I would say that I usually look for one strong characteristic in any photo I make, whether it be a line, texture, vanishing point, or color. I enjoy experimenting with long exposures, especially in landscape shots involving the ocean, and the ability to control the percieved mood of the resulting image by changing the length of the shot. When I am shooting something that will be in color, I look for vivid colors that will really make the final image pop out at the viewer.
My influences come from all over, not just from photography. I am a fan of simple but elegant design, and this applies to not only photography, but architecture, cars, and art. I admire Mark Rothko's paintings in that they can be so minimal, but have so much emotion and character to them, and this is something that I definitely try to carry over to my own work. The work of Louis Kahn, Mies van der Rohe, and Tadao Ando are good examples of how a similar idea of simplicity can carry over into the spaces that we inhabit. In photography, Ansel Adams is who I have probably learned the most from. His books helped introduce me to many aspects of making a fine art print, and his photos have helped illustrate how important composition and exposure are to the final image. Other influences in photography are Rolfe Horn, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Richard Avedon, and Henry Cartier Bresson
All images on this website are copyright of Dustin Michelson