PixelatedImage Blog

My friend Gavin Gough and I are planning to do some guest blogging on each other’s sites. One of the ideas we’ve had revolves around influences, another around inspiration. I’ll save my thunder for those articles, but in the mean time because I’m bone-dry on inspiration or news-worthy stuff for the blog (I know, the irony is thick…) here’s a link to some inspiring influences (ya like how I brought those threads together into one alliterated idea?)

Tom Stoddart’s black and white images are second to none, particulariy his iWitness series which begins with “it is sad and unnecessary that any of these photographs exist.” Stoddart is a man who unquestionably shoots from the heart. Link to iWitness. Be sure to read his introduction to the series.

Ami Vitale’s work is no less exceptional, particularily those of Kashmir. Ami’s recent images of the rickshaw wallas in Calcutta for NG took me right back to India. Truly excellent stuff, and nice to have a strong female voice among all the men. Link to Ami Vitale

Kazuyoshi Nomachi. Last year I began to think seriously about a photo book on the idea of pilgrimage and our search for the holy. I found instead that the book had been shot so well already by Nomachi that I’ve put the idea aside until I find my own angle on it. Nomachi’s images are strong, sensitive, and a refreshing break from the heavier humanitarian stuff I often look at. That said, there’s nothing shallow or light about them. Link to Nomachi

Take some time to look through the work of at least one of these exceptional photographers. But when you do, do it with a critical eye. Why are these images powerful? Why do they work so well? Would it work as well in colour? B&W? What lens did she use, and why? Looking at images critically is a powerful exercise and a good step towards growing in visual literacy, which will translate into more powerful images in our own portfolios.