Amber's thread about our favorite shot that we have all taken got me thinking about one of my favorites taken by someone else. I wish I could link directly to it, but I can't because of how he has it set up - but William Neill (http://www.williamneill.com/homepage.html)'s Dawn, Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Click on his name to get to the site, then from the homepage search for that image. Hold the mouse over the shot and you'll see a larger version. Take a moment to do it - it's a great shot.

I first saw it in his book and the story with it goes that he was waiting for a sunrise that never came, but since his camera was all set up he shot it anyway - not hoping for much. This has been one of his most popular shots and at this point the last few available (limited edition) are very expensive. So - never hurts to try a shot even if you don't see the conditions you want. It might turn out even better than you imagine!

Now it's your turn - any one shot that has been particularly inspiring?

(Puts on moderator's hat) As always, please don't post anyone else's work here without their permission - just a link to their work. Thanks!

Good idea for a thread :thumbsup: That shot by William Neill is beautiful. I'll have to remember to always bring extra film to "try things out."

It's REALLY hard for me to pick a favorite. Most of Ansel's work could fall into the category for me. One of my favorite modern photographers is John Brady. Again, hard to pick a favorite shot of his but, "lake istokpoga #15, south florida" (http://www.timeandlight.com/cart/lrg.php?n=93&c=17&i=1&p=0&q=14&cid=7&z=lake+istokpoga+%2315&cp=LIMITED&stat=0&cit=) is one of my favorites.

Some of my favorite photographer's work can be seen HERE (http://gallery.photographyreview.com/)!
Brian

Good idea for a thread Steve. I found the the William Neill image you are talking about. Very nice. I'm a big fan of Neill's and love to read his column in Outdoor Photographer.

One of the first photgraphers that really made me take note of his work is Michael Fatali. His images of Zion and the desert southwest really inspired me. His image called Burning Bush was the first photographic piece of art I ever bought. It was only a 4 color poster reprint of the image, but it's still hanging on my wall today.

http://www.fatali.com/giftstore/posters/details.php?pid=1

A couple years ago, my wife bought me a 6 pack of poster prints from him, and most of them are displayed throughout the house. I still love his work, but I lost a lot of respect for him when I found out that he lit a fire at the base of Delicate Arch in Arches NP, in an effort to create some smoke for the image he was trying to make. The park service wasn't very impressed either. Slowly, his posters are coming off of our walls, and being replaced by my own photos.

I'm also a huge fan of Thomas Mangelsen's (http://www.mangelsen.com/) work.

There's an Ansel Adams shot that really made an impression on me years before I got serious about photography. I found it in a cheap paper back book that belonged to a friend, and I've never seen it anywhere else even though I continue to look for it. It didn't even have a name in the book, just a description that said something like "Near the Merced River, Yosemite NP." It was a picture of a tree trunk will all kinds of texture in the surrounding vegetation and rocks. It really struck me that such a great image could have such a mundane subject, unlike many of his other images of grand mountain views. I have a scan of that book page, but I guess I'm not allowed to post it?

Lately, I've been enjoying Robert Glenn Ketchum's work. My mother bought one of his books for me after hearing him speak at an art teacher's seminar in Dallas, and then a few months later I bumped into him completely at random, talking about his exhibit in a small Texas hill country town. I was shocked to find him there. His prints were absolutely amazing. His website won't let me link to a single shot, but I couldn't pick just one anyway. http://www.robertglennketchum.com/

Paul

I use this as my desktop on my lap top. It was a great ride that day!
http://www.bbtc.org/img/upload/img10423.jpg
Jimmy B

I bumped into him completely at random, talking about his exhibit in a small Texas hill country town.

Which one? Hill Country fan here... I actually bumped into David Hume Kennerly about four years ago in Houston. I had two days in town and wanted to see the Center for Photography (something like that). I got there, all the lights were on and people were walking around but the doors were locked. Had no idea they were having a gallery opening of his in two hours so obviously I went back later. While waiting to have him sign something, I heard a lot of cool stories as he was talking to other people. He's known for photographing US Presidents and I remember him talking about how several President's signatures changed a bit over time - shape of the letters, etc. More interesting how he described it... I gave him my card - what a dork! :)

Good idea, Steve. I used to print Cibachromes for William Neil, way back. I printed the "Half Dome with Elm" image lots of times. It was a hard one to print in the darkroom. You would never know how much darkroom work goes into a print like that. You don't just throw down the paper and turn on the timer :)

Which one? Hill Country fan here... I actually bumped into David Hume Kennerly about four years ago in Houston. I had two days in town and wanted to see the Center for Photography (something like that). I got there, all the lights were on and people were walking around but the doors were locked. Had no idea they were having a gallery opening of his in two hours so obviously I went back later. While waiting to have him sign something, I heard a lot of cool stories as he was talking to other people. He's known for photographing US Presidents and I remember him talking about how several President's signatures changed a bit over time - shape of the letters, etc. More interesting how he described it... I gave him my card - what a dork! :)

The gallery is called Photography 414 and it's in Fredericksburg. It's a touristy little town surrounded by wineries. I walked into the gallery dressed like a bum and found myself right in the middle of a bunch of dressed-up people sipping wine and listening to Robert talk about his photos and his environmental concerns. It was very interesting for me and very uncomfortable for my girlfriend, so we only stayed about 20 minutes.

gallery link, if you're interested: http://www.photography414.com/home.cfm

(No I'm not being a brown noser)

But this one is one of my favs. A sweet MTB photo (http://forums.photographyreview.com/showthread.php?t=15693)

TI walked into the gallery dressed like a bum and found myself right in the middle of a bunch of dressed-up people sipping wine...


Been there. A friend and I walked into Thomas Mangelsen's gallery in Galena Ill a couple years ago when he was there. I know exactly what you mean about the "dressed-up people sipping wine." I felt a little out of place in my jeans and sweatshirt.

Looks like a movie set or something. I don't trust it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattisj/2071096890/

I just love the colors and to have that sky available at a moment in time and be there to capture it is what makes the photo unique.

I felt a little out of place in my jeans and sweatshirt.

That's me on a good day! :D

Fredricksburg - remember it, touristy but still pretty well done. Didn't stay there but walked around town for a few minutes (about all it took...). Isn't the big flower place there?

John, I guess it's a small world. I've kind of "rediscovered" his work with my latest bout of large format obsession.

...
I'm also a huge fan of Thomas Mangelsen's (http://www.mangelsen.com/) work.

I concur. Fully engulfed in the rat race of corporate traveling in the 90's, I happened to come across Mr. Mangelsen's gallery in Denver International Airport just when life seemed most dull and gray. At that time, I had virtually given up all hobbies and seeing his works sparked colors of inspiration in me. Standing nose close to 22" x 68" landscapes and seeing the level of detail in them was incredible.

I came away with a renewed passion and a catalog of his works which I still have for inpiration and as a reminder that life can be as colorful as one makes it.

Some sample images from Mr. Mangelsen:

Polar Bear (http://www.mangelsen.com/store/Limited_Editions___Polar_Bears___Lazy_Boys___2755? Args=)

Brown Bear (http://www.mangelsen.com/store/Limited_Editions___Bears___Catch_of_the_Day___1698 ?Args=)

Great thread! I dont know if many of you go on deviantart.com but I'd have to say that this guy Blepharopsis (http://blepharopsis.deviantart.com/) is absolutely amazing! I have been "watching" him for a little while on DA and I've not seen anything by him I dont like! But I especially love his tree frog photos!

Amber

Great thread! I dont know if many of you go on deviantart.com but I'd have to say that this guy Blepharopsis (http://blepharopsis.deviantart.com/) is absolutely amazing! I have been "watching" him for a little while on DA and I've not seen anything by him I dont like! But I especially love his tree frog photos!

Amber

That guy has some awesome macros and I like his sense of humor.

Paul

I'm not much of a "favorites" person. There's too much wonderful variety in the world to choose just one of anything. But here are a couple of references that really please me. First of all, I love Charlie Cramer's work. I used to print for him and he's got a really subtle eye and he's also one of the nicest guys to work with. I could pretty much pick anything he's ever done, but I'll just refer you to this one. But please look around his site. In my opinion, he's one of the best living landscape photographers: http://www.charlescramer.com/pages/y510.html

The second photos impress me because the subject is so mundane - the Golden Gate Bridge. Sure, it's a powerful and beautiful subject. But when I worked at a lab I saw so many photos of it that I sort of became immune to it. A photographer has to work really hard and have a very creative approach to take a good photo of the Golden Gate Bridge now. And this has done it - over and over and over. His photos of the Bridge blow me away. I'll just point you to one. But like Charlie's work, I encourage you to look at this guy's other photos. They're all wonderful: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vonvonvon/295005128/in/set-72057594139413208/

....he's got a really subtle eye...

I see what you're saying. This guy is awesome. I'd love to see a huge print of this one:
http://www.charlescramer.com/pages/e124.html

Paul

I love this image:
http://membres.lycos.fr/photogram/molinier/mol6.jpg

Here is someone I like http://www.soulcatcherstudio.com/artists/seaman.html
This is a great studio, it has history and it also has some good information.