Today I thought that I'd talk about a photographer who has really inspired me since I first discovered his work. I've mentioned that I love old movies, right? His name is George Hurrell, otherwise known and Hollywood Hurrell. He was a photographer during the hay day of old Hollywood. He worked with some of the big studios and pretty much any old movie star you can think of. I can't even say how much I love his work. So my senior year in lighting class when we had to choose two lighting styles/photographers and focus on learning how they lit their pictures and spend the semester trying to figure how they did it. My first pick was Hurrell. He used all hot lights. They are very different than our modern day strobes. Our school had a bunch of them so I was good to go, but they are old and big and HOT. And by hot I mean your model is sweating after like two minutes of being in front of them and you have to use huge thick gloves to move them. But the quality of light is amazing. Here is a website with a few of his photographs:
Here are a few of my photographs based on his work from my class( my model was my very pretty friend from high school):
I love looking at past photographers and trying to figure out what they did and then find ways to make it your own. It's like with anything else. You learn the rules and THEN you find ways to break them and make them work in your own eyes. Any one have a photographer that they love? Modern or not?
I read your blog often, but have never commented...But I have to mention my favorite photographer of all time. http://helenarutan.com or http://helenarutan.typepad.com Ok, ok, she's my sister-in-law and best friend, so I may be biased, but she did win Gold in the B&W Special Issue for portraiture this year. The story behind why she became a photographer is very personal and still makes me cry just thinking of the reason. Because it's so personal to her and our family, I won't braodcast it here on the WWW, but it is truly inspiring. As is her work, as is her life. She's amazing...
Chrissy
Posted by: chrissy amport | February 22, 2007 at 11:51 PM
Oh, and I meant to say, your pictures are IN-CREDIBLE! So retro and Marilyn Monroe-ish. Awesome, soft, yet crisp, just beautiful.
Chrissy
Posted by: chrissy amport | February 22, 2007 at 11:53 PM
WOW! those pics are just amazing! you are incredibly talented.
i am totally in love with Dorothea Lange and Henri Cartier-Bresson. two photographers who captured life...good, bad, and down and out. they totally inspire me. :)
Kim
Posted by: Kim Cherry | February 23, 2007 at 09:52 AM
hey girl! i LOVE these photos!!!! :)
my favorite photographer right now is david lachapelle. I love him because his work has SO much personality and style and SO much color. It is almost too much... but he pulls it off and i love people like that :)
have a great day. i love you! e
Posted by: elsie | February 23, 2007 at 10:29 AM
These are beautiful photos you took! I love them! Great work!
Posted by: Ashley Schultz | February 23, 2007 at 08:53 PM
I like Anne Geddes. I think her creativity is amazing! I would have loved it if she could have photographed of my babies!
Posted by: JENNIFER Haywood | February 24, 2007 at 05:33 PM
boutwellstudio.com and theimageisfound.com ... I need to be able to see like they see. ...
Posted by: amy | February 24, 2007 at 09:35 PM
hey, I'm a friend of Steph's and occasionally check your blog as well....anyway, I really liked Alfred Stieglitz when I took a photography class in college. I love your pictures too, they are very professional and just beautiful!
Posted by: lisa h. | February 26, 2007 at 10:01 AM