Author Topic: Where do you get your inspiration? (Read 4901 times)

bjorn · « **on:** December 16, 2006, 03:10 »

Hi!

Just wondered, where do you get your inspiration?
When does that great creative photo visualises before your eyes?
That feeling you have to get to your camera and drop everything...

Perhaps we can share...

So please let me/us/each other know...
is it:
-magazines,
-websites
-other photographers
-?

?
(please mention names/sites)

Thanks for sharing,
Bjorn

yingyang0 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2006, 03:21 »

I get my inspiration from god, or maybe nature, or maybe intelligent deisign. Oh, wait. I actually just try to shoot anything/everything and learn from my past experience (rule of thirds, rejections, etc.).

P.S. My favorite mag is Outdoor Photographer. My favorite photographer is Adams because he got out there before all the other nature photographers.

Bateleur · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2006, 05:11 »

I've no idea where my inspiration comes from. It's a mystery.

I just keep looking and listening and ... suddenly I see an image, or get an idea for one.

If I can't take a photo then and there (like I'm travelling in a car and see an interesting sight) I jot down the information in a notebook and either go back to the place later with plenty of time to spare, or I try to set up the image back at home in my 'studio'

which is very basic and cobbled together.

Like the other day, was listening to someone talking about old love letters and suddenly, out of nowhere, I got the idea for an image of a tear-stained letter.

Still working on that one

bjorn · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2006, 06:33 »

Quote from: Bateleur on December 16, 2006, 05:11

Like the other day, was listening to someone talking about old love letters and suddenly, out of nowhere, I got the idea for an image of a tear-stained letter.

Yeh, i recognise that!
You see/hear 2 or 3 things and after a while your mind mixes them as in a visual blender and there it is...
Eg, saw a tree with yellow ribbon 'caution' and another shot of a baby, then this image of a baby/senior with yellow ribbon “fragile” wrapt around it, pops up

What about...
Charlie Waite http://www.charliewaite.com/

And i like the english (paper) magazine Photography Montly http://www.photographymonthly.com/

Do you visit any (local) clubs?

Void · « **Reply #4 on:** December 16, 2006, 08:59 »

I get my inspiration from trying to figure out how my camera works. Once I get it all down, I trade the camera for another one.

chellyar · « **Reply #5 on:** January 13, 2007, 18:34 »

Quote from: Void on December 16, 2006, 08:59

I get my inspiration from trying to figure out how my camera works. Once I get it all down, I trade the camera for another one.

Errr, how do you say 'Gear head' :-) * stones)

I did that when I first switched to digital, went through 4 cameras in 6 months. The the 'next step' became very expensive, so I'm sticking with what I've got (Canon 20D+10D+L glass) till I pay off the finance on the last two lenses I bought! (Then a 1D me thinks... )

Oh, inspiration? Just about anything. I sometimes go out 'looking' for an image, just drive around and find a pretty tree/hill/sky. Other times I go somewhere knowing what type of image I want, having seen something similar, or an idea from a dream/drunk state. (Then wind up taking totally different photos because the light is wrong etc..)

For stock stuff I look at lots of magazines, trying to pick the 'stock' photos. I pull out the pages, and stick them in a box under my desk. Because I'm cronically disorganised I then ignore the box, and randomly shoot a few objects shots occasionally so I can get them rejected. Most of my stock is stuff I shot for other reasons, and then thought might do OK as stock.

Cheers, Me.

Void · « **Reply #6 on:** January 13, 2007, 21:22 »

LOL, gearhead? maybe.
but that was only half the answer....the rest must remain a mystery.....

ianhlnd · « **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2007, 21:53 »

I'm trying to be serious here

You get your inspiration when you "see" it.

With all the mundane things we see everyday, in an instant, looking at a common thing, something happens and you visualize an image that sends sparks down your neurons which triggers a shutter release.

Most of us have taken photos of everything and anywhere we've been. Some for fun, some for remuneration, and some just because it flashed.

Sometimes your vision can be recreated in a studio, sometimes if you don't take it when you "see" it, it's gone and never will be the same.

That's why it's an art.