Anyone else have no photographic heroes?

So, I don't have any photographic heroes. I mean, I don't have a list of photographers I look to for inspiration. There are photographers I like more than others, but I've never really found inspiration or magic in someone else's (or my own, I suppose) photos. If anything, I'm more disappointed in myself and my efforts when I look at superior work than I am inspired to do better or try harder. Is this the case for anyone else?

Kind of different, but I don't have any photographic heroes. I don't know any of the iconic photogs, nor do I know of any photos that are deemed classic. I do find inspiration from the photos posted here as well as 500px.

I don't know any photographers.. I've never studied photography in anyway, and I really hate history. I have obviously seen many many photographer's work from frequenting this forum, and occasionally I'll bookmark a particular album of a photographer, but I usually delete that bookmark after a week and perusing the album once or twice...

I don't have any. Never have. But I don't have the "fan" gene for anything, period. There are shooters I like, but none that are "hero" status. I am a fan of the art... industry... whatever you want to call it...photography itself.

I have individual images that inspire me. And I could care less who made the image. It does not matter to me if it is a lucky first timer, or the most experienced pro ever. A great shot, is a great shot. It may happen that a group of those images are made by the same photographer. But That does not cause me to like all of their work. And no photographer has stood out enough for me to notice them over their images.

This all includes "the masters" Aadams, Avadon, Annie L, you name them, none of them. In fact most of these "masters" bore me to tears with their work. And art appreciation classes may be the cause of this. Photo school turned me off of more photographers that it turned me on to.

Now that I sit and type this.... I realized, all of the photographers I hold in high regards... none of them are because of there photographic work. It is because of their dedication to help the industry grow. Hobby, Jarvis, Arias, McNally, etc...etc... and especially Dean Collins. And even a few of our own POTN shooters, All expert shooters for sure. All have gone out of there way to help the industry as a whole in some form. To me, if you are not out helping the industry grow when you can... Your just sitting back and watching it die.

I don't have any photo heroes. There are very few shots I would recognize as being by one person or another. I'm aware of a few names like Ansel Adams of course, but I couldn't pick his stuff out from a variety collection.

Pretty much the same as Mark1. No heroes but I do admire certain photos. I have made an effort to look at an evaluate/critique images I see (everything from art shots through to magazine adverts) to see if I can figure out why they work/don't work and maybe what I think the tog was aiming for.

Beyond the technique I try not to be influenced by other photographer's work. Instead I have spent time in LR trying to devise/revise my own style (specifically in regard to street shooting). In fact I am about to overhaul my web site as I have gone back and revisited/reprocessed many of my best shots as a result.

I'm frankly not aware enough of other photographers to have any heroes. There's a lot of photos I like, but nobody that I really idolize.

Aside from the photos I deal with at work, I've never looked all that closely at what makes one picture better or one photographer better, until I came to POTN.

There are photographers who I really admire, but as far as heroes are concerned? Nope.

Great topic!
I don't use any commercial names for inspiration. No true love if you do it for money.
I read a lot of books about photography.
But I"m not a looser who needs to look at someone else pictures to copy them. I have enough vision by myself.

I know "what" I like....but as to the "who"? Nope, there's no hero-worship in me, either.

Basically, no one person ever seems to do/make/say/shoot/thin​k in all way's I like/admire/respect.

*end*

Spiderman.

^ Peter Parker was one hell of a photog!

I myself don't have any specific photog heroes, but I follow the works of the more renowned photogs in my field and big names for some ideas like Chase Jarvis.

conjunctive wrote in post #14961858
So, I don't have any photographic heroes. I mean, I don't have a list of photographers I look to for inspiration. There are photographers I like more than others, but I've never really found inspiration or magic in someone else's (or my own, I suppose) photos. If anything, I'm more disappointed in myself and my efforts when I look at superior work than I am inspired to do better or try harder. Is this the case for anyone else?

I also don't have 'photographic heroes' but recently there was a piece on 60 minutes where one NYC photographer sold a photo for $4 million dollars
it was a self portrait!
must be some magic or inspiration in there

http://en.wikipedia.or​g …ost_expensive_p​hotographs

I do admire the work of many photographers both professional and amateur, quite a few of them are members here. I wouldn't use the word heroes however.