What Photographer(s) inspire you

Richard Boutwell · Jun 11, 2007

Here is my short list:

Carlton Watkins and Eadweard Muybridge: for some of the best photographs of the West in the conditions they were forced to work.
Edward Weston: the simplicity of his life is an inspiration to so many photographers.
Ansel Adams: for making possible what we all try to do.
John Szarkowski: for his influence on our ideas of what it is to be an photographer.
Willaim Eggelston: for showing me color
Michael A. Smith: his enduring focus.
Robert Adams: for his honesty and his courage to look at ourselves.
And Robert Capa:

I think there are hundreds of photographers add to this list, but these few come to the top for me.

__________________
www.RichardBoutwell.com

jovo · Jun 11, 2007

There are so many it's hard to isolate only a few, but the one photographer whose work I respond to every time I think of it is Koichiro Kurita. His photographs on-line are not even close to what they looks like in reality. He makes large platinum prints on Gampi paper of the simplest subjects. The beauty of their design and the exquisite quality of the prints themselves are truly inspiring. I even got to meet him at an opening for Cy Decosse at the John Stevenson Gallery. His is work worthy of the term 'art'.

SuzanneR · Jun 11, 2007

Shinnya said:
These are the names photographers who continue to inspire me:

Harry Callahan
Paul Vanderbilt (Have you seen his book, "Between the Landscape and Its Other"?)
Joseph Sudek

Contemporary
Dead Link Removed
Debbie Fleming Caffery
Andrea Modica

Warmly,
Tsuyoshi

Andrea Modica has been a big influence for me after I did a workshop with her in Maine. Some examples from her Treadwell series:

http://www.edelmangallery.com/modica.htm

Debbie Flemming Caffery is another excellent contemporary photographer, and thanks for introducing me to Masao. Beautiful stuff.

Nicole · Jun 11, 2007

My list has changed somewhat, I'll try and update when I get a bit more time.

removed account4 · Jun 11, 2007

i have been inspired a lot by andre kertesz's early work as of late -
the little book of prints i just can't seem to put down ...
while i have other photographers that are always in the back of my mind ..
i am also inspired a lot by the images found at the Edinburgh Calotype Club
there is something about them, even thought some of the calotypes
are washed out ( or look like it on my screen ) that has me just
staring at them ...

thanks for bumping this tread, it is great to visit places, and read names
i have never seen or read before ...

john

Kathab · Jun 11, 2007

What Photographer(s) inspire you?

There are many superb Black and White photographers out there, but one in particular that has impressed me with his work is Philip Pankov at:-

http:www.philpankov.com

Regards Kathab

ChrisC · Jun 12, 2007

I really need to study the work of more photographers to inspire me more, so this thread is going to be a huge help. Thanks.

I did go to an exhibition of a fairly well known NZ photographer by the name of Lawrence Aberhart the other week though which I found to be very inspirational. While he doesn't have a website that I know of, there's a few pages with his work on them:

http://www.darrenknightgallery.com/artists/aberhart/artist.htm

Dead Link Removed

wayne naughton · Jun 16, 2007

Inspirations: August Sander, Salgado, Tina Modotti

Like: Farm Admin photographers, Brassai, Cindy Sherman, Helmut Newton, Guy Bourdin, Wegman, Atget, Mcbean, Hirschfeld (Heartfield), Irving Penn, Man Ray (but only for his pics of Lee Miller), Kertesz, Steichen, Lartigue and Paul Strand.

I also like most of the photographers attached to The New Objective Art movement of the 20's and 30's Of which August Sander was most probably the most notable, but certainly not the only one with any amount of ability.

wayne

coigach · Jun 16, 2007

Inspired by so many photographers, many of whom have already been mentioned here. Particularly like Thomas Joshua Cooper.

Steve Pyke is wonderful, love both his individual pictures and his 'mosaics; too. See
Dead Link Removed

Craig MacKay is a great photographer, although I think his website is a bit jumbled and magpie like...! The 'exhibitions' series are very good as print sequences:
Dead Link Removed

Also, I've been very influenced by the covers (and elegant spare music) of ecm records, a jazz / classical label in which photography is an important component of the overall aesthetic. Many wonderful covers, see
http://www.ecmrecords.com
A desert island disc for me is Tomasz Stanko's 'Leosia', which happily has one of my all-time favourite photographs as a cover:
http://www.ecmrecords.com/Catalogue...earch=+leosia&rubchooser=901&mainrubchooser=9

I could drone on for ever on the subject of influential photographers...!

Cheers,
Gavin

jonw · Jun 16, 2007

I have not gone through all 19 pages of posts wherein numerous persons have been identified as influential in photography by the posters, but one of our own which not only influences my photography, but I also have the pleasure of knowing....he is very modest and a most honorable person.
Jim Galli
http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com

Early Riser · Jul 29, 2007

jovo said:
There are so many it's hard to isolate only a few, but the one photographer whose work I respond to every time I think of it is Koichiro Kurita. His photographs on-line are not even close to what they looks like in reality. He makes large platinum prints on Gampi paper of the simplest subjects. The beauty of their design and the exquisite quality of the prints themselves are truly inspiring. I even got to meet him at an opening for Cy Decosse at the John Stevenson Gallery. His is work worthy of the term 'art'.

John, I agree with you about Kurita. I recently saw his work, and even bought a print, and have to say that I see a similarity in his work and some of the new work that you have been producing. Has he influenced you?

isaacc7 · Jul 29, 2007

Here's a handful that have inspired me...

Nan Goldin
Louis Baltz
Robert Adams
Harry Calahan
Robert Frank
Lee Freidlander

Isaac

Gary Holliday · Jul 29, 2007

Andreas Feininger
Bill Brandt.
First photography tutor

I prefer not to look at the work of too many photographers. There is the fear of copying their work!

jovo · Jul 29, 2007

Early Riser said:
John, I agree with you about Kurita. I recently saw his work, and even bought a print, and have to say that I see a similarity in his work and some of the new work that you have been producing. Has he influenced you?

I'm not sure, but I think so. I think the influence that may be there is to take a much longer look at what's right in front of me. There's often a pattern, or a juxtaposition of values, or a rhythm that might easily elude me if I don't remind myself to look, and its Kurita's work that tell's me to slow down, and look more deeply. Thanks for asking.

Monophoto · Jul 29, 2007

Tillman Crane
David Fokos
Mark Citret
Roman Loranc
Kerik Kouklis
Chip Forelli
Bill Schwab
Ferit Kuyas
Michael Mutmansky
Matt McGruder (and the Texas Church gang)
Paul Wainwright
Steve Sherman
Rolfe Horn
Bill Abranowicz
Jock Sturges
Eric Boutillier-Brown
Ernestine Rubin

Chuck_P · Jul 29, 2007

First I have to say that one of the great things about this thread is the many links provided to many photographers I have never heard of before. I look forward to going back and checking many of them out.

For me, all the f/64 folks. Most all contemporary fine art b&w landscape and nature photographers to just name a few: John Sexton, Bruce Barnbaum, Henry Gilpin. I would have to say the Sexton is the most inspriational to me today.

Chuck

lithophotos · Sep 20, 2007

just a few wonderous people.

Minor White - He finally enabled me to make sense of what I was about
Thomas Joshua Cooper - A really great man with real vision
Carl Chiarenza - inspiration and constancy of vision
John Blakemore - Craftmanship and a delicacy to wonder at
Michael Kenna - a real grasp of what it is all about
I could go on and on, but these I would take to a desert Island ....and some good merlot.

Robin

philldresser · Sep 20, 2007

lithophotos said:
Minor White - He finally enabled me to make sense of what I was about
Thomas Joshua Cooper - A really great man with real vision
Carl Chiarenza - inspiration and constancy of vision
John Blakemore - Craftmanship and a delicacy to wonder at
Michael Kenna - a real grasp of what it is all about
I could go on and on, but these I would take to a desert Island ....and some good merlot.

Robin

Robin

I like your choices

Phill

scootermm · Sep 20, 2007

Still breathing:
clay harmon
Dead Link Removed
Carl Weese
Tillman Crane
Gerhard Bock

Not breathing:
Paul Strand
Art Sinsabaugh
Brett/Edward Weston

and the writings of Robert Adams are a constant inspiration

dim · Oct 26, 2007

My inspiration photographers are:

-Eugene Atget

Dead Link Removed

-Josek Sudek

-August Sander

...but my photographs have nothing to do with theirs. Unfortunately or not.

jgcull · Oct 26, 2007

Snapper, thanks for the Alex Webb link. I love this one: CUBA. Sancti Spiritus. 1993. Baseball fans. http://www.magnumarchive.com/c/htm/...R8RRVVQ&Pass=&Total=24&Pic=7&SubE=2S5RYDAWGRM
(hope that long link works)

TheFlyingCamera · Oct 26, 2007

Living-

Connie Imboden
Stephen-John Phillips
John Dugdale
Irving Penn

Dead

F. Holland Day
Richard Avedon
Robert Mapplethorpe

Plenty of others inspire me from time to time, and even more do work I enjoy, and would own, had I a big enough wallspace and budget.

jgcull · Oct 26, 2007

Rodney Smith - http://www.rodneysmith.com/portfolio.php
Tina Manley - http://www.pbase.com/tinamanley/root&view=tree
Sebastiao Salgado - http://www.terra.com.br/sebastiaosalgado/

to name just a few

jgcull · Oct 26, 2007

Oh yes, and how could I forget? Ragnar Axelsson http://www.rax.is/ is one of my very favorites. Along with Victor Millin - Jersey Vic? I love his work!!

Shawn Rahman · Oct 26, 2007

Always refining my list. I think this is the second time I've answered this thread. In no particular order, I'll list B&W and then color. You can see I'm all over the place:

Henri Cartier Bresson
Sally Mann
Eugene Atget
Paul Strand
Andre Kertesz
Robert Adams
Josef Sudek
George Tice
Keith Carter
Abelardo Morell
Sam Abell
Joel Meyerowitz
Steve McCurry
Galen Rowell

What Photographer(s) inspire you

Richard Boutwell

jovo

Membership Council

SuzanneR

Moderator

Nicole

removed account4

Kathab

ChrisC

wayne naughton

coigach

jonw

Early Riser

isaacc7

Gary Holliday

jovo

Membership Council

Monophoto

Chuck_P

lithophotos

philldresser

scootermm

dim

jgcull

TheFlyingCamera

Membership Council

jgcull

jgcull

Shawn Rahman

What Photographer(s) inspire you

Membership Council

Moderator

Membership Council

Membership Council

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency