I would have to say that the one of the biggest thing that inspires me to be a better photographer is a scene from the movie "Walk the Line." It is the scene when Johnny Cash and his band are attempting to get Sam Phillips to give them a record deal. Sam was not at all impress with what they where playing and said this,
"If you was hit by a truck and you was lying out there in that gutter dying, and you had time to sing *one* song. Huh? One song that people would remember before you're dirt. One song that would let God know how you felt about your time here on Earth. One song that would sum you up. You tellin' me that's the song you'd sing? That same Jimmy Davis tune we hear on the radio all day, about your peace within, and how it's real, and how you're gonna shout it? Or... would you sing somethin' different. Somethin' real. Somethin' *you* felt. Cause I'm telling you right now, that's the kind of song people want to hear. That's the kind of song that truly saves people. It ain't got nothin to do with believin' in God, Mr. Cash. It has to do with believin' in yourself.”
To paraphrase what Sam was saying here, if it could take just one photograph to express your feelings about your time here on earth, what image would you take. (Or retake) Would it reflect your inner self or would it be the same old photograph that has been done over and over again? This is something that Heather Frederick from VoxPhotographs was trying to drill into my head last year when she did my portfolio review. It was not until I saw this movie did what Heather was saying to me it sink in.
Hopefully this helps inspire you to do something different.
Thanks for visiting and happy shooting. (this is not the original but the message is still there)