Inspiration…

Thomas Hawk

What inspires you? 

Thomas Hawk is not your average gifted photographer.  He envisions his art as an “obsessive compulsive view on photography”.  He describes himself as a “photography factory”.  His goal is to reach one million photographs in his lifetime. Yes, you do the math!  At his actual rate (he currently uploads more than 50 pictures a day) it would take him 50 years to reach his goal. 

Anyone taking pictures out there may be baffled by Hawk’s goal. I certainly am.  This is no easy task!  I don’t even think I can look at all 50.000+ pictures he already has on Flickr.  I’ve been haunted by his images, he has an incredible eye to abstract reality, an amazing sensibility for patterns.  Not only his images are riveting but his titles are for the most part fun and creative.   

We have similar age so I hope to be around when he achieves the milestone.  What inspires me the most, beyond his images and titles, is his conviction and self-knowledge.  Understanding his compulsion and using it as a driving force for his art. That is inspiration!