Regarding inspiration.
Photography, as we know it now, is far greater than anyone must have ever thought.
But putting aside technological advancements, how has the artistic meta changed since the conception of the "modern" Camera?
I'd like to talk about a few photographers I have researched since I started taking an interest in photography, why I researched them and what I learned about/from each artist.
So, I will dive straight in and start talking about iconic Photographer and Photo Journalist Arthur Fellig , possibly better known by his pseudonym, Weegee.
Fellig was an exceptionally fast worker and as is known for arriving at crime scenes very quickly and sometimes before the police even arrive. Whilst I admire his ethics and efficiency within his practice (Eg. car boot darkroom), the macabre nature of his work influenced an artistic "eye" in Fellig.
In this image by Weegee, published in Life magazine, you can see a body lying in a doorway and a photographer taking a ten foot shot. His image will be of the body from up close, with no other detailing other than floorspace, now, Weegee thought to himself at the moment that there was a lot more going on in the scene. People where hanging out of their windows to see what was happening, children and families on fire escape ladders. It was drama.
The simple act of stepping back, looking at the significance of your subject in relation to its surroundings is vital to portraying context.
I personally try and apply this method of thinking whilst looking for shots and, whilst on a night prowl, managed to capture something with that in mind.
Whilst aiming for simple night shots of architecture, I noticed the amount of negative space on the floor and, an elderly gentleman walking past. Coupled with the shutters on a nearby jewellers and the lack of people made for (what I thought was) a more dramatic image.
References;
https://www.jstor.org/
https://weegeeweegeeweegee.net/