My children.

Photography gives me the ability to show my kids the world as I see it through my eyes.
 

So, this is going to be slightly embarassing, but I'm putting myself out there for y'all ;)

Music: I like to listen to my Pandora Radio Station that I put together myself. It's a mish-mash from Poe to Red Hot Chili Peppers to Josh Groban to Collide to Jane Jensen. You should give it a try. You plug in your favorite music and it plays that plus other artists with the same style. I've discovered alot of new music this way. And, it's free ;) Here's my station i you're interested: http://www.pandora.com:80/?sc=sh209089041045266518
Also some interesting music:
http://www.myspace.com/teganandsara
http://www.myspace.com/collide
http://www.myspace.com/dashboardconfessional
http://www.myspace.com/solseppy

Movies: Great Expectati..)

Some artists on I admire:
http://www.myspace.com/richardscalzo
http://www.myspace.com/lithiumpicnic
http://www.myspace.com/davidlachapellestudio
http://www.myspace.com/jasminetoad
http://www.myspace.com/faceonbytamara

K, that's enough! ;)
 

My inspiration is my MOTHER. my mother is a professional photographer, but 3 years ago she got diagnosed terminally ill. I then had a desire come over me to carry on her ledgend. I love photography and I love seeing my mom so proud that what makes me happy is also her joy.
 

Zara, I got Gary More's "Wild Frontier" album back in the late 80's, it's one of fav albums of all time. He's so cool :)...
 

OMG I love the music!!
 

My answer is going to sound a little strange but bare with me and I’ll explain. Often what inspires me most is sadness. Not because I wish to hold onto sadness but for the opposite reasons.

I’ve been through quit a bit in my life and I also suffer from health problems and depression. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by that sadness. Heck even for people that are lucky enough to have never lived through abuse, health problems or depression it’s very easy to get overwhelmed by sadness these days just watching the news. So much suffering in the world, so many problems, so much pain.

Well personally I refuse to let those things be the only things I see and feel. The worse I feel the more I want to go out and take pictures of beautiful and happy things. No matter how bad or ugly the world may seem at times there is always some piece of beauty and happiness out there waiting to be found and captured…held onto.

Sadness inspires me because I wish to rebut it in every possible way. From the beauty of a flower to the innocents of a child’s smile.

I once got a fortune cookie that said, “Why are you still looking for happiness? When it has always been right there in your hands.” This is how I view my camera. As long as I have my camera in my hands happiness is right there for the taking.

~Valerie
 

Wow, Valerie - I applaud you for your courage and... I'm right there with you. :)

When I'm down my camera motivates and inspires me. It's like a life line, the reality check, the counter balance - the yin to my yang... Being out on a shoot takes my mind off of my life for a while, at the same time it is connecting me to a life worth while.

I set myself a goal a while back, to find just one beauitful thing every day to take a picture of - even if I may not have the opportunity to take the shot...
 

I get inspiration many different ways. I tend to get bored with one thing...quite easily at times...It's usually something random, be it a lone flower growing amongst the weeds, a squirrel that just POPped out of nowhere. (those pesky squirrels! always looking cute with I dont have my camera on me...but nowhere to be seen when I have one...another story for another time. lol)
My cat, my mom's dogs, My little sisters, my friends, reading others blogs, having no sleep...basically just random things, people, and places that are around me.
I do not know if this will help anyone else or not.
 

My inspiration is my aunt. She is a wonderful artist and a great mother. I look up to her in every aspect of my life. She's taught me the beauty of life through art. She's taught me how to be a better mother, wife and more importantly, a better example of how I should live my life.
 

My family and friends. I am very blessed with a great life. We love photography and love meeting people with the same interests. My work also inspires me, there is nothing I can't achieve if I put my mind to it and so can you, you just have to want it bad enough.
 

What inspires me. Photography is allways an adventure in finding the new, seeing everything around you in a new way than before, seeing more around you than before, the thrill and happiness of being in the right spot at the right time and getting a great unique shot, sharing beauty through photography with others, seeing others photography, finding that child like self again that loves to discover, find, "create"! Everything now inspires me, people and nature and earth. I see buildings in the city as not just buildings anymore, there beautiful and now you want to capture that beauty forever. Insects now have new meaning to me. If you have a phobia for spiders or bugs of anysort, try taking close up pictures of them. Youll find they dont scare you anymore or as much. Phobias....it takes your mind off the fear and puts it in creative form and puts the emotion of happiness, fun and creativity in its place. Try it. Scared of hieghts? Keep going higher and higher and take cool pictures of it for a fresh angle at anything. Youll see your fear is replace with a more positive outlook! Its powerful therapy as well! Myn was spiders. I couldnt look at them. I can now look up close with a Macro! It doesnt really bother me as much as it did. My mind is diverted from the fear and now tunnel visioned on creating a great photo of it! Other photographers inspire me alot. I would like to say, if you get a idea from another photographer, write a little description or blog with the photo to tell who your new photo style and inspiration came from. They helped you, so please give them a little credit for giving you the gift of inspiration. :D
 

My inspiration is life. Everywhere we look around us we can find beauty (in the simplest to most complex) That is an inspiration. I see the world as Gods canvas and He hasn't disappointed me so far. In every season there is diverse colors, textures, themes, etc. Also Pandora Radio Station is great, thanks Marronex Art & Photography