Photographers who inspire me – We are what we consume

‘If an artist were to admit that he was uncertain as to what part of the content of his work answered to life and what part to art … we would probably consider him incompetent.’ —John Szarkowski in ‘William Eggleston’s Guide’ Anyone who dabbles in any form of art will be quick to point out that they need a reliable, preferably bottomless, well of inspiration. The purpose of this inspiration is not to get them to make art – that motivation comes, as it ought to, from within. The purpose of this inspiration is instead to keep them on their path and never forget what it was that made them want to make art in the first place because with every little change it becomes easy to stray from what appeals to us until things become unrecognisable. What better way to do this than to look at those who have come before us, particularly to those whose works first inspired us, and to those whose work we especially identify with? This essay was written for the May 2025 edition of the IndieWeb Carnival…