Hiroshi Sugimoto – Casa Batillo II – Gaudi, 1998

Sugimoto’s main influence was surrealism and Dada (which was a movement characterized by the rejection of old forms of artmaking in favour of an anti-art that asserts art’s irrelevance and explores new forms of creation).  I really like the surreal feeling Sugimoto has creating with his photographs. When I am out taking my photographs I will experiment with different ways to create this look. I will try and take photos out of focus and use glass or other objects in front of the lens.

Miyako Ishiuchi – Yokosuka Story (1), 1977

Ishiuchi documented post war streets and buildings which later turned into a big American naval base. Capturing not only traces of the occupation which lingered decades after the war, but also charging her work subjectively which blended personal and political awareness. I like the way she uses light to create atmosphere in her photos and I like her candid shots and how they have a surreal feel to them.

Daido Moriyama – Gambling in the Dressing Room, Tokyo 1966

Daido Moriyama’s work shows the darker sides of urban life and the city. He has had a radical impact on the photographic and art world in both Japan and in the West though his expressive style of rough, blurred and out of focus photography. He has also made an impact because of his quick snapshots without looking in the viewfinder. I like his technique of the out of focus and quick shot photography and will experiment with a couple of these shots in my own work.

Shomei Tomatsu – Americanization, Zushi 1964

Shomei Tomatsu is known as the most influential Japanese post war photographer. Tomatsu looked at the situation of his day with a sharp eye, while also opening up new possibilities for photographic expression. I like how he captures real life people and places. Like the other photographers I have researched, Tomatsu shows emotion and realness through his photography

Yutaka Takanashi – Tokyo-jin 1974, printed 2012

His photography career started in the 1950’s and he was mainly worked on commercial photography. Another common theme he liked photographing was cities. I like the richness of Yutaka Takanashi’s photographs and how each photo tell a different story about different people.

I would like to use some of his techniques in my own work to try and portray personalities of my subjects.

Rinko Kawauchi – The River Embraced Me

I like how Rinko Kawauchi photographs in a dreamy, surreal way. She uses a really soft colour pallet and gives her photos a lomography feel. I like how they have a hallucinogenic feel, almost as if you are in a dream state when looking at them.

For some of my experiments I will try and incorporate some of her techniques and style to create the same dream state and surreal imagery.

Kusakabe Kimbei – Playing Samisen, Tsudzumi, Fuye and Taiko – Dated between 1870s – 1890s

Kusakabe Kimbei is one of the most accomplished Japanese photographers. I like how at the time colour photographs weren’t really a thing. He established himself by working with Felice Beato and Baron Raimund von Stillfried as an assistant photographer colourist. I like how he emphasises the colours of the garments, showing the richness of the materials.

Gregory Crewdson – Untitled (Girl in Window) from Twilight, 1999

Gregory Crewdson is one of my most favourite photographers. The amount of time and preparation that he puts into his set is unbelievable. To create one of his photographs he usually gets a whole film set with a huge team and everything is put in its exact spot. I think the lighting he uses is incredible because it makes all of his photos have an eerie, realistic feeling to them. I would like to incorporate his amazing eye for detail in my work and his use of lighting to add more dramatic effect to my images

Douglas Kirkland – Jeanne Moreau, No Date

Similar to Annie Leibovitz, I think Douglas Kirkland’s photographs represent his models personalities and captures special and intimate moments. For example one of his most famous works was with Marilyn Monroe. He shot his famous ‘In bed with Marilyn’ for Look Magazines 25th anniversary, a year before she died and every shot is filled with emotion and rawness. I really admire how Douglas shows such emotion through his photographs.

Annie Leibovitz – John Lennon and Yoko Ono, The Dakota, New York, December 8, 1980

In my opinion Annie Leibovitz is one of my most influential photographers. I like how each of her photographs captures such intimate moments, and makes her subjects personalities shine through. I want to include these feelings in my photography to give it more depth and meaning.