A bit of Arse Kissing for a Friday

[Hamish Gill]

I'm sure we have been all inspired by each others work on this forum ... But im interested, who do you feel has inspired you most and why?

For me it is, in no particular order

to that have effected me directly

Brian Moore for the effortlessness talent!
Ive never seen so many photos taken by one single (non famous) photographer of so many different subjects that without any pretense just ooze a good eye for a good shot! and almost all film, barely a crop in sight and little or no pp
more here http://www.realphotographersforum.com/content/349-my-glass-i-blog-worth-keeping-i.html

My whole attitude to shooting has relaxed since seeing brians shots ... perfection is not in sharpness, but aesthetic ... Something i was learning from Pete Askew quite readily ... it was just Brian that tipped the balance!

Darren Bradley for the straight lines!
Perfect composition every time, it continues to surprise me how i am never let down opening a Darren Bradley thread!
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/landscape-architecture/2320-salk-institute.html

Contrary to what i have taken from brians work, what i have got from Darren is a understanding of where, when and what quality is when it comes to architectural photography... this had had a very good effect on my work as opposed to my hobby.

And 2 people who I have been inspired by in a more abstract way, more the speed at which they are obtaining skills ...

Jim Kuo for his street shots ...
we are talking about a guy whos really only been talking photos, from what i can gather at least, for a very short amount of time... and to be getting to grips with shuving a camera in peoples faces like this ... Kudos
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/general/2608-portobello-road.html

And Tom Brookes for his self portraits
I have 19 years on this guy, and hes far exceeded anything i have ever done when it comes to portraiture!
http://www.realphotographersforum.com/people-portraits/1381-speak-no-evil.html

I could actually probably name most people on this forum for one reason or another but those i feel are the 5 main ones for me...
(inc Pete, sorry Pete i couldnt be doing with wading through all your pix to find the german landscapes i liked when i couldnt remember what you had called them )

So come on then ... a bit of *** kissing is always good for moral

 

[Davie Hudson]

Rather than naming names I find myself absorbing the talent on display here as well as the professionalism from very nearly all of the members

 

[Kev Pugh]

For me, there is such a wide variety of work and fantastic talent on here, that alone inspires me and encourages me

 

[Hamish Gill]

I'm naming name as I'm workin up to starting a huge project of documenting well known photographers for the forum ... Starting Monday hopefully!
I thought it might be nice to think about what/who inspires me here before I start looking else where ...
There is method to the madness!
Although like you I do feel honestly like I'm probably influenced by the forum as a whole, I just think its quite nice to think about specifics sometimes... As for it helps hone working on ones style some how!?

Like with Brian's shots, noticing that it's effected how I shoot, given me a bit more freedom in how I shoot...

Maybe it just all more tangible for me from the pov of this place being such a massive part of my day to day life??

If no one wants to name names, or literally specifically can't, it's no problem ... Just thought it might be interesting ... Especially as I feel like I see it happening between members...

 

[Davie Hudson]

Ok, if I must, the people who have inspired me are ....

Chris Dodkin... The photograph's he has shown on here for me are right up my alley and I always look forward to seeing them.

Kev Pugh... I love the honesty in Kev's photo's and moreso in the artwork he posted

Asun Olivan ... the way she captures people in a wedding enviroment is, for me, nothing short of genius

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Right heres my list.............. EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!! lol

Okay, more to the point.
Hamish, I know your the administrator, but **** me ! you are an inspiration by yourself, weddings, abstract, portraiture, I really enjoy clicking on a thread started by you coz it's never a disappointment.

Pete, where do I start? square of course. lol but, it's inspiring to see a different side or treatment to a picture. and that makes a massive difference!
I can create a picture that I'm absolutely chuffed with and have no means to improve it, but then, pete comes along and says 'hope you don't mind' BBOOOOOOOMMMM!!!!!! WTF! how and why didn't I see that?? lol

Chris, I ADORE your work! all the gear and all idea! 600mm? can you see me??!! lol. love what you do, jell as funk with your location. but CRISP..... is certainly what you deliver!

Thomas, the man who had the photography eye, picked up an iphone, took STUNNING photos with it, and stuck down by jealous idividuals who only encouraged him to continue..... agreed hamish. those series... speak no evil..... mint!!! probably my favourite series on here, absolute creativity at it's best!! would love to see hear no evil tho...... lol

Jim, your natural too. I play with fire, danger, no entry signs, keep out's, private, put my life in potential risks....... but all this doesn't involve putting a camera in anyones face and snapping the moment. I have absolutely no fear in doing what you do, however, your style is amazing!!!

Bradley, Straight as a dye or what?!? lines... angles.... OMG! linetastic!!

Turner, whenever I click on one of your threads, I don't know what to expect. Your shots are like my music tastes. From classical to metal. I like it all, what ever you post.

Kev..... your just a tease.. nuff said!!!
lol, na, seriously, I wasn't sure what sort of style you had and what it is that you specified in... then these models come along. WOW. thats takes alot of committment!!

As mentioned, EVERYONE is an inspiration on here!! It truely is a site that is my home screen. thanks all for making it...
*** KISSING OVER YOU ****ERS. lol

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Props to Hamish for having the mad idea in the first place, and making me get off my arse and go take pictures.

Pete for putting up with my incessant whinging about square crops, and for making me look at toned B&Ws seriously for the first time - I've changed what I do because of you (Isn't that a song by a short Canadian singer?)

Darren B - I didn't know that I needed a TSE lens before I met you - damn you sir!

Ralph - for taking me to places I'm un-likley to put the effort in to actually ever see in real life - having said that, you've inspired me to get into the great outdoors more with the camera, so you never know!

Vic - it took me 6 months to get your pictures - it's like doing the Telegraph Crossword - you have to be in it to get it - but once you're in, it's ace

Darren T - flying the flag for Canon, and doing all those night shots - I think you're really a vampire and that's when you get out and about!

Dan - you have balls the size of small moons - I would love to have the guts to do what you do

Davie - your landscapes are awesome (In my best valley girl accent)

And Tim P - thank you for getting me here in the first place!

 

[Darren Turner]

Brilliant Idea Hamish

o eck ............. i will contribute but i am crap with words so please bear with me.......

.........................................


Chris
This guys advice, tips & points of view just work for me on every level. I especially love his after dark shot and of all thing US. Also his landscapes of them red rock cliffs of Arizona are truly inspirational. I also like to read all the canon links he post. As for them lens he has……Envious springs to mind.

Dan
If RPF gave out awards for creativeness then Dan would win hands down. His wire wool spinning in various locations are bloody brilliant. As for his strange fetish for mask’s…… yer I worryingly love these to

Glen
I have been following this guy for a long time also. His main interest is wildlife & macro in which he manages some brilliant photos especially his birds and macro creepy insects. I just so wish I could produce wildlife images to this standard,

Vic
I have also been following vics photos for years on other forums & Flickr, I don’t understand some of his work and even his processing, but the final images he creates just work. He also has given me tons of advice over the years especially with street photography. His shots of London at night are truly the best I have ever seen. These got me really inspired to get out when I can after dark. He often uploads images then says he doesn’t like it or similar …………how the hell can you not like vics pics????

Peter
If you want advice on how to look at an image you have taken in a different light then this guy does it best, different crops & processing ideas he mentions really make you think on how these simple ideas can really improve or change an image.

Darren Bradley
The architecture shot this guy takes are truly inspirational. Especially the after dark ones. Just looking at his images makes me want to get out after dark with the camera & tripod.

Lets face it we have a great bunch on photographers on RPF a real friendly place with loads of members ready to give useful advice and comments. The above members i have mentioned are in no particular order but IMO have given me the most inspiration during my time on RPF

(please excuse bad grammar & spelling errors)

 

[Darren Bradley]

Wow! I go away for a few days and come back and everyone's gone all sentimental! I'm a blown away by the kind words and very glad to hear that I may have served as an inspiration for somebody's work - although I have to say that it's a little disconcerting to know that I'm remembered more for my straight lines than anything else! While I try to be meticulous about them, they aren't meant to be the dominant theme. Hopefully, people can look past them at the actual subjects a bit

As far as inspiration and arse-kissing on my end, I have a list, too!

Chris Dodkin: for getting me all mixed with this lot, and for inspiring me to get out into San Diego more to shoot stuff that I wouldn't normally think about. Also loved your tutorials on motorsports photography, which I referred to quite a bit before heading to Le Mans this year.

Dan Cattermole: for not only coming up with crazy, insane ideas but being able to execute them impeccably. his photography is so so different from mine but I love it and it challenges me to want to do more.

Pete: for the great landscapes, kind words, and helpful comments about my work

Hamish: for some of the best, most honest portrait work I've ever seen. he manages to bring so much personality out of every shot he takes that I feel like I know the people he's photographing, and what's more, I WANT to know them.

I'm leaving off a lot of people who also deserve mention, but I'm too tired to write now. It sounds cheezy, but it's true that everyone here inspires me in different ways, and forces me to consider photography in ways beyond my normal bubble.

Thanks, all!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Group hug anyone?

 

[Dan Cattermole]

Yeah. Let's do it.

 

[Hamish Gill]

While I try to be meticulous about them, they aren't meant to be the dominant theme. Hopefully, people can look past them at the actual subjects a bit

I dont think its a theme, its just impressive consistency!

Hamish: for some of the best, most honest portrait work I've ever seen. he manages to bring so much personality out of every shot he takes that I feel like I know the people he's photographing, and what's more, I WANT to know them.

Cheers Buddy ... very kind!
Its the whole reason for wedding photography for me ... portraiture on tap!

 

[Hamish Gill]

Perhaps I shouldnt have called the thread what i did ...
I really was hoping people might take a chance to think about what has inspired them ... I guess people have, with the added bonus of a bit of mutual back patting

 

[Brian Moore]

Honestly I was shocked to see my name mentioned in the first post. I point and shoot, and sometimes get lucky. Some of the wonderful images posted by others on RPF make me feel like a trained monkey with a camera.

What has inspired me? I don't know of anyone yet who contributes to RPF on a regular basis whose photography I haven't had cause to admire. I often sit back and say "Wish that was my picture!" All have inspired me at one point or another. However, I must name two individuals who contribute in special ways:

Hamish: You deserve accolades for your vision in bringing RPF to life and maintaining a positive virtual environment. Further, when I turn on my computer I go here first now. (Used to be Flickr.) Also, you take some very cool shots and you like old cameras.

Pete: You have inspired me to look at images more closely, to strive to see everything in the image and recognize how each portion of the image contributes to the overall aesthetic. (Also, I now clean my scanner more diligently. ) Your photos are stunning too. More importantly, though, I appreciate your generosity. You seem to spare time for everyone, and your comments and critiques are always honest and upbeat.

Time for another group hug...?

 

[Ralph Thornton]

I've said it before I think, there is so much variety in this forum that it's incredible. No way I can pick a few who are above the rest. I enjoy seeing this variety and appreciate everyone's efforts. There are now so many posts that it's hard for me to view them all. I love it! Everyone, keep up the great work.