My photography idol
Added 2021-04-20 10:10:40 +0000 UTCMany years ago here in Australia a new magazine hit the stands and caused quite a stir. It was called Not Only Black & White and it celebrated nude photography and even more surprisingly, male nude photography just as much as female. It regularly had Australian celebrities photographed nude and one of the photographers that routinely photographed those celebrities was James Houston.
I hadn't really gone back and looked at James' work in a while until about a year ago when I found his Youtube Channel and watched some of his behind the scenes videos. That was when I realised just how strongly he influenced my work. I am inspired by the work of several big name photographers but James outshines them all to me, even more so than the big names like Bruce Weber and Herb Ritts.
When I had my first exhibition, Shrouded in 2011 a friend bought one of the prints and it hangs in his home next to one of James' prints and it turns out that he is friends with James as well. James went on to make a name for himself in beauty and fashion photography in New York but before he left I sent him a letter (in the days before email) through Not Only Black & White magazine and asked if I could assist him. He wasn't in need of any more assistants but the only way I know that is because he took the time to personally call me and thank me for the letter and give me some tips. A beautiful kind gesture that I will forever be grateful for.
They say not to meet your heroes but I have spoken to my photography hero on the phone and I know I would love to meet him face to face.
