This month I wanted to do something a little different, and pull together some pieces of inspiration that weren't directly photography related. It's so important to be inspired by a variety of things, and to look outside of one specific art form or source of media. Be creative, look to unexpected places for inspiration and think about how that can feed back into your photography - you might be surprised by the results.
Top of my recommendations are art and design books. A quick flick through them when you're feeling uninspired by the virtual can set off a spark of fresh thinking, and they're great to have around, stacked up as decor. Look in charity shops or secondhand bookstores for one-off, affordable options, especially if you find yourself drawn to vintage styles and aesthetics. I've found great photography books in the back of a charity shop before as well.
Some of my current favourites:
Graphic: Inside the Sketchbooks of the World's Great Graphic Designers. As the name suggests, this is a collection of photographs from within the pages of sketchbooks, ranging from collage artists to illustrators to cartoonists. I love getting this look into an artists way of working - seeing their thought process on the page and the world through their eyes.
Apartamento is one of my all time favourite publications. They release an edition of the magazine twice a year, and recently brought out a beautiful coffee table book to celebrate their ten year anniversary. They go inside the homes of creatives, photographing these spaces in all their messy, realistic glory, accompanied by an interview. It's perfect for anyone inherently nosy - I love the photography style and this behind-the-scenes access.
You can never have enough magazines around either - independent magazine shops like Magma and Rare Mags are filled with cool publications and inspiration in so many forms.
Photo by @thatschic
Rachel Nguyen creates content unlike anyone else I've seen online. Prepare to spend hours working your way through her Youtube videos and then move on to her blog posts, and Instagram page. She always has a really interesting and unique way of presenting her content, evolving to a new feel and style every few months and her videos are thoughtful and honest. I'm always so inspired by her creativity each time she takes on a new project.
Screenshot from Abstract, featuring Cas Holman
Abstract is a Netflix show all about design and designers. Each episode focuses on a different discipline, interviewing some of the most highly regarded designers in their field. Interesting and invigorating, it explains what designers do and how design affects all aspects of our lives. If you're looking for something new to watch, definitely give this a go.
Photo by @shotnotfromthestreet
Things are opening up again! Go out to your local galleries, cinemas, museums and take advantage of all the sources of inspiration around you. Do things you wouldn't usually - a new film genre, see a piece of theatre, visit a different park (and always take your camera with you). Look to the architecture, all those buildings you walk past everyday and probably never look at in detail - take photos of them with the light at different angles, in different weather. If you are able to, immerse yourself in new and creative things outside of the virtual space - Instagram and Pinterest and online resources can become so similar and repetitive.
Illustration by Rebecca Hsu - @rebeccahsu_
Websites like Creative Boom, Creative Review and Colossal are worth regularly checking in with - they boast articles, imagery and inspiration pieces from across multiple creative disciplines, including film, illustration, graphic design, art and culture. There's always something new and exciting to find across the sites.
Photo by @breaudreygraham
Newsletters have made a bit of a comeback in lockdown and have quickly become the new way to blog and share content. I’ve loved signing up to different ones and receiving personal essays and reviews and recommendations directly into my inbox each week. Scroll through Tiny Letter or Substack and see what takes your fancy - there will be streams of options for whatever topic you might be interested in.
Some I've been loving recently are; The Face's newsletter, with a round up of culture articles, music and art recommendations, Just to Delight by Bre Graham, which is all about food and eating and Maybe Baby by Haley Nahman which brings cultural commentary, recommendations and the feeling of catching up with a friend!
If anyone has some photography newsletter recommendations let us know!
Author : Becca Knight
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Justine Kurland, Waiting for Trains While Playing with Trains, 2009, © Justine Kurland
Highway Kind by Justine Kurland
Travelling with her young son in a van across the US, Kurland photographed the great American landscape and the fringe communities who live and interact with this wilderness. Exploring masculinity, a life away from mainstream values and the disintegration of the American dream, this is a fascinating portrait of life on the road, and of America.
Photo by Sabiha Çimen
Seeking the unexpected in photography
I'm always returning to aperture for interesting and unique photography articles. I stumbled across this piece on using the unexpected this month and it's a great showcase of different talent, styles and approaches. Getting to hear all about the story behind each photo displayed makes for a great read, and gave me a whole list of new photographer's work to explore.
Vivian Maier
This month's photography great is Vivian Maier, an American street photographer whose work wasn't discovered until after her death. Working as a nanny, she took over 150,000 photographs in her lifetime, mostly of the people she saw in the streets. Following its discovery and widespread publication, her work attracted critical acclaim and Maier's photography has been displayed worldwide. A documentary about Maier's life and work was made in 2013. Whenever I come back to her work I'm always so in awe, Maier had a true talent for capturing the world and people around her.
Photo by @ribsy_
How to shoot portraits
Ribs' channel is one of those Youtube goldmines - packed with so much useful guidance and advice, with videos on everything from reviews to photography history. I picked a video on shooting portraits for this month - it's built off of practical information and tips that will actually be helpful for anyone interested in improving their portrait work.
Taken from the video on Jetro Emilcar
The Unexposed
I loved this series from Negative Feedback - I can't believe it's taken me so long to get around to watching this. It's a four part series, produced in collaboration with Canal180 exploring photographers who offer a 'genuine and differentiating point of view on youth culture'.
The photographers talk through every step of their process, from their initial inspiration right up to an analysis of the final piece. This is an incredible series, compiled in a really engaging way - here are two episodes from the series, focusing on Jetro Emilcar and Maria Baoli.
Photo by @gakuyen
Kodak Ektar review
As you might have guessed from previous month's inspiration collections, I'm a sucker for photography vlogs and film reviews - and this video is the perfect mix of the two. Gaku takes you around Tokyo as he experiments with a roll of Kodak Ektar. I love being able to see a new city through someone else's eye and Gaku creates some beautiful shots. Alongside this, it's an in-depth and analytical review of the film stock - useful and enjoyable to watch!
Photo by @alexburkephoto, who featured on episode 17
Contact sheet podcast
Born out of a desire to connect with other photographers, each episode of The Contact Sheet podcast explores an individual's work and approach and dives into the specific realities of working as a photographer. There are weekly episodes with a wide range of photographers, discussing questions such as, How did their style evolve? How did they find their direction? And what were the challenges and decisions they faced along the way?
Photo taken from the Soon to be gone story
Tadas Kazakevicius
I stumbled across Tadas's website this month and instantly became a fan. His projects are divided up into stories, and his work definitely captures that narrative quality, with these incredibly intimate portraits, many taken across Lithuania. His work is poignant, sensitive and elegant, and I loved working my way through his projects.
Author: Becca Knight
Silvana Trevale, Flujo de mar, Corfu, Greece, August 2020 and Hands in water, Corfu, Greece, August 2020
Venezuelan Youth by Silvana Trevale
I really enjoyed this article on Silvana Trevale's latest work that 'navigat[es] discomfort, longing, and unfamiliar rhythms by turning first to the sea, and then to herself'. The Venezuelan photographer speaks about her connection to water, and her latest project, Venezuelan Youth (2017–21). This series aims to document the recent movement amongst Venezuelan young people to highlight the realities of political, social and economic conflict. You can see more of the project on her website.
Photos by Guy Gooch
In Grain Magazine
This month saw MFA's very own first publication! In Grain is made up of a mix of beautiful photography, writing and even playlists, all from the film community. Centred around the theme of beginnings, the magazine features some incredible work. Nothing really compares to the beauty of print, and it's amazing to be able to see and hold up close everyone's art. There's only a limited number so definitely get your hands on one whilst you still can.
Photo by Chloe Mathews
Caspian: The Elements by Chloe Mathews
Travelling overland from China to the UK, Chloe arrived on the shores of the Caspian sea and became intrigued and fascinated by the scenes she discovered there. Remaining outside the territorial boundaries of any country, multiple nations have laid claim over this land and its natural resources. Chloe returned to the Caspian shores multiple times over the 5 years she shot this project, aiming to capture the human relationship with the resources that make this territory so sought after. Her photos range from the expansive to the intimate, and can be viewed on her site as well as in the photobook.
“Brooklyn Gang (boys on the boardwalk),” 1959
This month's photography great is Bruce Davidson, an American photographer best known for his work documenting outsider groups and culture. His project, "Brooklyn Gang" is widely considered to be the first ever photoessay. Taken during the summer of 1959, Davidson followed a gang of teenagers around Brooklyn, aiming to capture both the public and private moments of the James Dean generation. Since then, he has continued to photograph those on the fringe of society. In the 60s he was heavily involved in the Civil Rights Movement, joining the Freedom Riders in the Deep South to photograph their journey across Alabama. His later documentary work, focusing on the East Harlem community, was used to bring about neighbourhood revitalisation projects. If you want to know more about Davidson's life and work, this article is an ideal place to start.
Photo by Sean Tucker
Protecting Your Highlights
This video talks through prioritising highlights in your photography, detailing the importance of dynamic range, and how to best use light in your work. Sean also uses real life examples from both photography and cinematography to illustrate what works and how. This is thorough and really interesting class, with great life lessons alongside the photography ones. Sean's channel is an amazing resource and he has made videos on lots of other photography topics if you want to learn and explore more.
Screenshot from video by Austin Auggie
"From the Riv" a photo journey across the US
I have a bit of a soft spot for road trips and Americana photography, so loved this video from Austin Auggie. It's a collection of moments and photos taken during his drive from New York to Los Angeles, busy highways one moment and rural, empty wilderness the next. It's a beautifully shot and edited framing of that trip, and perfect if you've got some lockdown induced wanderlust.
Photo by Shingirai Mazengwe
shotbyShingie
I only discovered Shingie's channel this week but have been steaming through all his uploads whenever I get a chance - so much time and care clearly goes into his videos and they cover such a range of topics. He offers advice and tips, gives reviews and also creates more intimate discussion style videos where he speaks about being a black photographer, creative identity crises and really interrogates what it is about being a photographer that appeals to him. Definitely give his videos a watch, I guarantee there will be something for you on his channel.
Photo by Katie Small
Film Souping
Here, Katie Small talks you through her film soup experiments - soaking rolls of film in different mixtures to achieve colourful, surreal effects - colours bleeding together and streaks of almost fluorescent light. I had never heard of this technique before, so it was really interesting to read more about it and see all the different results. Let us know if you give film souping a try yourself, we would love to see the final photos!
Photo by Ralph Whitehead
Film shooters collective
With a goal to 'provide film photographers with opportunity, community, and education', FSC holds group exhibitions and events, produces magazines of work, and publishes articles on their online journal. You don't have to be a member to access all the outstanding photography highlighted on their site and this is another invaluable resource for film shooters, wherever you are. I particularly enjoyed their recent project for National Poetry Month, where they posted a new photo with an accompanying poem every day.
Author: Becca Knight
For multiple reasons, including International Women's Day being this month, I wanted to focus on and celebrate women in photography for March's inspiration collection. As with many industries, there is unfortunately still a gender pay gap within the creative sector. It's obviously important to celebrate photographers for their art, not just their gender, but this month I wanted to create a space in which to champion female creative work, and hopefully inspire you all.
The Notion of Family - LaToya Ruby Mitchell
Frazier works across photography, video and performance, addressing industrialism, family and communal history, healthcare inequality, environmental justice and rustbelt revitalisation. The Notion of Family is an award winning collection that explores the wider American legacies of racism and small town economic decline, through the lens of her hometown, Braddock. Frazier frames the book through three generations of her own family, in an exploration of a crisis that is both personal and wide reaching. You can read more about her work here.
Article on Walking Distance
After moving to London from New Zealand, Sarah Burton Fielding explored her new neighbourhood through her camera lens, walking and photographing the residents, buildings and little quirks of Hackney. This is a really insightful article about the process of constructing Walking Distance, a love letter to the city. You can view the full collection on her website.
Nan and Brian in Bed, New York City. 1983. Silver dye bleach print, printed 2006, 15 1/2 × 23 3/16". The Museum of Modern Art, New York.
The photographic great for this month is Nan Goldin, known for her work capturing 80s New York - an unflinching, honest portrayal of a life of partying, drag queens, hedonism and destruction. Documenting the post-Stonewall era, she focused her lens on family and friends within the LGBTQ community and the HIV crisis. Her work is bold, diaristic and empowering and Goldin's photographic legacy is still being seen today. This is a really great article if you want to know more about Goldin and her work.
Photo by Lauren Tepfer
Colour in photography
This Phototalk interview is with photographer and director Lauren Tepfer, who has worked with brands including Apple, Converse and Google. Although she doesn't shoot on film, this is a really interesting discussion on the use of colour in her work, how she edits in post and pulls series together - it's an invaluable resource, no matter what medium you shoot on. Focusing on Lauren's storytelling and process, I really enjoyed this introduction to her art.
Photo by Karin Majoka
Three more great Youtube channels for you to explore this month!
Karin Majoka
German based Karin's videos cover everything from guides on developing to street photography. Informative and enjoyable, I also find her voice really calming, so her content is a great watch after a long day! I love the premise and execution of her collection yoke, which you can view on her website here.
Photo by Sophia Carey
Sophia Carey
With advice, tips, and behind the scenes access to shoots, Sophia's channel is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about film or working as a photographer. She often analyses her own work, talking you through how she uses colour, poses models or sets up lighting for shoots. Sophia works as a fashion photographer so her portraits in particular are incredible, but there's always so much to pick up from her content.
Photo by @_ahzaa
Ahza
Ahza takes beautiful self portraits - a really great skill to practice at the moment if you can't get out or shoot other people like usual. Her videos are short and often poetic, offering little golden windows into her film journey and how she shoots analogue photography.
She Shoots Film
Featuring interviews, articles and photo essays, She Shoots Film aims to improve the representation, consideration and celebration of women in the field of photography. Focusing on promoting a more nuanced gaze, they also produce a print magazine. Visit the site to view some incredible work, and perhaps even submit something yourself!
Photo by Yezoi Hwang
Fast Forward
Fast Forward is a research project 'highlighting the work of women photographers and questioning the way that the established canons have been formed.' Engaging with women worldwide, it was set up following a panel discussion at Tate Modern in 2014 and is based at the University of Creative Arts. Alongside the research work, Fast Forward has an extensive gallery, hundreds of articles, podcasts and videos, as well as an opportunities section specifically for promoting awards and submissions.
Lizzie Hadfield
Blogger, podcast host, Youtuber and all round creative Lizzie Hadfield produces beautiful content and I love scrolling through her Instagram for inspiration. Lizzie really has a knack for finding the hidden beauty in everyday moments. Here she is talking about her film journey and camera collection.
Author : Becca Knight
]]>It is critical as a photographer to build up sources of inspiration for your work, to break out of the bubble that is you and your camera and look to others, to see how they can guide and shape your own approach. We've curated some monthly inspiration from all over to help you immerse yourself in film photography. Even if you can't get out to shoot, there are thousands of resources online with ways to improve your practice, often without even touching a camera. Remember, inspiration is everywhere, and you can look outside of photography to wider art, design and cultural pieces to help you create.
Photograph by Tyler Mitchell, taken from I Can Make You Feel Good, published by Prestel
I Can Make You Feel Good - Tyler Mitchell
This photobook is Mitchell's vision of black utopia, featuring rich, full bleed imagery and cinematic, glowing light. Written contributions are placed alongside Michell's work in a stunning collection that I have been wanting to get my hands on for ages.
Photobooks are one of the best ways to immerse yourself in other photographer's work. If you are struggling to get hold of a physical copy, flick through videos, like this one from Matt Day, are a useful resource and take you through the highlights of others' photobook collections.
Kennedy magazine
This is a personal favourite of mine - Kennedy never fails to curate unique, interesting stories and beautiful imagery. I would urge you to pick up a physical copy, but if not, you can view full issues online, as well as exploring more of their written pieces. Make sure to check out the lockdown series, these photos aren't all shot on film, but they illustrate how you can turn your everyday surroundings into something a little bit magical.
Untitled, c.1975 (Marcia Hare in Memphis Tennessee) by William Eggleston, c.1975 ©Eggleston Artistic Trust
You can always learn and take inspiration from the photography greats. This month I've been particularly drawn to the work of William Eggleston. Credited for shifting opinions about colour photography, Eggleston's work is characterised by a focus on the small, honest details of the everyday. This approach is critically relevant at the moment, when so many of us have no choice but to make the ordinary our subject matter. This video from the Tate is a perfect introduction to his work.
Photo by @kyle_mcdougall
Composition tips and tricks
Sitting down to talk through different techniques used in his own shots, this video from Kyle McDougall is a masterclass in composition and finding balance in your photographs. McDougall has some truly beautiful work, and the video is a thorough explanation of how he frames and captures his desired scene. Looking back through your past work and thinking about what worked and why, as well as how it could have been improved is one of the best ways to learn and grow as a photographer.
Photo by George Muncey
Youtube is probably my favourite resource for learning about analogue photography. There seems to be an endless stream of incredible film focused channels, from all across the world, that allow you to live vicariously through their lens. Here are two of my most viewed channels for this month.
Negative Feedback
This is the place to go for critical, thoughtful videos. George is constantly evaluating his practice and pushing the art form. The channel features interviews, vlogs, reviews and lots more, all clearly produced with incredible care and effort.
Photo by @ejatushaw
Ejatu Shaw
Ejatu's channel is a recent favourite of mine. She mixes photography tips and advice on working as a photographer with fun and down to earth 35mm vlogs. Her portrait work in particular is stunning, so her videos are a great place to find inspiration and discover new techniques.
Monokai - A trip through Japan
I return to this site time and time again. It has a shifting, interactive scroll setting, alongside beautiful photography and layout design. A truly unique source of inspiration, visiting the page is also the perfect way to feel you have explored Japan, without even leaving the house.
Photo by Vanessa Marian
Urth 12 Frames
Urth sent each photographer featured in this series a roll of film, picking 12 frames from each finished roll to show how creatives from across the world photograph their day-to-day lives. If you need some inspiration for shoot ideas of your own, this is a great way to focus - which 12 frames would you choose?
Author : Becca Knight
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