It’s inspiring

Photography, we are told, is often reliant on inspiration. A classic definition of inspiration focuses on mental stimulation to do or feel something. The truth is we are all stimulated by different things, so who or what stimulates us to do better than we do currently?

In my thoughts, inspiration is often prompted by motivation, a sense of creation, and a desire to be different or better in some way. You only have to look at some of the excellent work appearing in AP to see the evidence from photographers not hampered by the norms of others. Whether all results appeal to wider tastes is another matter, but who or what are prime influences on the way we think about photography?

Many people are content to follow the trails created by a flow of others, while some defy the usual patterns and want to break away to be notably different. Being the first inspirationally is not always a winning step because the unexpected results jolt people out of their known comfort zones. Time and a slow acceptance come into play before what was once fresh becomes more everyday.

How inspiration is encouraged is an inexact science, for obvious reasons. Just as people have unique fingerprints, so do photographers have unique styles of picture production. What pleases one audience may not have the same impact or appeal. Perhaps the motto ‘each to their own’ is a good reminder that like handwriting, picture-taking reflects the photographer’s personality.

Now that I’ve just read the latest AP issue, I’ve actually found an inspirational idea! Tom Cairns

AP’s review of the OM-5: we were very impressed by it