Exploring Memphis

A few weeks into the summer and this week I'm finally catching up on some blogging. I'm really getting to know myself more as a photographer and the reasons why I get the type of images I do and the type of images I don't, and thats a breakthrough for me. This summer my focus is to just make more meaningful images no matter the situation, just being a photographer at all times whether its a news assignment, fashion, nature, serious or not serious I just want to try and make interpretive and creative images. 

These images just come from a random call I got one day after photographing the guy above in the blue shirt, Lil Noid or Derrick Harris. He called me up and told me he was going to show me his old neighborhood he grew up in before going to jail. This is a well known area in Memphis called Binghamton. 

The set of images made in the studio is where Derrick took me after we left his neighborhood and went to where he records his music, this area of memphis is called Mitchell Heights. It was my first time going here but I really would like to go back and walk around to explore, I haven't done as much as I would like to this summer. 

Enjoy, feel free to leave a comment.

(some photos may appear not sharp viewing in the post alone, so click the image to see full resolution quality)

Syracuse, New York Part. 2

Shooting Fashion : Silas Vassar III

A few weeks back I had the opportunity catch up with my friend Silas on the University of Memphis campus after a year of being away at grad school (Ohio University). If anyone reading this follows my Instagram account they know I'm attracted to light or pockets of light, it's what most of my images include. It's just a style I love. Of course from the photojournalism side of things you hear  "this is good, but where is the moment, you need a person hear" etc... , well I'm not too hung up on that it all really just depends on the style of the person holding the camera and the individual viewer's.

We were walking around finding a place to sit and discuss some things when I happen to come across this wall of light and decided to put Silas in that environment, to see what results it would yield. I really like these simple portraits that I've captured of Silas, it was my vision, and thats why I appreciate it.

This type of photography is getting back to my first love of the art from. Setting up things and posing people, its somthing I didn't really like to do, even though I shot fashion over and over again during my time at the University of Memphis. I think now I'm starting to like this type of photography again because I know what I want, how to do it, and how I like to work. Looking to move toward more editorial portrait, lifestyle, and specific types of fashion in the future.

(photos may appear not sharp viewing in the post alone, so click the image to see full resolution quality)