Street Photography - Inspiration, Influences or copying?

The Raw Society Co-Founder Jorge Delgado-Ureña shares his thoughts and tips about, the influence by other photographers, the red line of copying and why our photography sometimes looks like the work of people that we admire.
With examples of his own photos and another great masters.
Photo credits in order of appearance:
Jorge Delgado-Ureña
Alex Webb
David Alan Harvey
Charles Harbutt
Gilles Peress
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To learn more visit www.therawsociety.org/
Instagram: / the_raw_society
Instagram: / jorgedelgadophoto

[@Daniel_Ilyich]

I really, really liked the image by Harbutt. It’s more sparse and less chaotic than a lot of Webb’s work, but it’s still charged with a lot of emotional energy and the emotion is communicated more clearly because there are less elements.

[@pamelasmith8652]

Great video. As photographers we shoot what's in front of the lens. We don't think ( Most of us ) this looks like a Alex Web photo or any other great photographer. We are reacting to the moment. There have been millions of photographs taken, some will look like other photographers work, so be it. Take the the shot. It is your photo. JT

[@stevetaylor3706]

This has absolutely happened to me. In 2011 I went to Myanmar on a workshop with Steve McCurry and learned so much from him. When I cam back I did a portfolio review at a big photography festival in Toronto and was so disappointed when the instructors started to tell me it reminded them of Steve McCurry. I felt somehow like it was a failure. But when I started to study Henri Cartier-Bresson - who Steve had told me was a major influence of his - I could see the influence it had on Steve over and over again. So this video really resonates with me and is a great reminder to all not to be discouraged when the art of you heroes finds it's way into your work...it simply means you are on the right path. As Issac Newton said: "If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."

[@thecandidframe]

Great insight. There is a moment when the individual image can only give you so much in terms of voice. It's only when consider multiple images in relationship to each other and what they say as a whole in terms of story or feel that it becomes next level.

[@buggejohnsen]

Lot's of good points Jorge! This channel is a real gem! Spent 20 minutes just looking at the photo of those kids playing on and around the fence. Great composition, depth and colors!

[@ruimiguelcunha4355]

Hi Jorge … hope you’re fine!!!! Great channel by the way… I think that kind of comments are all criticisms, sometimes in good ways others in bad ways … in this particular case, I think it’s a positive, and a constructive comment.

[@AlexOnStreets]

I loved your analysis hermano. In my opinion, we all copy consciously and unconsciously. It's indeed difficult to draw the line when something becomes truely original. I would say definitely creating a body of work in a consistent visual style will help draw the difference between you and others.

[@sevsuk2011]

I don’t and wouldn’t take the ‘your photo reminds me of Alex webb’ as a criticism. Your image is beautiful and technically perfect with you filling the frame and the corners. I would take it as a compliment. I love your content, your narrative is soothing and on point.

[@movedmindpoRUSZonyUMYS]

Inspiration is necessary for artists. It's the enginge sustaining personal and orginal projects. Very well explained.

[@jesusandrestravieso]

Well, as you said during last workshop in Cuba, it's very easy to fall into cliches not just by photographing the obvious tourist kind of stuff but also when, for instance, we learn to use silhouettes to create deep, and then it becomes easier and easier and we go out just trying to get the easy solution; that's pretty much worse than to have pictures that look like master's pictures. I agree that there are limited ways to solve particular situations and in our research and performances we end up making similar things to our referents and masters, that's completely natural and necessary in the process of finding our own voice that will be recognized before for our viewers than ourselves

[@foreigndaruma9825]

Often this kind of association to another artist is more in the eye of the beholder, meaning that the observer needs to somehow fit your work into a box, a category that tells them how to relate to the work/picture. I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing, but definitely easy to fall into, as opposed to engaging with the work on an subjective level: what emotions the picture evokes, what personal first-hand memories it pulls to the surface, what current events it connects to in your mind etc.

[@thegroove2000]

I have noticed the photos look like they were done in a studio in controlled conditions. Very clever technical work.

[@lxhk3595]

I would be rather honored to be compared with such masters. But i still wait for it to happen. 😂 Honestly, i am on a very satisfying journey to find my own style and i feel i made some progress in the past 3 years, also by finding inspiration in all kinds of arts, not only photography but also painting for example.

[@suehodnett6911]

I guess there's a difference between work being a pastiche and making it your own. I'm quite sure there have been few artists acting without influence, as Picasso once said 'good artists copy, great artists steal'

[@carlosmcse]

Sometimes we think our pictures are better than they actually are.

[@richardlopez46]

Great video and topic. I am an amateur photographer and I definitely learn from looking at other photographers work and even videos like this. I have actually tried to recreate pictures that I have seen other photographers do. I guess you could say that I tried to copy them, but the photos never come out the same, and in the process I have learned something in my endeavor to develop my skills and discover my own style as a photographer. And I think that's a good thing if you're using it as a learning tool.

[@adriantan1983]

Thank you for this video, 1st of all.

[@vitaflumenfotografia-porsa4615]

Interesante reflexión. Lo que más me ha resonado es la parte donde dices qaue hay que hacer de nuestros proyectos algo personal porque ahí radica la diferencia entre nuestro trabajo y el de los demás. Gracias.

[@aboutphotography]

Great video!

[@KeithHodgkinson]

Deep video, very enjoyable, cheers.