Why look back when the world is rushing forward? Because the past often sees more clearly than the present. The masters of photography may be gone, but their images remain alive and they still have lessons for us. But here’s the danger: admiration can easily turn into worship. And when you worship another photographer, you stop being yourself.

At some point, every photographer discovers the “masters”, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Josef Koudelka, Richard Avedon, Diane Arbus, and the rest. Their work inspires us, challenges us, and often overwhelms us. But here’s the danger: admiration can easily turn into worship. And when you worship another photographer, you stop being yourself.