work that seems to be setting public opinion about what is good, what is

new, what is contemporary, and what was yesterday's news.

 

Still, I continue to search, to look, and would love to here, more, about who influences your photography, and who

inspires you to either 'try that shot' or to do something new and challenging.

[ttempest]

Oh, and while I think of it, there is one image that has haunted me for years, and years and years. I have no idea who

took it, andI've never seen it a second time.

 

It's a fashion shoot in a derelict factory/building. the roof is gone, the ground is tumbled ond over grown here and there,

with nature reclaiming the industrial space. The girl is possibly asian? abd she's wearing (I think) flimsy, diaphanous,

flowing clothing in sympathetic colours for the scene. If ever there was a photo scene I ever wanted to visit and

reproduce, it's this one.

 

Recently, I visited a heritage site in Saarbruekken, Germany, where a steel factory is being allowed to progressively fade

away. All the time whilst looking tho=rough it, I was thinking, wow, what if... all the while being tantalised and rehaunted

by this old fashion shoot I'd seen long, long ago.

[Spearhead]

 

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=290903">Leslie Cheung</a> <a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Subscriber" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub10plus.gif" alt="" /><img title="Frequent poster" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/3rolls.gif" alt="" /></a>, Jan 30, 2012; 07:25 p.m. </p>

</blockquote>

 

<blockquote>

<p>This <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.auesobol.dk/">photog</a> inspires me among many other things in life...</p>

</blockquote>

 

 

<p>Excellent, thanks for posting this link.</p>

[alanmac]

<p>Steve McCurry from Magnum Photos, love his gritty, right there in the thick of things style, and Mike Langford from Queenstown, NZ. I love his landscapes, and wish I could emulate him. Albeit in my own style.</p>

[lex_jenkins]

<p>Influence, in the pursuit of styles that I've actually tried to mimic, however clumsily: Weegee, for his fearless yet empathetic approach to candid photography; Michael Kenna and Rolf Horne, for minimalist landscapes.</p>

<p>Inspiration? To me that's totally different from an influence. It's the drawing in of oxygen - but it doesn't make me create more oxygen. I wouldn't even try the styles of the photographers who've inspired me. But I enjoy their visions because it's unlike anything I'd seen or have thought of before seeing their work. Offhand, <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=terry+palka&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=s&hl=en&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=408810l422600l0l422760l41l33l0l28l28l0l280l1110l0.1.4l5l0&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi">Terry Palka</a> always comes to mind for some reason. Serendipitously, in the early 2000s she preceded the peaking wave of web driven self portraiture... and receded just before it became a cliche, leaving few traces that only persistent Googling will uncover. Unfortunately she deleted most of her intriguing portfolio from photo.net, which alternated between the bluntly grotesque that frankly depicted her severe scoliosis, and turns at playfully comic visual puns. It would be pretentious to compare her to an early Cindy Sherman - I'm not sure Terry ever heard of Cindy Sherman. But in terms of photographic self expression she had a moody, introspective naif genius comparable to the 1990s era Chan Marshall.</p>

[richardsperry]

nm