Natural Inspiration

“You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.” 
― Ansel Adams

There are many sources of media to get inspiration from nowadays; television, advertisements, magazines, billboards. Photography is everywhere. It is hard to find a piece of advertisement in todays world that hasn't used the advantage of a camera to create a certain look or feel to their brand. Photographs can be used to sell, promote, explain, or tell a story. The most influential form to me has been in the pages of the acclaimed National Geographic Magazine. 

As a child, I would sit at my grandparents' house flipping through the pages of this iconic magazine. I would never read those long confusing articles, but would gaze at the beautiful pictures that spanned the pages. My favorites would be those of beautiful landscapes, decrepit cities, the close ups of nature, and of course the portraits of people from places my young mind couldn't fathom the idea of living in. 

Numerous famous photographers have had the privilege of displaying their work in National Geographic. Many have made their start by capturing an amazing picture and being featured among the text. These photos capture something that not everyone can see. Some photographers can see the world from a different perspective. This creates amazing surreal photos that can take the observer to a time and place they may not have known exists. 

That is what I want to be able to do with my  photography. Just like an artist wants to accomplish with his art, my goal is to have the witness be in awe. I want to invoke that feeling of admiration that I had while looking through those magazines as a child. I want them to be curious and disbelieving that things like this can be captured through a lense.