Blog one for photo imaging. The first exercise as a class was checking out the work of famous portrait photographers. 

The problem of looking through the work of well known professional photographers is knowing when to stop. As a student practioner in the industry we attempt to draw inspiration from these works, sometimes it is overwhelming though as the output from the photographers is of such a standard one can't help but think, 'how will I get to this level'? Of course it is entirely possible that some of my peers maybe even I will reach these seemingly impossibly high standards. I will apply myself to this end of course.

We all have our favourites and Sally Mann is definitely one of mine. Her images are such that they create an instant impact before one starts to review on a critical basis.

Reynolds Price, of Time said this.

“Few photographers of any time or place have matched Sally Mann’s.. 

Alex Soth another famous American who has produced portraits at a level that seems impossible to this mere mortal is inspirational and I have placed one of his images in this blog. Using these photographers as inspirational examples does speak to my own dilemma over the use of black and white and colour, maybe it comes down to a confidence issue of my own post shoot editing skills with colour management as I have for the last couple of years been working monochrome.

Bruce Davidson the American photographer took time to come to the Uk and create a documentary and produce portraits of Welsh miners again delivering impactful gritty images.

For balance I did look closer to home for ideas about how Scottish Photographers record Scottish moments and I studied the work of Margaret Mitchell specifically 'An Ordinary Eden' which has previously informed my interest in documentary and portrait work. This is a hard hitting series and deserves much recognition for what it portrays and the way the images have been captured and are portrayed.