Putting aside the fact that i think of myself as some one who takes photographs as opposed to a photographer, i don't think there is a single point of inspiration.
I grew up in a artistic family, father is a graphic designer, sister is an actress. There were cameras around when i was growing up and I was never discouraged from using them.
I have had phases of taking photographs, the first being at University in the late 70's , where i spent some of the first grant cheque on an clunky Russian SLR and started taking pictures of fellow students at parties, shooting in B/W and developing them in the bathroom.
Post University, I progressed to having a Nikon EM and stopped doing the darkroom stuff, using the camera to record holidays and parties, shooting in colour. In amongst these 'happy snaps' I suppose there were some more artistic shots, but these weren't taken with any plan - it was if i saw something i took the shot and that was it.
I suppose the turning point was probably 10 years ago when i got my first digital camera - a tiny Canon Ixus.
I had a new job with Apple, and was travelling a lot, and wanted something that I could take everywhere and document what i was seeing around me.
Of course having access to a laptop and the latest and greatest in software also helped. The instant gratification of digital was a big thing for me - I am an impatient person.
I shot with a Canon 10D for a couple of years before replacing it with the Olympus 510 a couple of years ago.
Meeting Cam 5 years was also I suppose an inspiration - she started to get into photography, and encouraged/pushed me to spending a little more money on lenses than i would have normally.
The last 18 months have probably been the most intensive photographically for me - and it is no coincidence that it coincides with what was a long drawn out divorce from Apple.
I have acquired a whole bunch of legacy lenses, as well as the E-P1 and a 5D Mk2 - I have discovered the gratification of sharing photos on Flickr and forums, and looking forward, with no fixed plan, beyond a move from Paris to Ghent in Belgium, maybe I will stop being someone who takes photos and actually become a photographer