INSPIRATION

Photographers:

This is not an attempt to list all the photographers whose work I admire, but rather a list of photographers whose work has some characteristic(s) that I find challenging, different from my inclinations, and who seem to see in a way I aspire to as I develop my craft.

  • Simon Baxter: https://baxter.photos/

  • Mark LittleJohn: Another guy who prioritized hiking with his dog and taking a camera along, and a fantastic woodlands photographer. http://marklittlejohnphotography.com/

  • Erin Babnik: https://erinbabnik.com/

  • David Duchemin: David has some of the best things to say about being a photographer and I love the way he says them. I feel he’s at his best when being interviewed, and I recommend his conversation with Jeffrey Saddoris (see below), as well as his own podcast, titled “A Beautiful Anarchy.” https://davidduchemin.com/

Print:

  • Creative Elements, by Eddie Ephraums: The first photography book I ever purchased; I was hoping to improve my chemical darkroom technique. Ultimately, I discovered what I most like to take pictures of and a visual style that still speaks to me twenty years later. I discovered Scotland as well, finally making my way there in 2014. Surprisingly, I have found that the same visualizations Ephraums encouraged for crafting a black and white print in the darkroom are just as relevant in post-processing, especially for black and white. Indeed, my recent return to black and white has left this book more relevant for me than ever, and going through these images again has reminded me that grain is wonderful, higher resolution rarely results in “better,” and that the best landscape images are to be found not only in the rare, grand, and famous places of the world.

  • Lenswork Magazine: I remember roaming “The Ave” as a University of Washington undergraduate in the mid-90s, stopping at Bulldog News, and perusing the photography section to look at magazines selling gear I wanted but couldn’t afford. And there was this magazine, Lenswork, which I couldn’t afford. However, some issues had this one artist's work that I just couldn’t live without, so I bought it anyway. I always knew at some level that the kind of photography featured in Lenswork was the kind that spoke to me most. I still occasionally wander The Ave, stop at Bulldog, and buy a copy. https://www.lenswork.com/

Podcasts and Audio:

  • The Candid Frame Podcast, by Idarionex Perello: Although focused primarily on street photography and street photographers, the discussions often focus on creativity and how to approach photography generally, and have been very valuable for me. I recently listened to episode #473 featuring Willem Baptist, which included a wonderful discussion on the importance of the imperfect, or rather, the siren’s call of the technically perfect, a topic that resonates with my current photographic interests. Ibarionex Perello is a skilled interviewer, and I love having some audio on tap when driving out to take photos. http://www.ibarionex.net/thecandidframe

  • Everything, Jeffery Saddoris: Supremely focused on creativity, not just on photography, these are some of the best conversations I’ve found and always serve to remind me that no artist just happens to produce great art because of raw talent, or because they’ve reached some place I haven’t—they all just do the work. https://jefferysaddoris.com/everything/

  • The Landscape Photography Podcast: Aptly named as the podcasting world seems to be void of commentary on landscapes, at least compared to every other kind of photography. I like Nick Page’s work, and he’s a fellow Washingtonian, and I particularly appreciate the focused nature of his show—everything you need and nothing you don’t—while still capturing Nick’s sense of wonder and excitement about what he does. https://www.landscapephotographypodcast.com/

Video: