Inspiration

everything and anything - inspiration knows no bounds. (list below.)

how about shooting something on panoramic video? whazzat? you know qtvr images, those panoramic photos you can scroll? imagine they're made of moving images (instead of fixed ones)... here's a very cheap proof of concept: bc meikle's Inexpensive Panoramic Video Project. (For DIY technicalities, read from week 1.)
ever used a non-photorealistic camera? learn more about depth edge detection and stylized rendering using multi-flash imaging in this (fairly technical) demonstration video.
optical illusion rooms: painted (by Felice Varini), or built.
HDR (high dynamic range) photographic hyperrealism; here's a flickr group.
recently discovered, as yet unchronicled: tiny food people (some more here). they're originally from here.
visionary? madman? you decide: Boris Artzybasheff's Machinalia; you might also want to examine his Neurotica as well as this mixed bag.