Yep, Saul's work has been inspiring me lately, if that's not too grand a word 
That's my situation too, ever since I rediscovered him a year or so ago!
And here's a distinction I make: I don't believe I have been
influenced by other photographers, but I sure know that I have been inspired by many!
Same difference? I think not. I began to dabble in fashion in '66, as soon as I went out on my own. I already knew all about David Bailey and thought him the bee's knees; however, copying wasn't going to happen: different type of clothes to work with, different models, different budgets (vastly!) and location possibilities. Same when Sarah Moon popped up a few years later: loved her, and still do, to bits! But again, working in different worlds and ambiences. She claims hardly ever to leave Paris for work locations; I never worked there, sadly enough. Saul Leiter is the same: the stuff I love is all yellow cabs, red umbrellas and condensation-drenched windows. A world away from Mallorca. But, in the case of these photographers I admire, they have vision and appear to be able to make something out of pretty much anything that's available.
That, is photographic creativity, where you can't just imagine a shot, but have to have a 'something' right in front of the camera and work with it to get where you have to go. I also love the work of Hans Feurer; apparently so simple: just put on a very long lens and shoot against the light. Yeah, right! Try it first with anybody out of your provincial model agency, no hair/make-up experts to design the model, stylists to dress her up in a fantasy look, and see where it gets you!
I think the greatest contribution these 'stars' make is this: they let you know that it is possible to do more than you ever imagined was feasible. They let you believe in infinity.
Rob
