michael ::: portrait

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

Location: Cleveland, Mississippi
Time: late afternoon
Tools: Nikon D700, 1 SB-900's, natural light, 85mm 1.4, 35mm 2.0

kay ann & hill ::: portrait

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

Location: Cleveland, Mississippi
Time: mid morning
Tools: Nikon D700, 2 SB-900's, natural light, 85mm 1.4, 35mm 2.0

pax & aidan ::: portrait

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

Location: KC's restaurant; Cleveland, Mississippi
Time: late afternoon - early evening
Tools: Nikon D300, 2 SB-900's, 1 SB-800, umbrella and lights, natural & ambient light, Nikkor 85mm 1.4, 35mm 2.0, Sigma 30mm 1.4

mcknight family ::: portrait

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

Location: Skene, Mississippi
Time: late afternoon -- 4;30 PM -ish
Tools: Nikon D700, 2 SB-900's, Natural light, 85mm 1.4, 35mm 2.0 -- lots of laughter and encouragement from Mom & Dad !

mary michael & martin ::: portrait

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

::: griffin :::

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

william (& mary ella) ::: portrait

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

shipp family ::: portrait

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

katy & will ::: portrait

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

ruthie & henry ::: portrait

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

chandler ::: round 4

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

More wandering around the neighborhood

After my favorite sports team, the St. Louis cardinals lost a heartbreaker tonight to the Dodgers I was really, really frustrated. I mean REALLY frustrated.

So, in an effort to calm down a bit I decided to do what I often do in similar situations -- I wandered around the Cleveland downtown looking for images. Sure enough, after a couple of hours I felt much better.

Those of you that follow me on Twitter are probably used to this by now. I do it fairly frequently I guess-- thus wandering I mean. I create the images with my iPhone and post them as I go. So if you'd like to share some of these adventures with me click the "connect" link above and follow along via Twitter. If not, that's ok too. I'll start posting these explorations here as well.

So here's a few images from tonight. I hope you like them.

~wj

















































-- Posted from my iPhone

john everette & james ::: portrait

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

contrast ::: images

My photograph above hardly does justice to the image created by Euphus "Butch" Ruth. But, I still had to share it.

Euphus is a photographer from Greenville, Mississippi that I have long admired. His is a very deliberate craft. The photographs he is exhibiting in this show were created using the wet plate -- or glass plate -- process. It is impossible to do his images justice with a digital replication. What you will see are one-of-a-kind creations. Not prints from a negative. Not prints from a digital file. You will see the plates that sat in his camera. Plates of glass that serve as his finished product.

There is an ethereal quality to these images that, for me anyway, will not let you quickly pass by. The depth of these images commands your attention, and combined with Euphus' choice of subject, they are like looking back at a Mississippi Delta from 100 years ago.

I admire the deliberateness with which Euphus works. And absolutely love the results.


Keep pushing and exploring.

~wj

contrast ::: images

Maggie Meiners -- Harvest


This may be one of my favorite images from the upcoming Contrast show. It is by Maggie Meiners from Chicago.

You can check out her blog HERE and her website HERE

This image is printed 12.5"x8.5" with a finished frame size of 22"x18".

So many wonderful imaegs coming in every day. We'd love for you to join us if you can.

http://www.wiljax.com/themeshow/contrast


Keep pushing and exploring.

~wj

contrast ::: images

We're less than two weeks away from the opening of our 'Contrast" photography show. So as it approaches, I want to share with all of you some of the images that will be on display. A bit of a tease, I guess.

The image above was created by Chris Williams, a wonderful photographer from New Orleans. He's also a pretty good buddy of mine. He'll be in Cleveland for opening night, so be sure to say hello if you see him.

This image will be approximately 24"x34" framed.

Hope to see you all at the show. You can find out more by visiting the link below:

http://www.wiljax.com/themeshow/contrast

Take care. And keep exploring the world around you.

~wj

the ludwigs ::: portrait

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

The Ludwigs drove down from the memphis area a few weeks ago for a family session. Since summer is in full force we stayed inside for most of the session, but we were able to get out for a few minutes at least. Here are a few from the session.

Andrea, thank you so much for driving all the way down here. I hope you guys enjoy your images!

~wj

seeing the world with no agenda . . . .

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I've been working on our upcoming Contrast show today. Our official deadline for submissions was this past Friday, but if any of you would still like to send a few things in, please do. We'd love to see them.

It's really shaping up to be a wonderfully diverse event, with over 30 photographers invited to participate so far. We have 15 states represented and 3 countries. It's been a blast looking at all the personal work everyone is submitting. Very inspiring for me.

After lunch today my wife came by the studio and gallery with two of our nieces and two of our nephews. Ages 9, 7, 7, and 7. (the nephews are twins). They were looking for something to do, so I decided to put a camera in their hands and put them to work. I wanted to see what they would come up with regarding our theme of "Contrast".

None of them really understood the term, so, one at a time, I had them in my office. I didn't want them all teaming up to solve this problem. I was curious as to how they would do on their own. Thus, I met with them each individually to talk about "Contrast", then let them run around our gallery and downtown area for 15 minutes each, exploring with my gear.

We then all sat down and went through the images. Uncle Will did the editing, of course, but I really didn't do much more than convert them to black and white. This is what they came up with, and I have to admit, I'm a proud uncle.

Are these technically sound? No. Barely close. But that's not always the point. These children, with only a 5 minute conversation about what contrast means, and with no understanding of the technique involved in creating a photograph, saw the world around them in some very interesting ways. Mainly, because they were unencumbered by what they thought they should be doing, and therefore, did only what they felt like doing.

Here are a few of the images. I know they aren't for everyone. But when you look at them, consider what might be inside these images that is more than technique. Ask yourself if just maybe there might be a bit more here than what you see at a glance.

There might not be. But just as possibly, there may be tons of knowledge we can gain as well.


~wj

anderson, matthew, & emma grace ::: portait

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I spent a couple of hours recently with some of my oldest clients. My friends Ryan and Heather have invited me to photograph their children Anderson, Matthew, and Emma Grace since Emma was just a baby. For the longest time this family lived in the house where I grew up, so it was always tons of fun to go back to my old stomping grounds. They have since moved and become "country folk", but that doesn't make our visits any less enjoyable.

Here are a few images from our most recent session.

Thank you Heather and Ryan for being such great supporters of mine. And give the kids a good noogie for me.

~wj

ivey & dean ::: wedding

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

Ivey and Dean married at the Tunica RiverPark Museum a couple of months back. I love working at the museum. The grounds are just gorgeous and the architecture is really dynamic and unique. And, or course, the view of the Mississippi River is pretty incredible as well.

I met Ivey as she was getting ready at the Veranda Hotel, which is part of the Harrah's Grand Casino development in Robinsonville, Mississippi. Yes, for all of my non-Mississippi visitors, the casinos in Tunica, actually aren't in Tunica. They're in Robinsonville.

Ahhh, but I digress.

Ivey and Dean, thank you for letting me be a part of your day. I had a great time with you and your families.



~wj

harris family ::: session

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I met the Harris' recently for a family session. Such beautiful children! Here are a few images from the shoot. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

~wj

ashihai & james ::: wedding

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

Ashihai and James married in Cleveland a few weeks ago. This was actually the first wedding I've photographed in my hometown in a couple of years, and I was so honored to be a part of their day. Rain loomed for most of the day, but held off long enough for the newlyweds to get their horse and carriage ride in!

Here are a few images from the day. Congrats you two! Thank you so much for allowing me to record the day for you.

~wj

chandler ::: round three

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I spent a morning a few weeks ago with Chandler and her mom, Stacie. Stacie signed on for my "A year in the Life" plan, so we schedule a session about every three months so that we can record Chandler as she gets bigger and bigger and bigger. So amazing how fast they grow!

Here are a few images from our session. Hope you like them!

~wj

kelly ::: bridals

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I've been anxious to show these, but had to wait until after the wedding to do so! I spent about four or five hours with kelly and her mom a few weeks ago creating these. We had a great time, and it was so much fun working with them both. I love it when my clients want to push and try new things, and kelly was certainly up for all kinds of fun ideas.

Here's a few from teh day.

~wj

kelly & dan ::: wedding

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

What a day!

Kelly and Dan were married in Greenville, Mississippi in a Catholic ceremony. because they were marrying in the Catholic church we had a tiny dilemma of the church holding regular mass about two hours before the ceremony, meaning it would be occupied until about an hour before Kelly and Dan were to be married. So what do these two do? They rent a limo bus to carry the wedding party around Greenville and the surrounding area for some really fun wedding party pics. We created a few images near a cypress swamp, on the river levee, and even on the new bridge being constructed over the Mississippi River. Which was very, very cool. It hasn't opened yet, and won't for a few more months. It was quite an experience being the only ones on top of such a large structure!

Here are a few images. Hope you like them. Kelly and Dan, thank you for letting me be a part of your day.

~wj

lucy kate & bryant ::: 1st birthday

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I recently spent a wonderful Sunday afternoon with Lucy Kate and bryant at their first birthday party. Hard to believe these two are a year old already! They're getting so big!

Momma Lesley had a candy store themed birthday party planned -- I'm sure all that sugar was a big hit with the other parents! It was such a beautiful day spent with some wonderful people. Thank you guys for letting me be there.

Here's a few images form the day. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

~wj

Ashihai & James ::: esession

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I'm catching up! Lots of editing going on here -- busy time of year! (Thank you all!)

Here are a few images from Aishihai and James' engagement session a couple of weeks ago. We spent a wonderful afternoon just exploring the backroads around the Delta, stopping wherever things looked interesting.

The wedding will be here in Cleveland in a couple of weeks, and I'm excited to visit with them again. It'll be the first wedding I've photographed in my home town in about 3 or 4 years! I'm looking forward to that as well.

~wj

brittany & darryl :::: wedding

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

It's been a couple of weeks since I spent the day with Brittany, Darryl, their family and friends in Pope, Mississippi. The wedding was so much fun! And what a cool little town Pope is. Thanks guys -- I hope y'all enjoy your images. Here's a few as a quick teaser. I'd love to hear your thoughts so leave a comment below if you want!.

~wj

lynn & matt ::: wedding

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I spent this past Saturday in Rosedale with Lynn and Matt. It was another beautiful spring day. Perfect weather. Awesome skies.

Rosedale is such a wonderful old Delta town. You can just see the history everywhere. And so many cool places to create images. We wandered around town a little. Drove an old '57 Chevy up to the levee. And, of course, had some beautiful homes and a beautiful church with which to work.

The reception was held at the Blue levee, one of my favorite restaurants in all the Delta. If you ever reach the western end of Highway 8, or are headed down Highway 1 tracing your way along the Mississippi River, stop by and enjoy the wonderful food and awesome feel of the place.

Lynn and Matt -- thank you both for being so easy to work with. Here's a few of your images. I hope you enjoy them!

~wj

brittany and darryl ::: esession

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I met Brittany and Darryl Friday afternoon for their engagement session. They'll be marrying in April in Pope, Mississippi. Everyone not from the Mississippi Delta who knows where Pope is raise your hands!

We headed a few miles outside of Cleveland to Dockery Plantation for a couple of hours. I love the feel of the old farm headquarters there. And the structures provide just enough openings for gorgeous light to filter through.

Brittany and Darryl, I'm really looking forward to seeing you guys again in April. Here's a few of the images. Hope y'all like them!

I'd love to hear what everyone thinks, so feel free to leave a comment if you want.

Take care.

~wj

janee' and jemar ::: wedding

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I had the pleasure of helping Janee' and Jemar record their wedding a couple of weeks ago. It was a wonderful night, filled with guests from all over the country. Janee' is from Kansas City and Jemar from Chicago, so this was a slightly different "Delta" wedding. Not many locals at all! Which was great. I hope all of you non-Deltans had a blast down here!

Here's a few images form the day.

~wj

janee' & jemar . . . . esession

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

Right before Christmas I met an incredible family. Janee' and her parents came y to take a look around my studio and gallery, and talk to me about photographing Janee's wedding in January.

Well, the wedding was this past Saturday, so we really didn't have a lot of time for an engagment session with all of the holiday rush to get through. So, we did it a week before the wedding. Janee' and Jemar came to my studio after work, and we just took a little walk around the downtown area here in Cleveland.

I LOVE shooting at night, because the lighting can be so dramatic. I really enjoying playing and experimenting with these sessions, and I'm really excited about some of the images we were able to create. I hope yo like them as well!

Let me know your thoughts. I'd love to hear what you guys have to say.


~wj

A chance encounter, wonderful memories, and Otherfest

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

Jamie and I just returned from New Orleans. We spent Christmas with her mother and the rest of her extended family, and then on Saturday I had the honor of photographing a wedding for the Dowdy family -- old friends of our family, as well as the in-laws of my sister Bethany. I'll blog those images soon.

But the point of this post is music. I've said it here before -- I love what I do, but I truly admire the abilities of brilliant musicians. My one regret in life -- if you can call it that -- is that I didn't study music more as a child. That I never learned to play an instrument. I know, I know. There is still time. And learning to play either the guitar or the piano is on my bucket list. But I've got a few other things I need to improve on first -- my photography being towards the top of that list. So I'll have to wait just a bit longer.

In the meantime, I continue to be amazed and inspired by music. I think music can move us more than any other artform. It can excite us. It can humble us. It can move us into imaginary places -- even if just for a moment. It can take us back to memories that we never want to release. It can connect us with others, and it can connect us with ourselves.

So at the wedding on Saturday, Jamie leaned over at one point and whispered in my ear that the bass player for one of my favorite bands was right behind me. Of course I was giddy. But I was also working, and I'm also 36. I don't have time to be giddy over seeing a musician. Right? It's just not cool as an adult to act that way. Right? Responsible. Dignified. GROWN! I'm past the age of being a groupie. . . . . . right ?

Well, my brother-in-law knows the band, and he knows how much I love them. Wanting to dig at me a bit -- and also do something that he knew I wouldn't do for myself -- he introduced us. For a few minutes Jamie and I visited with this guy, whose band I have followed from their earliest beginnings as a college frat house cover band, to a point of prominence in the music industry. They were never huge names, but they were steady. They played all the spots and all the TV shows. They were on all the video channels and all the radio stations. They decided to pursue their dreams -- and while I have no idea what those might have been, I'm betting they at least got somewhere close to achieving them.

So this brought back memories for me. Memories of leaving home to head off to college. Memories of speaking to my wife for the first time. Memories of introducing them to a group of wide eyed 7th and 8th graders -- the wonderful children, now adults, that were in my English classes the one year I taught school -- just as the band was gaining national prominence. Memories of old friends and new ones. Memories. Lots of memories.

I wish I had told him this when we met. But I didn't. I was too embarrassed. But I'm betting he got a little kick out of it as well. The guys in the band are settling into adulthood more and more. They don't play nearly as many shows. They are having children. They band is slowly coming to an end. And that's OK. There will always be the memories. And the joy of knowing they were built with wonderful people at wonderful times.

I'm glad we met. And I know that there is no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed. And I hope that I never lose the desire I have to seek out new music and artists, nor the pleasure I find in letting myself become lost in the sounds and emotion of a beautiful song. I don't ever want to reach a point where I say, "I'm too old for that." And I think perhaps the encounter Saturday was a reminder of that.

Now. The photos above. I created them a few months ago, and I've been meaning to share them. They were made at a small music festival 20 miles from my home and just a stone's throw from the Mississippi River. The festival is called Otherfest. It is the creation of a local band called Disposable Faces. These images came at the end of a particularly trying day for me. A day in which I wanted to just curl up in bed and wallow in sadness and self pity, but instead made my way -- along with Jamie -- out to the small festival near the levee. And I'm grateful that I did. The beautiful music there brought me back to a good place. And so these guys in Disposable Faces are now on the list of wonderful musicians that I will never forget because of the incredible memories they have provided me.

These guys are good. Really good. Good enough, I think, that they can lead a wonderfully interesting and creative life if they choose to do so. Who knows where they'll wind up. Maybe they make it huge and everyone will know their names. Maybe they'll be rich beyond their wildest dreams. Maybe they get older and have more responsibilities and slowly fade away from the music. Or maybe they'll land somewhere in between. Where ever they go, and whatever they do, I hope that they will hold on to these memories they're creating not only for themselves, but for many others as well. I hope that they live a life full of all the creativity and wonder they could want. And I hope that one day, they be introduced to a random stranger, shake his hand, and have the chance to realize what an impact their talents have had on others.

Check 'em out. Below is a link to their iTunes page. Their music is a wonderful blend of country, rock, blues, grit and emotion. It's heavy at times, filled with the angst of a good, pure, rock song. Yet flavored with the south in general; the Mississippi Delta specifically. And it's true. So, very unapologetically true. And for that I admire them.

Keep playing guys. Keep pushing. Keep exploring. And keep dreaming.

~wj

Disposable Faces iTunes link:

natalie ::: age 3

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I met Natalie and her parents, Jasmine and Robert, recently for her annual photo session. We've been doing this now for about three years, and it is absolutely amazing how much she grows every year. I have to say, one of my favorite things about photographing children, is seeing how much they grow, and the joy and wonder in their eyes. And Natalie certainly as a smile and a laugh that is amazing.

Thank you Robert and Jasmine for letting me spend such a wonderful afternoon with all of you. And thank you Natalie, for helping me remember how great it is to see the world with such wonder.

Enjoy the photos!

~wj

sally & brian :::: wedding

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

Sally and brian were married a couple of weeks ago in Senatobia, Mississippi and had their reception just a few miles away in Como. This wedding was one of the most genuine and most fun that I've ever attended. We talked before the wedding about doing group shots a little bit differently, so for the shots of the wedding party we pulled a bunch of trucks into and open field to add some light. They were certainly different than shots at the front of the alter !

Sally and Brian -- congratulations ! Thank you both so much for letting me be a part of your day. We need to visit agin really soon.

~wj

this stuff is HARD :::: sports photography

I'm asked quite often how I became a photographer. The truth is, I never really intended to do this for a living, though I did know that I wanted to do something different and I wanted to be involved everyday in creating something. I was always interested in art, and I painted and drew quite a bit while growing up. But I never felt comfortable in those mediums, and I wasn't very good at them either, actually.

The majority of my early life was spent on a ball field somewhere. I played four years of college baseball and one year of college football. I still keep up with sports quite a bit. The St. Louis Cardinals are one of my major loves, as are the New Orleans Saints.

After teaching junior high English and coaching football and baseball for a year after college I went back to graduate school. I wound up the the journalism program at the University of Mississippi and that's where I found photography. I took a job with the school yearbook which required me to make sure we had all our necessary photos. Eventually that led to me creating a majority of those photos. And the best part? I had access to nearly every event on campus, including all of the athletic contests. So many of my first photographic images were made at the sports arenas at Ole Miss. And I can say with certainty that sports photography is TOUGH. It seems quite easy, and it isn't. Not at all. I've been humbled more than once when looking at my images after an event. It's not something I'm very good at. I have a great deal of respect for the guys and gals that do this for a living.

I don't do much sports photography anymore. Recently, however, I had a free Saturday and decided to head out to a football game at our local university, Delta State. It was fun to be on the sidelines again, and I had forgotten the rush of being so near the action.

Here's a few images. Hope you like them.


~wj

lucy kate & bryant :::::: round 2

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I have the pleasure of photographing Lucy Kate and Bryant every three months for the next year or so. I'll be documenting their growth during their first year, and it's been such a pleasure so far! Their mom, Lesley, is always wanting to try new and different things. It keeps me on my toes, and I love it . But the best part is getting to know Lesley and her husband Charles, as well as their beautiful twins.

We met recently for their second round of photos and will be scheduling a session again right after Thanksgiving. For this session we decided to not only create a few images in their christening gowns, but also head out to the backroads so that we could have some images made in the environment where their daddy works. Thus, the cotton fields and gravel roads!

We started sometime around 1 PM, and before we knew it, it was dinner time -- 5:30 ! You know the saying -- time flies . . . .

Well it certainly did on this shoot!

Here's a few images. Hope you like 'em.

~wj

emma grace, matthew, & anderson

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

Well, I'm a little bit behind on a few blog posts.

And this is one of them. I recently met Heather and her kids at their new home. Their old house was the same home where I grew up years ago, so I was a little sad to not be visiting there again. But the new home is gorgeous! And such a great playground for children.

So we spent a few hours wandering around and watching the kids play, and they're always such a joy to photograph. Here's a few images from the session.

Thank you, Heather, for being patient with this post, and thank you for being such a great cheerleader of mine.

And coming soon -- photos from Anderson's 1st birthday party !

(and don't worry Lesley, your pics are next !)


~wj

elizabeth & david :::: portrait

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

A couple of weeks ago, I met Ruth King to photograph her children. Her friend Leah was quite gracious in allowing us to use her home, and as we were creating images of Ruth King's kids, Leah asked if I would mind working a bit with her children afterwards. I was honored and humbled to do so, and I look forward to plans for a longer session a bit later in the fall when the colors begin to change.

Thank you Leah, for allowing us to use your home. It is quite stunning, and certainly a child's wonderland. I look forward to seeing you all again soon.

~wj

john haga, luke, & annie

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I received a call a few weeks ago with an inquiry about my portrait services. Ruth King had seen an article that Delta Magazine had written about my work, so she called from Oxford to see if I could meet her to create a few images of her kids. We chatted for a while, and in one of those "wow-this-is-a-small-world" episodes, we came to realize that her husband John and I had played ball together waaaaaayyyyyy back in college at Millsaps. And I have to say, her kids, especially the boys, really favor their dad.

So we met in Clarksdale, almost in the middle for both of us (but a wee bit further for Ruth King). We made our way out to the home of one of her friends, which made for an incredible setting. River banks, open fields, country roads -- you couldn't ask for a better place to photograph kids at play.

Odd the paths we wander in life sometimes, isn't it? We just chug along, meeting and befriending others along the way, only to drift apart as we continue on our respective journeys. Then, some years later, those paths converge yet again, and we are greeted with so many wonderful memories.

This session was one of those moments. I got to make new friends, and reconnect with an old one.

Here's a few of the images. Hope you like them.


~wj

ivey & dean ~esession

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

Ivey and Dean will be marrying next spring, but we recently met for their engagement session. We had a great time wandering around the fields of the Mississippi Delta and the streets of downtown Memphis.

I had a blast you guys. Thanks for being such great sports.

~wj

carla & chad ~esession

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I recently spent a few hours with Carla and Chad for their engagement session. They'll be marrying in New Orleans in November but we created these images back here in the Delta. It should be a blast; can't wait to spend the weekend with the two of them and their families in the Big Easy !



~wj

the day after gustav

On the tuesday after Hurricane Gustav made landfall I met my buddy, and fellow photographer, Chris Williams in Vicksburg. Chris lives in New Orleans and he and his wife had evacuated to Jackson. I figured he might want a break from the walls of his hotel room, so I gave him a call.

On my way back home I fully intended to get back as quickly as I could. But I kept seeing things I wanted to photograph, so what should have been a ninety minute drive turned into about a four hour exploration. And it was one I've been wanting to do for quite a while. I'm glad I finally took the time, and I think I'll be releasing these images as a new collection soon.

More will come later. For now, I wanted to share a few of these with you. Let me know what you think. I'd love to hear your thoughts.


~wj

warner ~backyard exploration

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

It's been a few weeks, but I went to Clarksdale recently to create some images of Warner. We had a great time following him around the house, and then headed outside to let him explore even more. He was very curious and I got a nice little workout following him around, but it was well worth it.

I love the curiosity of children. When they enter that zone of genuine wide-eyed wonderment it is a beautiful thing to watch. And the images that come when you let a child just wander and explore the world around him tend to have so much truth in them. I really enjoyed my morning with Warner and I'm thrilled with the images we created. I hope you will be as well.

Take care, and never forget that your backyard is filled with more answers than you might think.


~wj

jackson & joe ~delta session

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

I've been photographing Joe for about a year now and for this last session his mom Katie wanted to add older brother Jackson into the mix. One of my favorite things about Katie, besides her paintings, is that she really likes to do different things with her sessions. So for this one, we headed out of town, down a gravel road, and past the bayou until we finally stopped at Po Monkey's Lounge.

I'm sure most of you readers that are from the Delta know exactly where and what I'm talking about. Many of you have probably even been there. For those of you that aren't familiar with the area, Po Monkey's is one of our wonderful, out of the way jewels. An old sharecropper's home that has been converted into a small blues joint with a very random schedule. Rarely are events widely publicized, and often you have to just ride out there to see if anyone is playing. But that's OK, because the place probably only holds about 50 people anyway. Here's a cool little article the New York Times did about a year ago.

So these images were created there, as well as right next door beside another old sharecropper house that has been abandoned. I love these parts of the area where I was raised. Sessions like this remind me quite a bit of growing up in the Delta, and whenever I photograph brothers, it always makes me think of my little brother. We quickly grow out of these overalls and start putting on suits and ties. And sometimes it's just nice to reminisce about the days when we all ran around barefoot, played with sticks and rocks, and jumped fearlessly into muddy puddles of water.

Katie, thank you so much for letting me remember some of my own days with my brother. It's been a fun year. I hope you enjoy these images as much as I did making them.





~wj

Nancy & Roger : delta wedding

Having trouble viewing the images above? Click HERE for an alternative html gallery.

It's been a few weeks now, but I wanted to post a few images from Nancy and Roger's wedding. I was assisted at this wedding by a great photographer from Indianola named Mickey Mallett.

Nancy is from a small Mississippi Delta town named Inverness, and they were married at the Episcopal church there. It's a wonderfully quaint church. So simple and true. They spent most of the weekend at the beautiful Alluvian Hotel which is owned by the Viking Range company. It, too, is one of the Delta's gens. If you're ever passing through and looking for a hidden gem, this is the place. The cooking school and spa are as nice as you'll find anywhere.

The reception was held at the Greenwood Garden Club and was absolutely awesome. Take a look at a few of the detail shots above. I really liked their "guest book" as well as the jars they used to serve some of their drinks. And the band, Azizz -- they were incredible. If you are looking for a live band, give these guys a look.

Nancy and Roger, thank you both so much for letting me be a part of your day. I wish you both all the best!



~wj

Shelby, Sydney, & Hunter ~portrait

Shelby, Sydney, and Hunter came to Cleveland to visit their grandparents and I was asked to come over and create a few images while they were in town. Such great kids. Hunter is such a loving big brother. He's gonna have his hands full with two younger sisters to look out for!

Maggie & Anthony ~esession

Maggie and Anthony are marrying June 14, so we met recently for their engagement session.

As I was driving up to Tunica, Mississippi to meet them, I began brainstorming on things we could do. I always go into a shoot with a pretty good idea of how I want to shape things, but I also like to leave myself a bit of flexibility in case inspiration strikes.

About five miles outside of Tunica I noticed a set of three crosses that frequent our Delta landscape. The crosses are about 25 feet tall, though many here in the Delta are now leaning over, as if worn out from the ongoing struggle to get their message noticed. There actually are nearly 2000 of these clusters across the country, and they dot the landscapes in 29 states -- at least that's according to a quick search I did online.

They are symbols that I think are ingrained in all Deltans, as you cannot travel through here without seeing quite a few of these. I think, perhaps, to people not familiar with our area the crosses would immediately stand out. But when you ride the backroads and highways of this land for your entire life, they tend to blend in and become as common as the flat land that runs parallel to the sky. But I always seem to notice them. Always wanted to create images of them. And until now, have done nothing more than observe them. I think it's quite fitting that the first images I created around these symbols are ones of love and happiness.

So I met Maggie and Anthony, and asked them if they'd like to try something different around these crosses. They were all for it, and were real troopers when we realized we would have to walk through about 80 yards of swampy earth to find a good spot to begin. Such great spirit in the two of them. I think a lot of that comes out in their photos. And it is quite humbling when the people I work with have such a great drive to explore and try new things.

We spent a few more hours just riding the backroads, stopping at places that struck a chord and getting to know each other a little better. It was a very enjoyable afternoon. I am really excited to work with them in June.

Thank you, Maggie and Anthony. You both helped me complete an idea I've been kicking around for many, many years. I am really proud of the images we created, and I hope you are as well. I look forward to seeing you both very soon.

take care

~wj

Mandy & Matt ~wedding

Mandy and Matt were married a few weeks ago in Greneda. They rented cabins at the state park for the weekend and held their ceremony on the edge of the lake. It was quite windy leading up to and during the ceremony, but as the day slowly ended the weather became incredible. We made our way back down to the wedding site as the sun was setting and created some really great images. The light was perfect!

There were so many things I loved about this wedding. I loved the way Mandy and Matt tied in his south Louisiana heritage with her Mississippi Delta upbringing. The food was such a great reflection of this -- jambalaya, gumbo, catfish and hush puppies. And of course, much more. But it was how they made sure to include things that were important to each of them -- and their families-- that I found very touching.

Another thing that I found really unique and special was Mandy's version of the father-daughter dance. She told me a few weeks prior to her wedding that her father had an aversion to dancing. But she had a great solution and wanted to be sure I got photos of it.

Mandy was a college softball player. Her father coached her for years until she reached college, and he got so much pleasure watching his daughter playing ball. So when it came time for the father-daughter dance, Mandy took the DJ's microphone and told her father how much she loved him. She told him how much she appreciated his coaching and support throughout the years. She told him she knew he really didn't want to dance, so she had another idea. Then she led him outside where her best friend and teammate for so many years had gloves waiting for Mandy and her dad. So Mr. Russell and his little girl proceeded to have one last "catch" together. A fitting way to "dance" with your father, mentor, and friend if I've ever seen one.

It was all I could do to keep from getting watery-eyed as it reminded me a lot of my younger days as well. Such a special and touching idea. There are a few photos included here of the "father-daughter" dance.

I hope you enjoy looking at all of these images as much as I did creating them.

blessings,

~wj

baby Joe ~round 3

I've been so busy with weddings this spring that I really haven't had time to schedule many portrait sessions. Katie is one of my favorite clients (and a wonderful artist), so I always do my best to find a time to work with her. Her youngest son Joe turned nine months old around the first of May, so we headed out to create photos to remember this time in his life.

I love the fact that Katie always wants to try something a little different -- at the end of the summer we'll be doing 1 year portraits in a cotton field and outside of a juke joint -- so we headed down to Merigold, Mississippi to work around some of the old brick buildings there. If you're ever heading through the Delta on Highway 61 be sure to stop by Merigold and visit McCarty's Pottery, their restaurant The Gallery, and if you're coming by after dark be sure to stop and eat at Crawdad's.

Aimee and Will ~wedding

Aimee and Will were married this past Saturday. It turned out to be a beautiful afternoon and evening, but not without a scare. A tornado ripped through town about 4:00 AM Saturday morning and wreaked havoc on the area, but luckily didn't cause any damage to any of the wedding venues--or to any of the homes of their families and friends.

We had a blast. The wedding party was great and the service and reception were beautiful.

Congrats Aimee and Will. I wish you both all the best.


~wj

Aimee and Will ~ esession

Aimee and Will are getting married this Saturday in Tunica, Mississippi. We met a few weeks ago to go over a few details and create some fun images for their engagement session. We spent a couple of hours riding around some of the backroads of the north Mississippi Delta--always one of my most favorite things to do. They are a great couple and I cannot wait to help them celebrate their wedding on Saturday. It's coming at a time when I really need to have a happy day, and it's going to be absolutely beautiful.

They are marrying at a small church in Tunica. It's an old, wonderfully solid small town church. The reception will be held right on the Mississippi River at the Tunica River Park, which is just a stone's throw from the casinos. Everything should happen right around sunset, which will only make things even more magical.

Keep an eye out here. I'll post images from their wedding soon.


Take care,

~wj

Kingsley, Wesley, & Jack

When I was eight I used to ride my bike about two miles from my house to the edge of our town. Of course, memories tend to grow grander with time, but it seems to me I did this at least once a week, and sometimes two or three times during the summer. I continuously made this trek so I could visit the first girlfriend I ever had.

Her name was Angie, and her family owned a small convenience store. Her, mother, Ms. Lizzie, was--and still is--perhaps the kindest person I've ever met. Ms. Lizzie would give me a soda, a candy bar, and a handful or quarters so that I could play Pacman until my hands wore out. So the time I spent with my first girlfriend was primarily around a video game.

Well, years later Angie married another friend of mine--Jim. And I won't even begin to tell any stories about our childhood and teenage adventures. They now have three beautiful children, daughters Kingsley and Wesley, and new son Jack. recently, Angie asked me to create some headshots for her business, and that session actually turned into a family sitting.

The kids were great. Kingsley and Wesley dote over their new little brother and are such great sisters to him. Hopefully, I was able to show a bit of that with these photos.

So, without further adieu. . .

A quick one from Monday

The banquet at DSU was a huge success. Over $100k was raised for the athletic department. That may be a drop in the bucket for large universities, but for a small school like Delta State it made a tremendous difference. Mr. Grisham was warm and gracious. He took no payment and even donated a bit of money himself. One attendee even paid $15k to have his name used as one of the character's in Grisham's next book!

I wish I could include more images,, but I promised university officials I would keep things under wraps, so this is all I can show. I had a great time, and I'm really proud and excited by the images that were created. Check back with me in a few weeks, or contact the Delta State Alumni Foundation to receive a copy of their magazine. It should be printed in a few weeks and will feature a big article about Monday's fund raiser. Many more of the images will be included there. Until the publication comes out, this is all I can show.

In the meantime, check out this column by The Clarion Ledger's Rick Cleveland. It's a great read and gives you a little more insight into the great character of Mr. Grisham and Coach Boo Ferriss.

John Grisham to speak at Delta State

This Monday night, February 11, John Grisham will be speaking at a fundraiser for the Delta State University baseball team. Former Statesmen head coach Boo Ferriss and Grisham go back a long way (Grisham walked-on to the Statesmen baseball team but was cut by Ferris because John "couldn't hit a curveball") and the event should be great for the program, the school, and our community. It will be a busy evening of meet-and-greets culminated by a dinner and presentation by the author about his path and how the Delta State baseball program was its start.

I am very excited not only because I am a baseball lover, but because the university has asked me to capture a very specific image they would like to use in a University publication. Before all the hoopla begins, Coach Ferriss will be meeting with Grisham so that they can visit a bit in private. He'll also be showing the author the new museum built at the entrance of the baseball complex which bears his name. It is during this time that school officials hope to capture an image of the two men that illustrates the admiration and love they share.

It will be my job to deliver this image. The catch--I only have about 20-30 minutes and I can't direct them in any way. As a matter of fact, school officials would prefer that I be so incognito that Coach Ferriss and Mr. Grisham not even know that I am there. I'm not sure I can pull off a disappearing act, but I will certainly do my best. It will be famous author John Grisham, Boston Red Sox Hall-of-Famer Boo Ferris, and me. They will be catching up on old times, and I will be doing my best to record the meeting without interfering in it. I'm nervous about delivering the image the school wants, but very excited about the opportunity.

If you are going to be in the area and might want to attend the dinner, tickets are $100 to the event and are available at the Delta State Department of Athletics or online at www.GoStatesmen.com. For more information, please contact DSU Athletics at (662) 846-4289 or email them at athletics@deltastate.edu.

baby Anderson

I spent most of last week working on a commission in Laurel, Mississippi, but the morning before I left I met my friend Heather to photograph her son Anderson. Anderson is Heather's third child, and I've really enjoyed photographing his sister Emma Grace and brother matthew over the years. Another neat thing about going to their house is that it is the house I grew up in! Granted, it's been nearly 25 years since I lived there, but it still kinda feels like home to me. Is that weird?

Anyway, here is Anderson at about 3 months.

Nancy & Roger : Engagement Session

I met Nancy and Roger this past Saturday for their Esession. They both live in Birmingham, but will be marrying in Nancy's hometown of Inverness, Mississippi. It's one of our wonderfully beautiful small Delta towns. The wedding is in April and I can't wait to see how gorgeous Deer Creek will be that time of year. If this first run (in January, no less) is any indication, the images from the wedding should turn out great!

Natalee -- take 3

This was my third session with Natalee. Her parents, Robert and Jasmine, first asked me to create images of Natalee when she was about 6 months old. She's now just past 2, and it's unbelievable how quickly she's grown (but don't they all!) We met in December just before Christmas, and I was so excited to see how well the fallen leaves matched her beautiful auburn hair. And of course, Natalee's fun little personality makes create great photos of her so easy.

Thanks, Nat !

Katie & Spencer

Lynn and Angel Hardin are very old friends of mine. We attended high school together--Lynn and I played ball on the same teams, he was a few years ahead of me, and Angel and I were in the same class from elementary school on. Lynn and I also serve on the fire department together. So it is always a pleasure when I am asked to photograph the children of my friends.

Angel allowed me to wander off with Katie and Spencer, and they were great! Spencer is too funny--he's very much a boy. He's curious about anything and everything on the ground, and all he needs to have a good time are a few sticks and some rocks. And Katie? What a sweetheart. She treats her younger brother so lovingly. And she was such a big help keeping up with Spencer.

Meet Joe Byrd

Joe is the son of Katie and Jeff Byrd here in Cleveland. Katie brought him by the house a few days ago so we could create some images of Joe in his Christening gown. She was really looking to do something a little different. Hopefully we pulled it off.

Enjoy!



















And the slideshow:

the potter's grandkids. . .

Sheila Clark has recently started sharing studio space with me. She is a WONDERFUL potter, and I've had a great time getting to know her and I am constantly in awe of the work she is producing. It is so nice to have someone to visit with during the day, and it makes it even better when their work is so outstanding!

Anyway, I was honored when she asked me to photograph her grandsons, Rives and Charlie. They were too much fun! I'll see if she'll let me snag a few pics of some of her pieces and post them in the next few days.

Here are a few pics of the boys, and, of course, the slideshow.