Original, Copied, or Influenced: Exploring Creativity
Last week, I posted this image on Instagram:
An artist I highly respect (Rodislav Driben) commented that the concept had been explored by another photographer years ago. He asked whether I was reinterpreting the topic or taking it in a different direction. I had no idea, but it made me think! 😉
It made me ponder the concepts of originality, copying, or being influenced by others. I didn't know the photographer in question, but as I scrolled through his Instagram account, I did come across an image that seemed familiar. Although I couldn't recall when I had seen this image, I began to question whether it had served as inspiration.
My series, "Flower with Woman," began when I had my first artistic nude session with Noa. I had a specific image in my mind, but when I tried to create it, the pose didn't quite work out. So Noa suggested another pose, and I immediately knew I liked the photo.
From that point on, I attempted to create a new "Flower with Woman" photo with almost every model I worked with. Some were successful, while others were not so great! 😁
The concept is simple: I aim to have a flower in focus in the foreground and an artistic nude in the background. I'm experimenting with focus, lighting, and poses.
Creating more and more photos for this series, I will create photos that are similar to what other’s have done before. Am I copying? Am I influenced, or am I original?
I suppose that sooner or later, photographers may stumble upon similar ideas, sometimes influenced by what they have seen before, whether consciously or unconsciously. However, there are also times when photographers deliberately choose to replicate photos they admire.
Is there a difference? I believe the distinction lies in the photographer's intention behind the image. Nevertheless, does it make the work less valuable? Not, I think, for the photographer.
Yes, there are similarities between my "Flower with Woman" series and some of Mark Arbeit's work. I don't mind that, and actually, I'm kind of proud people see the similarities. So from now on, I'll probably be influenced by his work, trying to create my own original pieces! Influence, after all, is a powerful force in the world of art. It's a testament to the universality of certain ideas and concepts that speak to the human experience.
In the end, what truly matters is not the source of inspiration but the art that emerges from it.
I would love to read your take on this, so please join me on the chat!
