FINDING INNER SELF

I've been neglecting this a lot which is not cool because I promised myself I was going to use this to document my ideas, especially my photography ideas. Lately I haven't been inspired. I wanted to start a 365 project, which I did but unsuccessfully stopped at the second/third day. Now I just take a photograph once in a while so I'm guessing it'll take more than 365 days to complete. It could be because I've been having issues with myself -physically and mentally- and I can't find the proper photo that makes me feel "yeah, this is it, this is the way I look good and familiar".

Taking different types of ideas for my photos is something I've been liking. I really am tired of the same damn photo all the time because 1) I get bored, 2) I get bored, and 3) I get bored. I guess I'm not very surrealistic for my drawings for example, I do use some elements related to fantasy but it is focused on stories, or cartoons someday I want to develop. In my photography, on the other hand, I enjoy surrealism, and I think that's going to be my aim. And it's not because I want to fit into a movement, but I think my ideas are so messed up and scattered in my head, and putting everything in dream language makes it very easy to understand for me. 

So, I want to talk about some of my favorite surrealist photographers, or well, show some of their work because they inspire me and make me want to go visit other places, take parts of my ordinary life and transform them into something out of this world.

Firstable I want to talk about Kyle Thompson which was the first surreal photographer I had interest in. I know many people are following his work right now because of his featuring in Reddit, but he deserves it. Anyways, I really like the way he manages to put himself into difficult circumstances to achieve an awesome photograph, like this one for example (sorry, Kyle disable has disabled anyone from downloading his photographs) Whenever he updates his flickr and there's a photo of him in that pond, in his comments he always mentions how the plants in the water gave him a rash, or how he got cut with something and he caught an infection, or anything. I think he's awesome and brave. 

Another photographer I quite enjoy is Moritzaust. I have been following his work too and I think he's awesome. His concepts are not as complex as Kyle's, and I'm definitely not going to compare because they're both amazing in their own way. Moritzaust's work is simpler but beautiful to look at.

Finally, another favorite, Glenda Lisette. Not only she's a beautiful girl but she's extremely talented and she always amazes me with the ideas she comes up with. The colors in her photographs are warm and fantasy like, and I can't help to think that her photographs are always telling a beautiful and heartwarming story.

I'm afraid none of this artists allow downloading their photographs but make sure you visit those links, I assure you that you will not feel sorry. 

Inspiration, that is what is all about!

Lately I've been extremely interested in reading/watching all I can about photography. I've been going back and forth with my professional goals. When people ask me what I want to do with my Fine Arts degree once I graduate I always respond: "I want to pursue a career in animation or illustration to work as a concept artist for an animation/videogame company", and that would be great -I haven't dropped that goal- but lately I've felt more drawn to photography than before. To be honest I don't know why that it; I think that photography offers an immediate response to what you're looking for (considering you get the shot you want), and portraying the subject is more accurate. I guess whatever path I choose, I'll be glad. Call me a coward but I feel photography will pay my bills and I think it might be smart to focus on it; I am actually okay with that because I really enjoy photography.

The past few days I've been wandering through the internet, looking at great photographers and feeling inspired, so I want to share a few of the findings I've got lately.

Photograph by: BurlapZack

For example, this great portrait. I fell in love with it when I first saw it. Why? Well, just look at it! It's so fun and out of the ordinary. One of the things I love is the DOF, I mean, who doesn't love such a whimsical DOF like that? For portraiture I think it is fundamental to focus just on the subject and leave everything else to a big aperture's mercy, right? Besides, the quirkiness in it just makes me smile and I just want to be part of that day.

Marji Lang's photojournalistic photographs are amazing. They inspire me and make me want to travel as soon as I can. I can't show her photographs from flickr because downloading them is disabled but it's just a click away in this paragraph. To be honest, I envy anyone who can take their camera to dinamic places with rich architecture and interesting subjects to shoot like Hideaki Hamada for example:

Photo by: Hideaki Hamada

I love his photography and one of the main reasons is because when I think about Japan, I usually picture an urban, extremely busy environment, full of lights, movement, and many people. In Hamada's pictures I get to see a calmer and relaxed ambience which makes me feel warm. I enjoy his Haru and Mina series quite a lot too. I just simply feel inspired by his wonderful work, and the fact that he uses film (mostly I believe), makes it all a very nostalgic approach to his life as an individual in an extremely modernized and technologized society. 

Photo by: Benoit Paille

Another personal favorite, Benoit Paille. I particularly enjoy his Strangers project because even if it looks as simple as requesting a photo from a stranger and then leaving, the whole concept is deeper than that. Interacting with someone you don't know, asking something, and taking a picture to make a memorable moment in that person's life. 

Many other people inspire me and I think I might start posting inspiring photographers at least once a week just as a reminder of what I want to achieve, where I want to be. To me looking at other people's work, analyzing it, and criticizing it is learning. I can actually see how things are supposed to be done, or how they work better. To me it is crucial to look at all the posibilities I have; considering I live in a really dull city, I often feel frustrated for not finding an inspiring place to shoot a picture, especially a safe place.