Who do you look to for black and white photography inspiration?

While in school, we had numerous different assignments where we had to research past photographers and artists to learn from their work.  During this time I fell absolutely in love with the work of photographer, Brassai.  He was a French photographer that lived from 1899 to 1984, and rose to fame with his book Paris By Night that was published in 1933.

I received this book as a Christmas gift a few years ago.  It is one of my favorite inspiring books.  I know that when he learned photography black and white images were all that was possible.  But his photography work pushed the ability to shoot details and texture to an incredible level.  He was known for his images that portrayed the nightlife in Paris during the 1930s.  He was able to meet and work with artists like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Ansel Adams. 

My favorite story that I learned about him was one that taught me about his ingenuity.  He wasn't a wealthy man in his early years and said he didn't own a pocket watch.  Cameras at the time did not have a timer, so one would have to track how long the shutter was open on the camera with a watch or hand timer.  Since he didn't have one he learned that an almost perfect shutter time for his night photography was how long it took him to smoke a cigarette.  So he would open his shutter, light up, and when he was done with his smoke he closed the shutter.  This technique netted him the perfect shutter speed to create some incredible images.

This is a series of images I shot in color, but with the knowledge that I would turn them into black and white.  I spent a few months touring a closed Steam Engine Museum and documenting it just as I saw it.  I wanted the viewer to see the images as a small piece of history and I though the early photography black and white look would help to achieve this.  My next project inspired by Brassai will be a night photography series.  

Take the time to learn from the past work of artists.  Find mentors past and present who inspire you to create and grow in your medium.  

For more information on Brassai, you can look at these links:

http://www.atgetphotography.com/The-Photographers/BRASSAI.html
https://www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/2015/12/22/larger-than-life-picassos-sculpture-through-brassais-lens/
https://www.photoion.co.uk/blog/brassai/

Or buy one of his books, they might inspire your next image.

Brassai taken by Ansel Adams