Does photography exist in a Vacuum?

I've heard some opinions opposite to mine and I try to listen with an open mind - There is a reason someone believes the way they do. But then I am not perfect and some opinions I quickly dismiss even before the opinionator even finishes their explanation.

One such opinion I heard lately is in regards to viewing other photographer's work. This gentleman tried to explain to me why he never looks at other photographers' work. He doesn't own photo books. He doesn't read photo blogs. He doesn't look at photo websites. He doesn't even do image searches when trip planning.

He didn't want to his photography to be persuaded by other's work. It was if he thought his photography existed in a vacuum. He wanted to go into a scene with fresh eyes - see it how he sees it. I can get the last part in a way. But I don't believe that art and photography can survive in a vacuum.

I enjoy reading blogs by other photographers - to hear how they came upon their inspiration for an image. Even how they technically created an image. There is often a good story just in the telling of their adventure to a place. I follow photographer's whose images I enjoy and photographer's who have a great understanding of photo editing.

My collection of photo books alone gave a mover a hernia once. (I felt awful about it but was so happy to have all my books show up intact.)

Why do I like reading the blogs & photo books? 2 reasons really. The first is to see what has gone before. The second is for inspiration. Let's explore these quickly.

To See What has Gone Before

One of the reasons this photo acquaintance used to not look at other's photos is that he wanted to go into a scene and not have what others photographed "taint" how he viewed the scene. And I do see a slight problem with that. He mentioned that he got offended when someone would say "That looks just like the image photographer X made last year."  If you don't know what has happened prior to your arrival, you may end up repeating what has happened before. Remember that old history adage? Those who don't know or learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

You can still enter a scene with your own eyes, but you also have an idea of what images were captured there before.

Thousands of images are taken of Mt Shuksan near Mt Baker with Picture Lake in the foreground. It's a classic image - google it. But just because there are already thousands of images out there of this subject doesn't mean you shouldn't shoot the image for yourself. And that's just the point - it ultimately is for yourself. Look at the previous images, see what has been done before. Your task is to make the image your own which leads us to my second point.

Finding Inspiration

You've looked through several images of the place you're about to visit. Was there something you liked in those images? Was there something you didn't? With those thoughts in mind, and those images, you can enter a scene and see where someone had stood before, the light they used, the elements they excluded. Then make your own decisions about the scene. Maybe they were shooting during the summer and that branch to your left was left out, but in the spring when you are there that branch is filled with glorious flowers you do not want left out of your image.

Remember this is YOUR story of YOUR adventure, so you are looking at what YOU want to do with the scene. But you already have some experience with the scene and aren't approaching it blind, but with ideas already stirring in your head - create YOUR ideas, make them come to fruition.

Seeking inspiration does not hinge on one place only. The above image was taken in Federation Forest in Washington State. As I ramble through the trees looking for moss-draped trees to photograph I was struck by this tree. It reminded me of something.

It reminded me of another image I had seen just a few days before. One of the photographers I follow is Ian Plant and he created an image Carcinus Arises that reminded me a lot of this vine maple a continent away. Would have I even stopped to photograph this vine maple had it not been for Ian's image?

Was my image "tainted" by his? Did I copy him or did I add my own vision?