Why it is dangerous to take inspiration from other photographers

We can take inspiration from the smaller details - this is a close up of a picture frame

Instagram was my go-to place for inspiration

When I first joined Instagram, I was blown away by some of the work I saw on there. I aspired to create at the same levels as some of the photographers that I saw. However, that led to a big problem.

The issue was that I started trying to copy some of the photographers. I stopped thinking about what I wanted to create and started trying to copy other peoples’ visions. My attempts would never equal their own personal style. I only ended up with pale imitations.

When we spend too much time in awe of other photographers we risk losing our personal touch. We stop developing our own style. The world doesn’t need another photographer in the mould of one that already exists. But there is always space for self-expressionism and new ideas.

It is always worth looking elsewhere for inspiration

These days I find that my best thoughts and ideas rarely come from studying other photography (although I do enjoy books of photography on a regular basis).

Here are some of the things that inspire me instead of photography:

-       Painting is a massive source of inspiration. Personally I take a lot from the works of David Tress and Kurt Jackson. I love what they do with colours, textures and mood. I also like their multi-dimensional approach to art and would like to build this into my work at some point

-       Music can also influence my work. I know of at least one photographer who likes to post-process to a particular type of music to help him create the right mood in his work. I don’t take things quite this far! However, a good piece of music can inspire feelings and thoughts that I want to try and create in my images

-       Literature may not be an obvious choice. But good writing is surprisingly visual. It conjures up new images in my head. This all helps in creating the right look for my work and ideas to work through

-       What I see in everyday life helps me a lot. I am trying to become more mindful in seeing things. A patch of light, a piece of litter or a weed, some insignificant detail: they all are added into my visual memory bank. They all help me refine my sense of composition, my colour palette and my choice of subject

-       I have now made writing a part of my creative practice. My blogs are not just for my readership: they help me think about my creative direction and what I want to achieve. They help me define my creative process. And, in writing things down, I commit to creating images. It is not necessary to write a lot. Mindful photographer Paul Sanders has encouraged me to write down what I see, feel and hear around me. If I do this in a new location or with a new subject it can really help visualise what I see before me and how I should create an image  

-       Television has also influenced me more than I realised. When I watch a well-shot drama, I am looking at compositions and colour palettes (and probably missing vital details in the plot line because of this!)

The important thing about these sources of inspiration is that I cannot copy any of them with a camera. They can inspire me and influence me, and change my way of thinking. But they give me ideas for the development of my own photographic style rather than trying to copy someone else.

I recently ran a poll on Twitter about sources of inspiration

You can see the thread here. Some of the other influences that people mentioned included cinema and culture. They are all good ideas for me to assimilate.

I feel one of the best answers was from Glenys Garnett. She said:

“I'm inspired by everything I see around me, colours, shapes, patterns, textures and abstraction fascinates me. Art and artists, photography past and present all influence me but I'm mostly self inspired driven by a need to create”

When I think about it, that pretty much sums up what I feel about inspiration too.

Here are some practical ideas if you are seeking more or better inspiration

-       Take a break from social media. This can be a big help. You won’t be looking at other photographers and other images. That means you will have to take you inspiration from elsewhere. If you want to go all out, consider avoiding photography books and magazines as well

-       Visit an art gallery. What is on show? What do you take away from it? Try writing a few notes about what you have seen

-       Watch a TV drama or a film. Deconstruct the photography, colour palette and compositions. You may find some great new ideas for your own work

Whatever route you take, try journaling your thoughts. This will help you formalise and express your ideas more. Remember you are writing just for you. This doesn’t have to be accomplished writing: bullet points are fine. If you hate writing, try recording a few thoughts instead.

I am disappointed in what used to inspire me

I used to want to recreate the social media classics. I wanted to make an image of a lone figure at the top of a mountain (preferably in a bright top) all set off by a nice moody preset. Fortunately I have moved on from that!

Now I find the less I look at photography for inspiration, the more I see the world in my own way. The more I look elsewhere, the more I am opened up to a much greater freedom of expression.