Weeping Mary

[johnastovall]

I've long held the belief that the best thing one can do to improve their pictures is study the work of other photographers.

Sitting on my desk is a book by the Texas photographer, O. Rufus Lovett, Weeping Mary. It is one of those books well worth spending hours looking at and going back to. Lovett has continued the tradition of Walker Evans by by opening to us the heart and souls of the community of Weeping Mary. You don't need to go to faraway places to take great photographs. If you have the heart and eye of a Rufus Lovett, they are just down the road.

Get it, study it, read the interview in the back on Lovett's development as a photographer and you may even weep a little when looking at it.

[saber]

I agree with what you are saying Johnastovall. The best way to improve your skills is to look at other-ones work. A lot of people first try to copy a style they like and then modify it to their own needs and favor.
Personally I read a lot of books of John Freeman. Pure the basics, Light, Portrait, Perspectives. This may give you a creative boost to try new things.
That is by far the best thing to do, always keep trying new things.

Get Inspired.

I will have a look at this book too, because I really don't see any nice things to photograph in my neighborhood any more.

Thanks for the tip!

/Frank