"Art is essentially communication. It doesn’t exist in a vacuum. That’s why people make art, so other people can relate to it." Conor Oberst
When I was a student at The Art Institute of Seattle my favorite professor, Raymond Gendreau, would paraphrase the above quote during each class. Although I can only speculate on his reasoning for the repetition and whatever his motivation, I am grateful for the wisdom and encouragement.
Inspiration as an artist can come from a variety of sources. As a visual artist, it is important to be nourished with a steady diet of imagery that is profound, enlightening, and challenges perception. In fact, I would go as far as to say that the habit of digesting quality images regularly will do more to improve your own photographic work than any piece of equipment, editing software, or seminar. We live in a society bombarded with photos. Today Facebook holds tens of billions of images (if not more) most of which lack dynamic composition, proper exposure, and serve only to documenting history. Please don’t misunderstand, I believe all images have value in one form or another, but most are not created with the skill and depth of purpose that goes into a photographic work of art. Instead, I suggest that those who wish to create a masterpiece with a camera surround themselves with as many quality images as possible. Below is my list of heroes. People whose work has compelled me to try harder and dig deeper. I hope you are inspired as well.
W.Eugene Smith was the first photographer I ever fell in love with. He’s been called the father of the photographic essay. Even if he didn’t invent the concept, he surely mastered it. From Smith’s work in Life Magazine, I discovered the true storytelling potential that a photograph (or series of photographs) can have. Often Smith would dedicate himself to a project for years. His images became evidence of social injustice and the catalyst for change. His work proves that one person can change the world.
Richard Avedon taught me to blur the lines between reality and fiction. His portraits of real people speak to the complexity and value of each individual and his work with celebrities granted a level of access few have rivaled. I love his use of white backgrounds. His images look as modern as any work being produced today.
Vivian Maier, unlike Smith and Avedon, was no public figure. Her personal history is as mysterious as it is well documented. Driven by compulsions that only the soul of an artist can comprehend, Maier documented everything. Most of all I love her ability to “see the light” and I mean that in a literal and non-religious sense of the word. The people and places she photographed immortalized the mundane and beautiful simultaneously.
Joe McNally is the most modern of my inspirations. His blog is a joy to read. I’d happily pay to be his assistant for a day! McNally’s work is more reminiscent of classic paintings than photographs. Light is bent, shaped, and contorted in fabulous ways to lead the viewer on a journey of discovery. His use of texture and place, in my opinion, has shaped most of the current trends in photography. I've had the pleasure of doing workshops with Joe at Ellis Island and at WPPI in Las Vegas. He's humble, smart, and funny. I'm hoping he'll read this one day and adopt me. (Kidding, not kidding.) The images in this blog post are from the day I spent wearing a hard hat and quietly tiptoeing through the hallways that were once home to doctors and patients at Ellis Island. It felt sacred to be in this place where so many lives changed; maybe even where my own family members came as they journeyed to a new life.
