As photographers, none of us is a pure species.
A photojournalist friend, Tim Janicke, uttered these profound words years ago.
Each of us is influenced by others. How we see the world, how we write, photograph, speak, even think, has been shaped by humans, past and present.
Through the years, I’ve mentioned the impact the illustrator Norman Rockwell has had on my photography career, but there have been others, such as writer John Steinbeck, Dutch painter Rembrandt and master storyteller Jesus Christ. All fashioned the way I see and share the world, and all taught me to appreciate the power of story in any form.
Rembrandt taught me to see light and gesture. Rockwell reminded me to see humor, paradox and detail. Steinbeck saw life and personality in the tiniest blades of grass and unlikely characters. Jesus showed me compassion.
Rockwell was greatly influenced by Rembrandt, who was influenced by Christ. Steinbeck was also influenced by biblical stories. I am influenced by each of them. What I choose to photograph and how I see with a camera continues to be shaped by these master storytellers. It is part of my visual DNA.
Had I not studied Rembrandt, it is unlikely I would have made this picture. But because so many of his paintings are stored in my mental library, there was a hopeful anticipation of a scene like this when I heard about this Easter service. As we know, with photography there are happy accidents, but this is not one of them. This was not a lucky snap, but the culmination of years of study and practice.
Reader Challenge
See if you can identify your photographic influences and then make a picture using, maybe even mimicking, their style or subject matter. If you discover the breathtaking landscapes of Ansel Adams stir your heart, see if you can imitate his work. Maybe take a trip to Yosemite?
Email your best image (just one, please) with caption information, including an explanation of how it affects you, to GPH@pur.coop. We may share submissions on our website and social media channels.