Photography Inspiration from legendary photographers

So, you’ve got a camera. You’ve got a model. You’re completely dead set on taking the AWESOMEST picture the human world has ever seen. But… you have absolutely no ideas. Nada. Zilch. Rest assured!

Maybe the only thing you see when you walk outside is sidewalks covered in chewing gum, but that’s not all that’s there. Taking stunning pictures is still in your reach. You just need some inspiration.

One of the best ways to generate photography inspiration ideas is to look at all the amazing stuff other artists are creating around you every day. Taking in their work and styles will make you ask questions and think about what similar or opposing ideas you might like to pursue in your work.

A great resource for this kind of inspiration is Photowhoa. Photowhoa is an online website dedicated to providing budding photographers with photography inspiration ideas by showcasing incredible photographers in various collections.

Each photo set is accompanied by an interview with the artist about their experiences with the craft. As a photographer myself, I can vouch for the fact that it’s pretty impossible not to be inspired.

Every time I ogle over someone else’s work, mine has gotten better. And my colleagues say it too—appreciating good art encourages us to explore more when creating our own.

Here’s my take on 7 of Photowoa’s popular free ebooks with interviews from famous photographers –

1. FINE ART COLLECTIVE

https://photowhoa.com/deals/fine_art/?utm_source=Article&utm_campaign=AOP

This issue explores exciting ways to capture both elegant/artistic scenes and kooky portraits. One featured artist, Nigel Grimmer, explores the fascinating concept of “Art Drag,” in which he takes self-portraits lining paintings of women’s faces and torsos over his own. The effect is that their faces are on his body. If the photos aren’t inspiring enough, the interview is. He describes his process—how he came up with the idea, how he goes about executing it, and just how little the “rules” matter. And he’s only one of ten featured photographers.

DOWNLOAD HERE – https://photowhoa.com/deals/fine_art/?utm_source=Article&utm_campaign=AOP

2. FINE ART COLLECTIVE VOL. II

Link – https://photowhoa.com/deals/the-fine-art-collective-vol-2/?utm_source=Article&utm_campaign=AOP

Whereas the original Fine Art collective focuses on more bright color and upbeat pieces, Volume II explores more dark and risqué corners of the human psyche. (Of course, not exclusively so.)

One featured artist, Angelo Musco, plays with and recreates structures in nature in his work. If you’re a passionate black & white photography, architecture photography, or old-timey nostalgic photography enthusiast, this is definitely the collective for you.

DOWNLOAD HERE – https://photowhoa.com/deals/the-fine-art-collective-vol-2/?utm_source=Article&utm_campaign=AOP

3. STREET COLLECTIVE

Link – https://photowhoa.com/deals/street/?utm_source=Article&utm_campaign=AOP

The street collective focuses on a more rugged, gritty style of photography. Again, it features some seriously talented photographers from all over the world like the award-winning Laura Pannack, Thomas Leauthard, and Julian Berman.

Personally, I found Berman’s interview the most relevant to the projects I’m working on now. He discusses how he uses natural lighting to better his portraits and lets out a definitive call to develop your own unashamed voice.

DOWNLOAD HERE – https://photowhoa.com/deals/street/?utm_source=Article&utm_campaign=AOP

4. BEAUTY COLLECTIVE

Link – https://photowhoa.com/deals/beauty/?utm_source=Article&utm_campaign=AOP

Holy MOLEY does this offer valuable insight into working with models. From communicating with them to get the facial expressions and poses you want to navigating financial waters without breaking the bank, this is an incredible resource for aspiring beauty photographers.

Photographers like Kristian Schmidt and Jenny Woods talk about the bold techniques they use to make their already beautiful models look even more stunning. And while most of us don’t have access to wild cats, as some of these photographers pose their models with them, there are numerous other techniques that are simple and affordable enough to do at home.

DOWNLOAD HERE – https://photowhoa.com/deals/beauty/?utm_source=Article&utm_campaign=AOP

5. LANDSCAPE

Link – https://photowhoa.com/deals/landscape/?utm_source=Article&utm_campaign=AOP

Nature-lovers, the Landscape Collective is chock-full of photography inspiration ideas geared just for you. Leading professionals go over tips on how they make even ordinary places look extraordinary, how they manipulate light in their favor, and how they strive to tell stories with their work. But it’s not all traditional.

One featured photographer, Linda Alterwitz, composites medical images into her work for some crazy experimental photos. I love incorporating textures over my photos, so it was something I found particularly enticing.

DOWNLOAD HERE – https://photowhoa.com/deals/landscape/?utm_source=Article&utm_campaign=AOP

6. LOS ANGELES

Link – https://photowhoa.com/deals/los_angeles/?utm_source=Article&utm_campaign=AOP

One of the biggest things you’ll get from the Los Angeles Collective is an understanding that you shouldn’t necessarily try to cover up the messy stuff in your work. LA is a place that’s all over the map with conflict and glamor and heartbreak, and its photography doesn’t hide that—it reflects it. Some featured photographers like Amanda Friedman work with celebrities and capture more of the beautiful elements of LA culture, whereas others like Shawn Nee capture the grit. I’d recommend this to anyone with love for Hollywood.

DOWNLOAD HERE – https://photowhoa.com/deals/los_angeles/?utm_source=Article&utm_campaign=AOP

7. PORTRAIT

Link – https://photowhoa.com/deals/portrait/?utm_source=Article&utm_campaign=AOP

If you’re just starting out in photography, chances are you’ve already explored work with or are hoping to get some jobs doing portraits. But how many times does every picture look the same? Same smile, same pose, same angles. The portrait collective sheds light on TONS of new ways to look at your portrait work and freshen up your technical technique as well as considering how you can shed more light on who the subject really is in your portraits.

I was a huge fan of featured photographer Anna Wolf’s modern, polished style, but the artists here are so diverse that you could absolutely hate modern, clean styles and still find something that speaks to you.

DOWNLOAD HERE – https://photowhoa.com/deals/portrait/?utm_source=Article&utm_campaign=AOP

Whew! So, that wraps up our summaries. Feeling inspired? I almost feel inundated with it.

Though these 7 eBooks are filled to the brim with photography inspiration ideas, they’re still only a few of the hundreds of resources available to you online.

Photowhoa alone offers not only numerous photo books designed to fill your brain with photography inspiration ideas but also general photography resources at amazing—if not sinful—discounts.

Check them out at http://photowhoa.com/.

Now that that’s all covered, I think you know what you’ve got to do: get out there and take THE best picture the human world has ever seen.