My Influences - Imogen Cunningham
“Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.”
MAGNOLIA BLOSSOM, 1925/Imogen Cunningham
Sometimes it is hard to place where or when you learn about an artist. I can’t quite remember where I learned about Imogen Cunningham only because I took A LOT of art history while in school. I learned about her in either my photography art history class or my women’s art history, but it is very likely I learned about her in both classes. I know for sure, though, that I learned about her again in my photography art history class in graduate school and this is where she made the biggest impact on me and on my work.
Anyhow, all of that said, I have loved her work for, well, forever! Imogen Cunningham photographed flowers, nudes, still lifes, and self-portraits. She was part of a photography group f.64, with many famous names that I just ohhhhhhed and ahhhhhed over wishing I could have been there to learn from them. which was a progressive group that was pursuing sharp focused images.
I have been inspired by her work with the subject matter of her work, as I have photographed many of the same subjects throughout my photography career, but most certainly her floral work. I love the way that light falls on her sharp focused images and how, even though her work is in black and white, you can almost visualize the colors of the flowers. Her work inspired me to take a look at flowers close-up, but in my own way, discovering my own photographic voice.
Is there an artist, or someone who works your the field that you are in, that inspires you? How did that person influence your work? I love when you find someone or something that inspires you to find your own ideas!
