Earlier this week I was invited to Lacy's family farm near Franklin, Tenn. to create some great engagement portraits of her and Jerrod. What a diverse set of locations we had to choose from. Lacy's family loves pets and they collect retired Clydesdale horses from Budweiser Beers .
Despite the heat and threatening storms, we created some great portraits of these two wonderfully romantic and fun-loving bride and groom to be. Enjoy,
Ciao,
David Wright
Earlier this week I Mollie and Jon invited me over to Mollie's West Nashville home to create some engagement portraits. Mollie's house is a 1930's cottage that Mollie & Jon have transformed into an architectural gem. It was like walking to the pages of Architectural Digest.
Mollie & Jon already had several areas picked out for the photographs and the clothing. They fell right into the perfect poses as we went along and oh can Mollie pose! She is such a natural that I cannot wait to photograph her in her wedding gown!!!
We had such a great time, love being creative and love people who are creative. The first shot below just came to me and may be my favorite as it mimics the oil painting American Gothic created in 1930 by Grant Wood (1891-1942), European trained American painter.
I'll hush so you can enjoy the photographs.
Ciao,
David Wright
Yesterday was such a touch and go day. Scheduled were the engagement portraits of Crystal and Larry whose wedding is around the corner in August. Driving over from Knoxville, they hit some major rain and when they called about 20 minutes before meeting me, the sky here was so overcast, the ground damp from the rain 15 minutes earlier, but the sun had found a hole in the clouds. So off we went to Centennial Park to visit The Parthenon. We got great shots of them around the rose garden, no roses in sight just Holly Hawks and the Parthenon, such a stunning building.
Next we drove to downtown Nashville and created some stunning images of Crystal and Larry in front of theRyman Auditorium and then to Shelby Bridge overlooking the city of Nashville on the Cumberland River and LP Field for some spectacular sunset photographs. Wow are those beautiful and Larry and Crystal were so photogenic! Great couple. Larry and Crystal, you both rock!
Ciao,
David Wright
My very good friend and colleague Beverly Parker asked me if I wanted to come to Clarksville, Tennessee and photograph her great niece as a senior portrait. I love creating different looks and locations so I was up there as quickly as I get it scheduled.
Upon arrival at Beverly's studio, we went through Grace's clothes and put together a plan for each piece and how it would work with the different locations Beverly had chosen. Once we got started, I began adding light to create the mood the clothes and locations suggested. Below are a few images from the shoot. Each location is unique and so is the lighting. We even had a choice encounter of a couple on a decked out Harley as they parked beside us. Enjoy Grace's senior portraits as I promised her they will be unlike any other senior in Clarksville!
Ciao,
David
I received a call today from fellow photographer Charlene Johnson as she was leaving Atlanta and the Southeastern PPA. She called to tell me all 4 of my entries "hung" meaning all were scored and accepted in the PPA print competition. After viewing the final scores, I am the only photographer from Tennessee who had all of their prints to be accepted with that magical score of 80 or above. SEPPA or Southeastern is probably the hardest competition in the US, why is anyone's guess, but they are tough on us. I suspect because there is so much talent in the South, particularly North Carolina and Florida - tough competition.
Needless to say I am estatic. And this means my three prints and one album are automatically accepted and marked for the Professional Photographers of America print competition in June. This also means I am now the Photographer of the Year by having all four entries accepted. This marks my 3rd time in 4 years to receive the distinguished Photographer of the Year award!
So here are my entries.
Ciao,
David Wright
Master Photographer, Certified Professional Photographer, Photographic Craftsman
"Pure Elegance"
"Almost Forgotten"
"The Old Dutchman"
album: "Love Is..."
Remember the old Hollywood films from the 1930s and 40s? Remember all that strong and dramatic lighting in those almost forgotten black and white movies that we fortunately can catch on a rare occasion at AMC and other specialized channels? My good friend and colleague Stacy of French Confection Cakes and her fiance' also adores those old classics. When she and Duff visited recently we explored the works of George Hurrell and his immortalized images of Hollywood's greatest. This is the look that Stacy and Duff wanted for their portrait.
With notes in hand, specialized "hot" lights and a video light; my friends Dave and Barbie and I met Stacy and Duff at the wonderful The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville. For the next four hours yesterday, we created some unbelievable and spectacular portraits in the old Hollywood tradition. I might add with the assistance of Barbie and Dave, this project happened. At times we needed a fourth because this type work and finesse with the lighting requires great skill, knowledge and many hands to hold lights, cords, cookies, reflectors and gobos.
I love blending this Hollywood glamor style into my wedding photography. As you will see, it is so sensual and romantic. I do hope you enjoy these very special portraits and perhaps reminisce a moment of the old Golden era of the film industry.
Ciao,
David Wright
I photographed my son Stuart last week for his senior portrait. We had a great time in downtown Nashville with the wonderful architecture this city has to offer. We also got some very nice photographs at Ellington Agriculture Center where the cherry trees are beautiful.
So sit back and enjoy!
David Wright
St. Patrick's Day is known for its festive atmosphere, lots of drinking green beer and down right partying and celebrating the Irish for the day. Well, my St. Pat's day was celebrated alright and downtown amongst all the party goers in green, even green hair, what a sight.
I spent my time walking the streets of downtown Nashville, not in a pub crawl that took place, but rather a stroll down Broadway, 4th Ave, Shelby Street Bridge and Merchants Restaurant with Ashlee and Andy as we captured their love and romance for each other. Wow, what an engagement session, so filled with passion. Our journey took us to many nooks and crannies of Nashville's less seen locations as well as the famous Printers Alley. My favorite locations were Shelby bridge at sunset and Merchants. I wish I could show you the full collection, so here is a very small sampling of the great time we had before ending at Merchants, having the traditional drink of the day, and saying our goodbyes to a wonderful couple who where so much fun to work with and photograph. Salute!
wedding I photographed on Saturday. And I am so fortunate to have been there to witness one of the most loving and touching weddings I have ever seen! Heather and Tony were married at Vine Street Christian Church in Nashville. And their love for each other was not only moving, it is an example we all can benefit from. To show their love for Christ and his teachings, they even had a foot washing for each other during the ceremony following Jesus' example when he washed his disciples' feet on the eve of passover and prior to His Crucifixion. Below is a photograph from the ceremony of the washing of the feet. Wow, that was so moving, everyone there felt God's glory and peace.
Please join me in celebrating Heather and Tony's beautiful wedding with the following images.
I have gotten so much response from the last blog on Marylee's portrait that I wanted to share with you some other recent works. These were all done over the holidays and are created as oil paintings in the Rembrandt style and some watercolors of fun things I have seen. All of it has been extremely satisfying and fun. Great subjects to learn on.
The smoke in The Man with a Pipe was a challenge, but upon recalling some 17th c. paintings of tavern scenes I have studied in books and museums, my approach became very easy.
Monument Valley in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah, may be my favorite as is the Man with the Pipe whom I photographed last summer in Clarksville, Tennessee. Note I have included 2 different interpretations of that painting, one has more texture in the scene. I really do like the window view from Normandy, France; and Hunter, Alice Hendry's son, was sitting on the lawn at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum in Nashville, when I saw him doing a pencil sketch of the tulips, another very talented person.
Enjoy,
David
