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What Photographer(s) inspire you

luvmydogs said:
Robert,

I just looked through your web site for the first time. WOW. I am stunned. Not only do I like the way your site is designed, the photographs are stunning!
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Thanks for the kind words. I'm working on a new version of my website, but just haven't had time to finish it - just too many things to do right now. But, I should have it up by the end of the year.
 
I admired Adams, and was fortunate to meet him.
Gene Smith, also.
And Minor White.
Much luck.

The most undeserved good fortune was being able to spend time with
Philippe Halsman when I was all of 21.

The thing that sticks with me to this day, and inspires me still, is that he was gentle, brilliant, and unquenchably passionate about photography and, even more so, people.

The first time I tried picking his brain, he easily deflected my questions and got me to talk about myself for about an hour. When I realized what happened, I was terminally embarrassed.

The next time I had a chance, I tried again. We talked for a little while in conversation, and he got me going again. Again, I died a little.

Third time. We talked, and I resolutely tried to turn the questions back on him. He would smile, and we went on again. And I tried to turn it back to him, again and again. Finally, he smiled and threw his hands in the air, "I give up !", he said. And he talked to me about Einstein, and Marilyn, and how he got started. And we talked photography well into the night.

I'm not sure, but I think his lesson is that it's all about the subject. Take a look a three of his snaps, and tell me !
 

Oh well, seems you had a lot of negative experiences with Fred... For me, he was a total inspiration even with all of his warts....
 
Walker Evans
Lee Friedlander
Minor White
Wynn Bullock
 
I was originally inspired by Ansel Adams, especially one photo of his, the one on the front of his book The Print. Aaawww, man, it's so wonderful, it's the interpretation of plant life, even in b/w it's green. Hard to explain, really. I think I OD'd on him, though.

Another one is lesser known, I think: Jayne Hinds Bidaut , but her tintypes of insects and butterflies took me off my feet. And some others had been taken off, too... The library book I found had several torn-out pages.

John Coffer springs to mind, too. Kind of a photographical Thoreau, it seems.

Jerry Spagnoli has done some great daguerreotypes, too. Does this tell you I am searching backwards in photographical history and techniques?

Rodenchko has his own space in my heart, too, as does Kertesz and HCB and... okay, just one more, then: Salgado.
 
Wyno

Robert, I had a look at your website the other day and I think it's stunning. I hope you have fun at Bright in October. I'm going to be photographing in the Blue Mountains in one week's time.
I used to do only colour (I was the only student out of 64 that was accepted for the RMIT photography course that hadn't done B & W) but I have changed to 95% B & W now.
Those who influenced me are
Rob Gray
Graeme Hird
Olive Cotton
David and Joseph Muench
Elliott Porter
Joe Cornish
Jack Dykinga
Gary Ladd
Michael Kenna
Rolf Horn
Minor White
George Hurrell
Tillman Crane

Cheers
Mike
 
Dr.Bob mentioned A. Aubrey Bodine! I haven't heard that name in a long long time. I still love his work, and still have an autographed copy of "My Maryland". As a youngster entering photography he influenced my early work emensly. He may be gone, but certainly not forgotten.
 
Thanks Mike. Graeme is one of my favorites as well, and an all round nice guy. I appreciate the comments about my website - I wish I had more of my Australia stuff on it, but I'm finding the local galleries don't care much about images other than Hawaii. But, little by little, I will add more. This is actually my 5th trip to Bright - I love the vineyards, rolling hills and the Victorian high country, which is why I keep going back. I may visit the Blue Mountains one day, but I think my next trip to Australia, after this one, will be back to the Northern Territory and perhaps to visit Graeme. With me, you never know though - I go where the wind blows.
 
Edward Burtynsky–who'd guess slag and junk-half-ships could be so beautiful?
Dead Link Removed

Robert and Shana ParkeHarrison–for consistent otherworldly atmosphere. As of 2004 at least all of the (extensive) manipulation was still analog. Web site doesn't remotely do their large-scale work justice.
http://www.parkeharrison.com/

Uta Barth–for sometimes making pictures of nothing really interesting. More losers than winners though.

Garry Winogrand–for sheer chutzpah and obsessiveness. I always get intimidated shooting street after someone yells at me. Another "more losers than winners" case, especially his later work, but his winners really stick with me.

Clay Enos–In "Night", God he makes going out drinking look good. Street studio project totally loses me though.
http://www.clayenos.com/night/night1/night1.html
 
Margaret Bourke-White
Walker Evans
W. Eugene. Smith
Eve Arnold
Rhagu Rai
Burt Hardy
Arnold Newman
Steve McCurry
Norman Parkinson
 
Minor White
Keith Carter
Eugene Meatyard
Mike Disfarmer
Julie Blackmon
Sally Mann
Brett Weston
HCB
 
Ansel Adams, Michael Kenna, George Tice, Andre Kertesz, E. Weston, Bill Brandt, Ralph Gibson, to name a very few...
 
I have recently beeen inspired to shoot trees, after looking at Adam's book last night on the same subject. I have always been attracted to trees, but have not persued the subject for some strange reason; Maybe I was just seeing the forest? After seeing Ansel's beautiful prints I am inspired now to go out and focus on them.
 
Recomended

Andy K said:
Although I do not shoot portraits, and this photographer has never 'influenced' my photography, I have always admired the portrait work of Yousuf Karsh.

His most famous is probably his wartime portrait of a defiant Winston Churchill.
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If you can ever go to the National Photograpy museum in Bradford they have a whole gallery with seventy Karsh portraits he gave to the nation on his seventieth birthday, every time I see them they blow my sox off.
 
roteague said:
Thanks for the kind words, but I sure don't deserve it. I'm just lucky to live in such a beautiful place as Hawaii.
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Don't be so modest, Robert. You may be lucky to live in Hawaii, but not anybody there could do what you do.

Your photographs are wonderful. Although your style (landscape in color) isn't my style I still admire your vision and skills. Great work!
 
jdef said:
Peter Lindbergh
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Oh yeah!

I simply LOVE his book "10 Women". Wonderful photos of 10 supermodels of the 90'es (The nice danish Helena Christensen, Kate Moss (before the cocaine took over), Linda Evangelista, Naomi Campbell et.al.).

Morten
 
TheFixer said:
Sam Abell
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Me too! I first discovered him when reading a photo guide from National Geographic. His photos are very different from other NG photos.

So calm and quiet, yet dramatic.
 
This is an old thread and still very interesting and helpful in choosing some books for christmas. Thank you. Kind regards, Nicole
 
I've learned a lot from this thread as well. I look up a lot of the photographers mentioned here.
 
Eugene Atget
Paul Strand
 
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