Which photographers do you admire or are influenced by?

[Aglet]

When I look for inspiration I often find it in the stunning images produced by the winners of dpreview challenges.

Rarely has a BIG name created as much of an impression as the passionate work of talented, and sometimes just lucky, amateurs.

Thanks for the lighting tips, Scott Kelby.

 

[Quasimodo]

One of my favorite photographers with nature as his field is the Norwegian Ole Jørgen Liodden. The picture blow is probably one of my all time favorites.

http://www.gdtfoto.de/content/bild.popup.php?lang=de&bild=13192781281_l.jpg


For those interested, you can see more of his work on his page:

http://www.naturfokus.com/

 

[alexanderferdinand]

Ansel Adam for his technique.
HCB for his instinct.
Robert Doisneau for his snapshots.

 

[Deleted member 42026]

Admiration for a number of photographers, doesn't mean to me influence though.

Steve mcurry is an admiration, but so is miss aniela to a degree too, I like some of her work.

Influence by the likes of josef koudelka, partially people like Michael David Adams and other less known.

 

[jointdoc]

Sam Abell

He is a great teacher and has been inspiring to me. His work is quiet and complex. He shot for National Geographic for over 30 years and now does workshops, mentoring, and publishes books. He is old school and does not crop his images or use Photoshop. All his work in full frame in camera.

 

[paul13walnut5]

I'm guilty of having 3 Colin Prior prints on my walls but the more I look at them the more I feel good landscape photography is "simply" having patience to wait for the right light. Nice if you have the freedom to wait for days at a time but for the rest of us it's a case of "I'm here now and have to move on shortly". Cue the hate mail to say I'm oversimplifying it :

Now portraits, that's the real trick. Who was it said a good portrait is worth three biographies? To capture the true character of a person (either well-known to only you or a megastar) is real photography.

Grab yourself books from these people for inspiration:

Yousuf Karsh
Anton Corbijn
Patrick Demarchelier
Jeanloup Seiff
Herb Ritts
Andy Gotts
Uli Weber
Ross Halfin

Had a look at some old favourites today and found some new favourites in this thread, keep 'em coming.

I agree that landscape is a lot about the waiting for the light, what makes Colin Prior so worthy in my opinion is his fieldcraft and the sheer weight of the kit he takes up the hills with him.

Colins work never fails to inspire (along with Joe Cornish) although the impact has been dulled slightly by the copycats.

Anyway, LOVING, this thread.

 

[Grumbaki]

Many great name thrown here that I could have quoted but I'll add 2:

- Lewis Hines for the social aspect of his photography which remains very graphics. If I could achieve one thing with photography I hope it'd be 21st century Hine's in asia.

- Actually not a great photographer per se, the works of hunter S Thompson is very interesting. I just got my hands on a photographic biography of him.
http://www.amazon.com/Gonzo-Hunter-S-Thompson/dp/0978607600/ref=sr_1_fkmr3_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373938077&sr=1-2-fkmr3&keywords=hunter+s+thompson+photographic+biography
Actually if anyone has a true "Gonzo photographer"name, I'm interested.

Could be many more (kerterszc!)...maybe later.

 

[insanitybeard]

Had a look at some old favourites today and found some new favourites in this thread, keep 'em coming.

I agree that landscape is a lot about the waiting for the light, what makes Colin Prior so worthy in my opinion is his fieldcraft and the sheer weight of the kit he takes up the hills with him.

Colins work never fails to inspire (along with Joe Cornish) although the impact has been dulled slightly by the copycats.

Anyway, LOVING, this thread.

It's more than just waiting for the light I.M.O, like you say his fieldcraft and planning, revisiting sites on multiple occasions if necessary to check the direction of lighting , which obviously changes at different times of the year, working out the optimum dates and times to photograph a location, and the endurance to travel and linger in some of locations in some of the conditions he does- snow, wind, bitter cold, ascending and descending mountains in snow and darkness, is dedication.

Some years ago when I was doing photography as a A level at college (a course I'm sorry to say I never completed- I loved the practical elements- going out to locations, taking pictures, developing and processing in the darkroom- but the critique of others work didn't hold the same interest and in the second year we got a new tutor, who was considerably less amenable than the previous one, so I dropped out), I came across a book by Faye Godwin- 'Our Forbidden Land' documenting the impact of humans and people like the MOD on the landscape. It was fantastic- have you ever come across it?

 

[paul13walnut5]

No, but I will have a wee google. Wasn't knocking Colin Prior at all (as I'm sure you know the context of my reply)

 

[insanitybeard]

No, but I will have a wee google. Wasn't knocking Colin Prior at all (as I'm sure you know the context of my reply)

Not suggesting for a moment that you were- it was more of a response to GuyF's earlier comment about landscape photography being mostly about waiting for the light- which of course it is, but there is much more to it than just that.

I must try to get hold of a copy of that Faye Godwin book- it was mostly (if not entirely) black and white. Excellent stuff.

EDIT: Spelling error on my part- it's Fay Godwin.

 

[ecka]

Don't get me wrong, there are many brilliant photographers, but in most cases I'm inspired by some of their works and not by their philosophies or personalities. Sometimes even a bad photographer gets lucky and shoots an insanely, unbelievably, stunnishing photo (?perfect). So, for me, this question cannot be answered.
I'm mostly influenced by the online photographic communities and I'm happy being a part of it.

 

[paul13walnut5]

Don't get me wrong, there are many brilliant photographers, but in most cases I'm inspired by some of their works and not by their philosophies or personalities. Sometimes even a bad photographer gets lucky and shoots an insanely, unbelievably, stunnishing photo (?perfect). So, for me, this question cannot be answered.
I'm mostly influenced by the online photographic communities and I'm happy being a part of it.

Ok, if I may couch the question differently..

'Has the work of any photographer influenced you? or do you particularly admire the work of any photographer?'

 

[ecka]

Don't get me wrong, there are many brilliant photographers, but in most cases I'm inspired by some of their works and not by their philosophies or personalities. Sometimes even a bad photographer gets lucky and shoots an insanely, unbelievably, stunnishing photo (?perfect). So, for me, this question cannot be answered.
I'm mostly influenced by the online photographic communities and I'm happy being a part of it.

Ok, if I may couch the question differently..

'Has the work of any photographer influenced you? or do you particularly admire the work of any photographer?'

No, not really. For me it's like fishing. Once you get experienced enough, you'll see that there is no magic in it and "the luck" is for amateurs. What is left is the artistic creativity, but I'm more into design than art (like Spielberg vs Art Documentary ).

 

[RLPhoto]

Haven't given much thought to it. I suppose henri cartier had the most influence on my traditional shooting but otherwise, I haven't really studied others work.

 

[MrFotoFool]

Personal favorite is Nick Nichols, the staff wildlife photographer for National Geographic. Famous for his low light motion blur work, a technique that I emulate (though mostly in zoos).

Favorite landscape shooter is probably Clyde Butcher, who does stunning large format black and white images in and around the Everglades. Just dripping with detail and I would love to go to his Florida gallery sometime to see really big prints in person.

 

[Valvebounce]

Hi Paul.
This may sound daft or soppy to some but I have been most influenced by my father for taking some excellent photos, and admire the fact that he developed his own black and white slide and negative films in the dark room (six foot square ish with bath, pan and washbasin) so not much room left for enlarger developing tanks etc, whilst allowing an enquisitive interactive 6 year old (me many years ago now) to assist and he still got the developing right and printed some good pictures. I kept asking him last year to do a slide show for us once more but I don't think that will happen now. At 88 he has lost too much of his ability to get the descriptions out fluently.
I have no knowledge of any of the great photographic personalities, except Julia Margaret Cameron who has a museum dedicated to her at Dimbola Lodge her former home here on the Isle of Wight.

Cheers Graham.

 

[tgara]

I would ask that if people are going to "name names" of their favorite photos, please also post a website, if possible. I, for one, would be interested in seeing their work.

Thanks.

 

[mgkaplan]

Frans Lanting


http://www.lanting.com

 

[Erikerodri]

I am a big fan of Anton Carbijn. I love the look of all of his work unfortunately I cannot mimic him if I tried. Lol

 

[SBD]

A few of mine:

1. Henri Cartier-Bresson, for composition.

http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=MAGO31_10_VForm&ERID=24KL53ZMYN

2. Yousuf Karsh, for lighting.

http://www.karsh.org/

3. Helmut Newton, for sexiness.

http://www.helmutnewton.com/

4. Richard Avedon, for everything.

http://www.richardavedon.com

5. Peter Hapak, for his very unique style of portraiture.

http://www.peterhapak.com/

6. John Stanmeyer, for reportage.

http://www.stanmeyer.com/

Also, to me, photography is just an extension of the other fine arts. Many of the great early photographers were also painters, and any modern photographer can greatly improve their color and composition skills by studying the likes of Vermeer and John Singer Sargent.