All thanks for your replies. It is helping.
Jim,
thank you for your reply also. I agree this does have to come from me. However for some reason photography is one of the only art forms that people feel we should not look to others for inspiration. Many guitarist have been inspired by Hendrix, Painters study the classics and learn from them and Rembrant's use of light, yet photographers feel that they should do it on their own. I do not agree with this theory. I feel that I can learn and get inspired by others works and it helps stimulate thought and helps me to evolve toward my own style and form. This is why I asked for other photographers and ideas. Eventually the project will be mine and only mine because I am a unique individual just as you and the rest of us are. I will never see through the lens of these other photographers but studying them may give me an idea of where to start my journey.
Yes this is an Academic assignment and the subject is just "something nothing" Coming from an engineering management background I am used to pulling all available resources to complete a project. I am using you and the members of this fine forum as available talent and resources and feel that there is nothing wrong with that approach if the end results are uniquely mine
My brain is only so big and I can only think within my scope of knowledge. 100 brains filled with ideas is immensely better than one.
I am thinking of driving across country with my son. The trip will be from Memphis to LA then up to San Fran and back to Memphis. I would like to spend this time shooting my project. I thought of visiting all the Ghost towns along the way and shooting them. Or shooting some desert/canyon/cavern scenes and create an abstract compilation of some thought. Opinions needed.
Thanks again
Thanks
I think you’re heading into dangerous territory.
You background in engineering management is of little help to you here. If anything, I think it’s a huge disadvantage to you. The thought processes in management, as you point about, are all about combining thoughts and ideas from different sources and making the most of them to a common benefit.
Not so photography.
Photography is about the individual.
If you don’t get that right away, then I see no future for you in it. Of course, your concern with photography may only be as aid or stepping stone towards something quite else – I hope so.
In fact, your very act of asking a broad spectrum of people for
their ideas on your quest strikes me as the opposite of what your mindset should be: you should be busy cooking all by yourself, stretching your own mental capacities and not looking for the equivalent of tailor-made solutions from anyone else. In essence, following the ‘management’ route. Bad move for an activity that thrives on the individual’s quirks and sparks.
My opinion.
Rob C