What Was Your Inspiration

[beano500]

Dan has started a very interesting thread on "your favourite photo that you have taken"

And to continue in a similar vein....


What or who inspired/inspires you to try taking more and better images?


My inspiration has always been Ansel Adams

Probably particularly "Moon of Hernandez" - and I can't quite say why, it just does....




If you wanted to be reminded which one it was - sorry couldn't find a small image online!

[graham@edinburgh]

My own incompetence

I know nothing of photography history or photographers.

[james f]

hehe i know what you mean about Ansel Adams theres something mind blowing about his stuff

www.npr.org/templates/common/image_enlargement.php?imageResId=4848988

also always been a massive fan of the magnum lot as well

Edited by james f on Monday 26th February 10:59

[Nacnud]

Gordon Stainforth - The Cuillin

I was doing a lot of mountaineering when I started photography - so getting the book was an easy decision.
However it still rates as one of the best inspirational books I have in my bookcase.

Duncan
www.priddypictures.co.uk

Edited by Nacnud on Monday 26th February 11:58

[Stigmundfreud]

ansel had an advantage most of us dont, he was in the F1 club

like who can afford an f1 lens?

[hairydave]

this: www.cybertects.co.uk

[GetCarter]

Bill Brandt. And I still can't take a pic like him.

This was the exact photo that made me chuck the instamatic away and buy a fifty-third hand Russian SLR (for 17/9d)

www.curatorial.org/dynamic/exhibit_display.asp?ExhibitID=9&ArtworkID=233

I then spent hours in darkrooms burning the skin off my hands and trying to get off with all the 'developing females' (cough)

Since then I hate all photgraphers, As they are too bloody good... so I try not to look. (ESP at Ansel Adams)

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 26th February 16:42

[Stigmundfreud]

brandt is a good choice, I like him because of his work in and around the west ridings.
The Snicket is probaly my favourite of his

[sidaorb]

Another vote for Mr Adams, have always loved his work. Was bought an old hardback copy of his biography a few years back, still an amazing read.

Carl

[nick_bbb]

I like the work of David Perry - www.davidperrystudio.com/ and Richard Heeps - www.richardheeps.co.uk/

I was lucky enough to meet Richard Heeps last year and bought a couple of limited edition prints from him I hope I didn't feak him out by telling him how much I liked his work!

We went to the Ansel Adams centre at Yosemite in 2005 some great stuff there. Orig. prints up for sale for some big money. My Yosemite pics weren't anywhere near his standard though www.grantgb.com/yosemite.htm

[m3evo2]

graham@edinburgh said:

My own incompetence

I know nothing of photography history or photographers.

Same for me, always trying to improve.

[V6GTO]

My brother-in-law used to give me bags of film free (he worked for Kodak} so thought I'd better use it

Martin.

[james f]

^^ i always loved the fact that jessops would give me a free film whith processing haven paid for colour film aside form uji pro for better stuff once in a while

[UKBob]

graham@edinburgh said:

My own incompetence

I know nothing of photography history or photographers.

Ditto.

Although I did spend eons marveling at edward westons pepper number 30, which is where I probably developed my love of shooting food...

[ae111sr]

Was in Banbury a couple of weekends ago and saw the Michael Kenna exhibition at the museum. Some superb stuff in the show but there's no chance I'll ever emulate anything like those shots. A couple of my favourites www.michaelkenna.net/html/new03/l107.html
www.michaelkenna.net/html/hokkaido_05/5.html
www.michaelkenna.net/html/hokkaido/13.html

[CVP]

Well Ansel Adams is an obvious motivation but also for me the work of Charlie Waite, Colin Prior and Joe Cornish for landscapes plus some of the great sports photographers of the early 1980's captured some remarkable images.

Also a big infulence was the launch of the Independent newspaper. Photogrpahy in the popular media was allowed and encouraged to be a lot more than just a record of an event, it was allowed to convey emotion and feelings, seeing that eveery day was inspiring.

However my biggest influence of all is down to the guys like Sir David Attenborough, David Bellamy and the photographic teams that enabled them to descibe some marvellous sights, they really got me interested in the natural world and for that I will always be grateful.

Cheers

Chris

[V6GTO]

CVP said:

However my biggest influence of all is down to the guys like Sir David Attenborough, David Bellamy and the photographic teams that enabled them to descibe some marvellous sights, they really got me interested in the natural world and for that I will always be grateful.

I'd like to second that

Martin.

[GetCarter]

CVP said:

Colin P***r

[wince] don't mention that name - every shop in the Highlands sells his calendars, post cards, books, key rings, coasters, place mats, T shirts, framed pictures, panoramics, cuddly toys ... git [/wince]

[EmmaP]

Don McCullin for his stark images and incisive view of the world around him:





I always wanted to be a war photographer but somehow I lost my way and it never happened.

[EmmaP]

Bill Brandt was another photographer that influenced me as a student. I still find his work tremendously inspirational. He is without doubt one of the greatest ever portrait photographers.