To get back to Mr. Koudelka - what for ME is inspiring about him is his pursuit of ever something new and the fact he's challenging himself to see and to share what he sees with others.
Yes, he may be most widely known for Prague's invasion - right place, right moment, loads of courage. Or the Gypsies. Fair enough, that was the era of social documentary or whatever one may call it - but his was excellently executed and the portraits are not portraits taken by a passer-by but by someone who has almost become a gypsy himself. But look at his newer work. I have been staring at the images of his latest work WALL - concerning the wall that was built between israeli and palestinian areas in Holy Land. At first sight - one might say they are random snaps, but I think his style in recent years is what I call "demanding" photography - these are shots that are not made to be liked on first glance. They are not pretty nor simple, but require time and involvment - to look. And look. And look again. And then one may understand a part of what Mr. Koudelka is trying to say. I cannot put it into words myself. But I wish that in a couple of decades time I was able to produce something like he does. And I'd like to encourage anyone with real interest not to quickly browse his images but to spend some time with them and put your own effort in understanding them..