What is the difference between an older, experienced content creator and a younger fresher eye?
More importantly, what is the difference in their work and processes?
We all draw from a visual diary, a bank or memory library of images that float around in our heads. This is called “inspiration” by some of us, “plagiarism” by others.
This image, taken on a trip to Melbourne just after COVID, came on a day where the light, possibly the freedom, but definately the easy load of a single camera and 17mm lens, put me in a zone. As I shot, as we all do, images pre-formed in my mind, images that are a now interpretation of a past influence, translated and made my own.
The colours of this Harry Gruyaert shot and the one below with the detachment of both might have contributed, maybe others, maybe none, but either way, these are the seminal images that helped define my eye.
Nobody can work in a void, because I guess we need some idea of what we are shooting and why, so there is always an element of others work in our own. We did not invent cameras, photography or light, it is all borrowed.
The difference I guess is the age and breadth of that library, both good and bad. I feel very lucky that my journey started in the high tide mark of film, through the emergence of digital to now. I learned lessons lost on younger generations, had to overcome barriers that simply do not exist now, but conversely I avoided some of the truly limiting realities that faced earlier shooters.
Even shots taken for record keeping will have echoes of past successes or favourites.
Smelly and lonely darkrooms were a tough thing to love for me, lots of time and money spent getting nowhere it seemed, but lessons learned did translate well enough and it is funny, but years later, a lifetime ago it seems, I can still remember developer ratios, the feel of tank agitation, the smell of fixer and the routine of loading a spool.
Sending away a roll of slide film was closer to Nirvana, until it returned and hard reality of failure and success in various levels hit home, but we kept trying.
Probably the best thing I ever did was collect a ridiculous amount of books and magazines, all adding fuel to the fire. Inspiration comes in two forms it seems. It adds the fuel the fire of imagination and the memory of the fire keeps you warm and inspired when you are on your own, making your own art.
An old favourite and reminder of gentler times, this William Eggleston image haunts me (although this version pails in comparison to the print I have.
As does this by Sam Abell. Funny how recurring themes emerge in retrospect.
The process is still going with modern shooters like James Popsys, Kate Kirkwood, Jan Meissner, Sam Abell and revisited favourites (early American colourists are my passion*) reminding me that there is still much to learn.
Where ever your inspiration comes from, your work is yours, because even is you wanted to directly copy others, it is nearly impossible visually and pointless philosophically.
Devour all you can. Eat your fill.
*Saul Leiter, Ernst Haas, William Eggleston and others of their ilk.