Decades ago, when I was in high school (1970s), our creative writing teacher handed out a book of photographs. They were from the 1940s though 1950s, and mainly children/teens, no captions other than photographer, location, and date. We used that book for 'inspiration', choosing a different photo each week to write a story about. It was a great resource, because the settings and facial expressions opened up so many ideas. Well, now it's been 40-odd years and I still wish I had that book! Next to impossible to find the exact book now, I realize, but I'm hoping someone here has seen a book (or books) which have a similar 'subject matter'. I get a lot of ideas from just people-watching, but it would so nice to have something at home that I could study and think about.
It didn't happen to be The Americans by Robert Frank, did it? The pictures aren't all of children/teens but still they're very inspiring! http://www.google.com.au/search?q=the+americans+robert+frank&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=qEU&rls=org.mozilla:en-GBfficial&prmd=imvnsbo&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=0XXcTuTcDdCViQfIxPXVDQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CA8Q_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=610
No, it wasn't that one (mine included a lot of European settings also) but that definitely looks like a book that would work as well. Putting it on my Xmas list!
just browse through the photography section of your local library or bookstore... or do an amazon search... you'll find plenty!
Yeah, there it's either feast or famine. My local library (no local bookstore) has nothing except how-to books for photography (and very few of those) - and the nearest big library/bookstore is like amazon - tons to search through! But will keep working through them.