Comments on: Inspiration or Copying

By: janet

janet — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 05:49:50 +0000

I truly believe that there is no such thing as being able to “copy” someones work. Just try to do it if you don’t believe me! It’s the hardest thing! Every experience includes so many variables that the experience is never the same! Oh, we can try to set it up similar but there’s always the differences that are obvious. So much can be learned by trying to copy something - Not only a small part of the experience of the original artist but the mind opening experience you find for yourself. The only copiers come from Xerox!

By: Jessica San Diego

Jessica San Diego — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:21:38 +0000

I am all for the copying! I am not a creative person so I always draw ideas from others. I don’t care if it is original; I just want it to look nice That goes for more than just pictures. I completely agree that by copying you learn the proper technique. Without those skills your work, no matter what it is, is going to be hit or miss. That is why I spend time on websites like yours; to get ideas and learn. Honestly, what do we spend most of our time in school (preschool all the way to college) doing, we spend all our childhood copying the knowledge and ideas of others until we learn and internalize them to understand and make our own. Thanks so much for sharing your ideas with others and letting us copy!

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:38:47 +0000

Happy 5yh Birthday to Uly on Friday!!
Oh, I so agree with your post today. In fact, I saw a beautiful photograph yesterday and all I want to do is try to set up something similar. I’m not thinking of copying it, but I did get so much inspiration from it. It was just such a good idea. I love looking at other people’s ideas and then coming up with something that’s my own.

By: Melinda

Melinda — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:30:42 +0000

I don’t intentionally set out to copy other’s work but I definitely draw inspiration from them. I completely agree with you that this is the way in which we learn. I would be so honored (and completely shocked) if someone were to draw inspiration from one of my photos : )

By: Gayle

Gayle — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 19:22:14 +0000

I don’t intend to ever stop looking at what other photographer’s create. I have learned SO much from looking at their images and what inspires them. When I look at other’s work, I learn composition, use of light, and posing. I am not looking to copy anything that another photographer does. I am looking for inspiration and ideas. I am looking for photographers who use light in amazing ways. I am looking to improve my use of all these things.

When I was just learning photography, I was very focused on the technical side of photography. I was learning my camera, it’s settings, how to use the settings to create what I saw. When I was learning, I did try to copy other work. I subscribed to a photography magazine and would look for ideas there that I might be able to use. One day, I saw an article with several photos using natural window light. I tried recreating these with my kids and the light in my house. I got some great photos. I am so glad I did that. I learned that I loved natural lighting. I learned that windows in my house could provide this light. I have created hundreds (actually thousands might be more realistic) of images using natural light in my house. I created some very bad photographs and some that I displayed on my walls. I LEARNED a ton. I copied once and then played with the idea creating different things.

I think to some, thinking outside the box comes very naturally, but for most of us, it takes work and practice to continually make images that are original and our own. That type of thinking generally comes once you are no longer a beginner and with a lot of practice. Every artist has other artists who inspire them and who they have learned from. I am no different. It is the best way to learn. Sorry this is so long.