My Photography Influences - Who Inspires and Motivate Me

About a year ago I took a course called the Artist's Way. The course was modified for photographers and the participants were all photographers. The course opened many joyful and painful doors me and helped achieve a goal I had as well as helped establish some great creative growth habits which I still employ to this day. In the end it, while it helped me grow and overcome some of my own personal road blocks, but it didn't appear to have a lot of influence on my work. if I had to do it over again would I? Yes I would. I would take it for the first again in heart beat. Would I recommend it to someone else? Yes I would, with the advice, "If you are wanting to overcome your creative bad habits, this course is for you."

Even before I took the course there were several guys I worked with regularly and continue to do so today. These guys always were and remain my greatest creative influences. We all shoot different things for the most part. While my primary focus is fine art photography, two of them primarily shoot sports and portraits. The other two are focused more on portraits and weddings and into a fine art realm. I thought that I would share a little about each of these characters I call artists, collaborators and least of all, friends.
I can't start this list off without first touching base on the person who really encouraged me to pursue photography. The person who really sparked my photography lifestyle was a good friend named Shawn Soderstrom.

Sadly Shawn and I don't see each other nearly as often as I would like to as our paths in life took two different directions. I greatly admire and respect him for the person he is and look forward to the day our paths can cross more frequently. He was one of the biggest encouraging influences I had when I first started experimenting with my camera. He even loaned me his spare DSLR for six months, until I bought my own. 

I cannot say how much his influence is represented in much of my work, even today. Thank you Shawn for the friendship. I miss you my friend and hope to start shooting with you more frequently... soon.

I will start with Chris Sabato, simply because I have only one photo of him. He isn't in front of the camera nearly as often as he is behind it.

Chris is an accomplished sports photographer who also plays a little in the portrait arena. He is energetic, geeky (in a good way), and always fun to have on the scene. Chris has a habit of standing over another photographer's shoulder using a 300mm or 400mm lens, shooting the scene. We have termed this "Sabatomized", as in, "Looks like Nathan is being Sabatomized." I haven't been able to collaborate with Chris for a few months, but he is always active. Check out his work on his website. The influence Chris brings is his eye for detail and seeing things that many others do not. Chris is a wonderful storyteller with his photography, hence one of his photos winning the People's Choice Award in 2010 at the Salon of Photography showing. 

Next up is Michael Conkey.

Michael is, if nothing else, a character. But is still so much more. Michael's passion is sports photography, and also does some portrait work as well. If you ever have a question about beer, Michael can likely answer it. I would say that he is a beer enthusiast, but that would be like calling Rusty Wallace a driving enthusiast  Recently he started letting his beard grow out, hence the shots above, and we have been having some fun with it, the beard that is. Michael really influences me in his willingness to do just about anything for the sake of fun and creating artful images.

Chris David, what can be said about him that hasn't already been said? He is an amazing family man, dedicated father and husband. Oh and he has something like 25 kids, actually I think it's really 8, but I can never keep count because they never stop moving.

As a result of his family oriented nature his passion is for photographing families with a little leaning into sports as he shoots Roller Derby for the local league which his wife is a roller in. Chris's influence on me is his meticulous nature when he is creating. From making sure the scene is dead on to making his lighting is right where he wants it, Chris nails the details and that inspires me.

Chris is also very personable, something I lacked just a few years ago. He is a behavioral expect of some sort, but has taught me so much on how to interact with people that I have just met. He is also quite comfortable in his own skin, and that rubs off quickly on others. Check out his work on his site, linked above.

Nathan Smith is a portrait photographer, with a strong lean into fine art.

Nathan is a creative genius that brings a ton of energy to everything he does. Nathan has some fantastic creative bursts that he shares with everyone and loves to see others succeed. He is also geek, but Mac geek, although we don't hold that against him. Nathan has influenced me in many ways, primarily in his get out and shoot it attitude. He also shares his creative exuberance and deep technical knowledge so freely with just about anyone who asks. The way his creative mind works enthralls me and keeps me thinking on my toes both on and off the set. Check out is work on his site, linked above.

Last but not least, is my wife, no photo included. She is the creative ground to my artistic side. She gives me simple but honest feedback on my work. She keeps me honest in my own work and encourages me to pursue my dreams. She is my life and love and I can't say anything more than that. No photos, because if she ever did look at this site, she would kill me, the only thing she hates more than her photo taken is to have shared.

I want to close this by saying thank you to all of them for everything they do, day in and day out. And while some of us may go months without working together or even seeing each other, when we do get together, it feels like no time has passed at all. Thank you guys. I value your friendships and your passions. I am grateful to have been given the opportunity to get to know each of you.