michael ::: portrait

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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

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

pax & aidan ::: portrait

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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

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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 !

adam & elliott ::: portrait

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Location: McComb, Mississippi
Time: late afternoon -- 4;30 PM -ish
Tools: Nikon D700, 2 SB-900's, 1 SB-800, Natural light, 85mm 1.4, 35mm 2.0

mary michael & martin ::: portrait

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::: griffin :::

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magan & blake ::: wedding

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Venue: Monmouth Plantation
City: Natchez, Mississippi
Team: myself and Chris Williams

chandler ::: round 4

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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

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missy & will ::: wedding

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I'm almost done playing catch up on the weddings I've photographed the last few months.

These images are from Missy and Will's wedding at Monmouth Plantation in Natchez. Interestingly, the last two weddings I've photographed have been at Monmouth. I'll be posting the second very soon.

I had a great time with Missy and Will, and have to say, their's was one of the most laid back weddings I've ever photographed. The wedding was held at the end of July, so it was a bit warm, but that didn't stop anyone from having a blast. The power went out about an hour or so into the reception, but that, too, failed to stop the party or dampen spirits. They just pulled out an ipod and a jam box (can't believe I just typed that!) and kept the music going. And 90 minutes later when the power returned, so did the band. I was really impressed with how everyone didn't seem to miss a beat and just enjoyed the evening for what it was -- a wonderful gathering of friends and family.

As an added bonus, a few of the guests were friends of mine that I'd not seen in nearly fifteen years. Seeing old friends when you're not expecting to do so is always a nice reminder of how small the world really is. And reliving wonderful memories -- well, that never gets old.

Thank you Missy and Will for allowing me to document your day.

~wj

mary katherine & peter :::wedding

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Wow, how quickly the summer passes. It seems like just yesterday we were in the midst of spring weather. Baseball was just beginning and the weather was warming up. now, it's football season. Baseball is nearing its post season, and (hopefully) things are cooling off a bit. Yet, I still have work to blog that was created last spring!

With that in mind, I'd like to share a few images from Mary Katherine and Peter's wedding.

I first met Mary Katherine's dad a few years ago when he asked me to create some image for his law firm walls. What a beautiful town Laurel is. I had such a great time exploring it while working on that project, and I was very excited when they asked me to come back to photograph the wedding this past May.

The ceremony was held at the First Baptist Church and the reception was at the Laurel Train Depot. Flowers by Catherine Strange and John David Williams of Fearless Entertaining.

Mary Katherine and Peter, thank you for allowing me to document your wedding. I had a blast.


~wj

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

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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 . . . .

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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

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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

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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

ashihai & james ::: wedding

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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

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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

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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

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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

libba & mark ::: wedding

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I was in Gulfport, MS a few weeks ago to photograph Elizabeth (Libba) and Mark's wedding. It was a very nice, small, mostly family wedding. Lots of love all around.

Thank you Libba and Mark for letting me be a part of your day. I had a wonderful time with all of you. Here's a few images. Hope you like them!

~wj

lucy kate & bryant ::: 1st birthday

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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

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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

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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

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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

melissa & todd ::: ceremony

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What a beautiful day for a wedding!

Melissa and Todd were married at the Old Place in Gautier and it could not have been a more perfect day. The weather was just over 70 degrees, the skies were perfect, and the light -- especially at the end of the day -- was just fantastic.

Meilissa and Todd, thank you both for allowing me to be with you for your wedding weekend. I can't wait to catch up soon. Here's a few images. I hope you guys enjoy them.

~wj

melissa & todd ::: rehearsal dinner

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I was on the Mississippi Gulf Coast two weeks ago to photograph Melissa and Todd's wedding. On Friday night the rehearsal dinner was at Mary Mahoney's in Biloxi. It was such a beautiful night, and the toasts were such wonderful tributes to not only melissa and Todd, but their families as well. I had a blast and was very honored to be asked to help record such a moving night.

A few images above. Ceremony to be posted soon.

~wj

elizabeth & mark ::: esession

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I'm in Slidell, Louisiana right now, just an hour or so away from leaving for Biloxi, Mississippi to photograph a rehearsal dinner tonight and then a wedding tomorrow. But before leaving I wanted to go through yesterday's esession first.

I came down yesterday to visit with Elizabeth and Mark, who will be marrying in April. We headed out to their property near Poplarville, MS and had a great afternoon creating images. They brought along their two "kiddos" -- Tucker and KC, who you'll see in lots of these photos! We rode four wheelers all over the property -- down to the Wolf River, along cut out paths, took a couple of boats out on a small lake -- and spent a lot of time watching tucker and KC have a blast!

I've posted a few images above -- hope y'all like them! Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Mark and Elizabeth -- thank you both for a wonderful afternoon. I had a blast!

~wj

brittany and darryl ::: esession

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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

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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

eloise and david : : : wedding

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I had the incredible pleasure of photographer Eloise and David's wedding the Saturday right after Christmas. It was such a wonderful night. And so much fun!

The ceremony was actually in the home of Eloise's parents -- in McComb, Mississippi. Then we all loaded up and headed to New Orleans for a reception that night at the Loews Hotel downtown. And what a party it was!

Hopefully, these images an give you a little glimpse as to all the fun and emotion that was shared. Thank you Eloise and David, for letting me be a part of such an awesome day. Can't wait to see you guys soon.

~wj

melissa & todd . . . esession

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What a 24 hour period!

On Saturday at 3 PM I was photographing a wedding in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

By 3 PM Sunday I was in Pascagoula, Mississippi -- about 300 miles away -- meeting Melissa and Todd for their engagement session. And I'm so glad I did. We spent a perfect afternoon together -- sunny, 60-ish degrees -- and were able to go over lots of details for their upcoming wedding. But the best part was the light at the end of the day -- stunning!

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


~wj

janee' & jemar . . . . esession

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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

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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

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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

Small school perfection . . .

This weekend begins the playoff hunts for my alma mater, Millsaps College and my hometown university, Delta State. The two schools share a combined record of 19-1 so far this fall.

I can think of few Christmas presents better than seeing Millsaps win the NCAA Division 3 national championship, and Delta State win the Division 2 title. I love watching big college athletics, but truth be known, I'm a small school guy at heart.

Both Millsaps and Delta State are ranked in the top 5 in their respective divisions, and both are strong contenders to win it all. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping for one of the best Decembers ever!

~wj

sally & brian :::: wedding

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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

nancy margaret & andy :::: wedding

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And now for the wedding day images !

See the post below for photos from Nancy Margaret and Andy's rehearsal dinner. And thank you again to Deb Tracey for your wonderful images and assistance. Many of the shots you see here were created by Deb, so be sure to go visit her and leave some blog love as well.

nancy margaret & andy :::: rehearsal dinner

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I've been editing photos this week from Nancy Margaret and Andy's wedding. I first met Nancy Margaret and Andy earlier this summer at their engagement session in Oxford. I also spent a few days with them in D.C. as we did another session up there. I've really enjoyed getting to know these two, and I really look forward to working with them in creating their album once they get back from their honeymoon.

I was assisted in this wedding by a wonderful photographer from the Los Angeles area, Deb Tracey. She was such a help, and we had a blast working and visiting together. Thank you so much for all your help Deb. It was an honor to work with you.

We began the weekend at Nancy Margaret and Andy's rehearsal dinner, so we wound up with lots of images. I've decided to split the posts and do one for the rehearsal dinner and one for the wedding. So here is the first one!

Kate Barron of A Bash Events coordinated the wedding and did an outstanding job. She really had a lot on her plate, and she and her team handled everything beautifully. I was also excited to see my buddy David from Oxford Floral. David was like a little brother to me when we were younger. My brother and Dave were best buddies, so he was always at our house. This was the first time we've had a chance to work together, and it was really nice getting to visit with him a bit as we started our day. And I'm so glad to see him doing so well. His work is absolutely beautiful.

So here you go. A few images from the dinner at City Grocery. I'll be posting pics from the wedding day soon. I'd love to hear your thoughts!


~wj

. . . we're all in this together . . .

Jamie and I watched the presidential debate last night.

Oxford looked great. Ole Miss was stunning. I'm really proud of Mississippi right now.

In the midst of this tug of war, though, I think we sometimes forget that we're all in this together. We pretty much all want to go to the same place, we just have different routes we prefer to take. And, man, how hurtful and spiteful we can be if it's not our route that is chosen.

Yes, I understand there are many, many more details, and I am simplifying things. But the gist is still there.

My mother writes a column for several newspapers here in the Southeast. She recently wrote the column below, and I thought it would be a great idea to share it with all of you today. I think her words are very wise.

Thanks, Mom, for letting me share this.

As we go forth in this uncertain time, I hope we call can remember our neighbors. That we can remember that none of us can make it alone, and we all need to work together to create the world we envision. Compromise and compassion are the two greatest traits we can have in my opinion. I hope our leaders not only realize this in the coming months, but they practice it and inspire it as well.

~wj


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"SNIPPETS
by Beth Boswell Jacks



Beliefs: Trying to figure it out


“Before you can begin to think about politics at all,
you have to abandon the notion that there is a war
between good men and bad men.”
~ Walter Lippmann


Raise your hand if you’re all fuzzed up over the presidential campaign. Now take that hand and scratch your head while you ponder these words of conservative philosopher and author Thomas Sowell of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University: “We all have visions of how the world works. They are the silent shapers of our thoughts.”

That quote is from Sowell’s book titled “A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles.” Sowell says our visions are like “maps that guide us through a tangle of bewildering complexities” in this topsy-turvy world. He claims we base our beliefs – political, social and religious – on these visions that form our hunches or gut feelings.

We can no more dismiss those feelings than we can fly to the moon.

Oh, wait. We CAN fly to the moon. Well, let’s restate that. We can no more dismiss those feelings than we can change the nose on our face. Darn. We can do that too.

Shall we say it is very, very difficult to change one’s vision of how the world works?

Last year, in fact, National Public Radio broadcast a program [Oct. 25, 2007] during which the speaker stated he was researching the theory that our deepest beliefs are programmed into our genes. In other words, we can’t really help it if we’re flaming liberals or rigid right-wingers. We’re just made that way. It’s genetic.

His research was being done on identical twins, separated at birth. How many thousands of identical twins separated at birth could there be? I can’t imagine his test group is legion. Anyway, that’s something to think about.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to blame something else on our parents?

The editors of Volume III of “Public Women, Public Words,” Keetley and Pettegrew, have another idea about the factors that contribute to our deepest beliefs. They write in the introduction to the book: “One’s politics are determined by and, ultimately, confined to what one opposes; [one’s belief system] is defined in other words, in the negative” – by what we’re against, not what we’re for.

Okay, this is getting deep, but I can’t help my mind’s twists and turns. I’m curious about how and why I’ve arrived at my political, social and religious beliefs. So where am I going with this?

Just here.

No matter which way this election goes, no matter what our theology is, no matter what we believe about social and philosophical matters, we’re going to have friends and family who are just as ardent on the other side of the fence. Does this mean somebody’s good and somebody’s bad? Does this mean somebody’s going to heaven and somebody’s going to … umm … a warmer locale? Does this mean we have to hate and demonize one another? Does this mean we can’t discuss issues without blowing up at each other with, yes, sometimes permanent alienation?

No, no, no and no.

Eric Hoffer, sociologist and writer, maintained that “the capacity for getting along with our neighbor depends to a large extent on the capacity for getting along with ourselves.” We’re quite tolerant usually of our own shortcomings and “quirks”; shouldn’t we extend that same courtesy to others? Is this not what we must do to attempt to promote civilized discourse in this “bewildering and complex” world?

“There is so much good in the worst of us, and so much bad in the best of us,” wrote Robert Louis Stevenson, “that it behooves all of us not to talk about the rest of us.”

Besides, it’s probably our mamas’ and daddies’ fault."

faith? . . . . another test?

Today is August 29.

I am scared.

I spent much of this morning fixing things around my house. My wife asked me to do this. Her family is on their way to Cleveland and she wants our home to be as comfortable as possible. This trip has actually been planned for a few months, but it has now gone from what was to be a weekend of relaxation and fun with her mom and brother to a weekend eerily similar to one we had in 2005 with about 15 or 20 family and friends from New Orleans.

Three years ago today Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Mississippi Gulf Coast and pushed it's way into my wife's hometown -- and thus my adopted home - of New Orleans. We watched as Mother Nature punched the city in the gut, kicked it in the knees, and then pushed it to the ground. And the reception that was given to Mississippi wasn't even that cordial. Our coast was just knocked down in one fatal blow. Within 24 hours it was gone. It took weeks and months for New Orleans to be knocked down. But the pain felt by people in both areas was -- and still is -- just the same.

And now Gustav sits in the gulf. Striking fear in all of us. And forcing us to go back to places we hoped would slowly fade from our minds.

So I'm worried.

I'm worried that two of the areas I love most are still too weak for battle. I'm worried that I will spend this weekend huddled around a TV in our den, the lights turned low, the room silent save for the conversation provided by CNN and the Weather Channel. I'm worried about finding the words -- again -- to provide what ever comfort I can to my family, my friends, and my wife should they be forced to watch in amazement as the city they love drowns. I'm worried that I will relive August 29, 2005 all over again.

I'm worried that the strength won't be there this time.

So after I completed the checklist that Jamie gave me this morning, I went into the room in our house where all of the prints from my "New Orleans" show are stored. I flipped through them, remembering what thoughts were in my head when I created each image. Remembering the purpose behind their composition. Remembering how the strength and perseverance of all of the people who had to start over after Katrina left me in awe.

Remembering the faith they all shared.

And I reread the words I wrote in my artist's statement for the show. You can read the entire statement HERE. But for now, I'll just pull the last part and leave these words with you.

Or perhaps I need to leave them with me.

"from New Orleans

. . . I only ask that as you view these images, you keep in mind your family, your friends, and your home. And think about what you would do, and how you would hope people would respond, if this were to happen to you.

And when you ponder this, know that you can’t help but be inserted into this story. Because life is not easy. It’s not fair. It takes great strength and discipline to march on. It takes faith—a tremendous amount of faith. But it can be oh, so wonderful even when it seems to be its most treacherous.

Whether you were directly affected by Hurricane Katrina or not, you have a link to the city of New Orleans. What we see in south Louisiana is an extreme example of what every one of us will go through at some point. Without the bad there is no good. Without fear there is no faith. Without hate there is no love. Yes, these images are from New Orleans, but they could have been created anywhere."


God I hope I am still able to believe in these words in a few weeks.



Bless you all. May you find strength and courage and beauty every time they are needed..

~wj

sharing and community . . . . and a nice dose of dreaming

I'm very honored to be asked to take part in this year's Art Alfresco event sponsored by Viking Range and the Alluvian Hotel. From 5 PM until 8 Pm on Thursday, September 18 the streets of downtown Greenwood, Mississippi will be filled with music, laughter, and art. The event is all about celebrating the art of our region, and many of the businesses in Greenwood will be sponsoring local and regional artists. I'll be showing some new stuff at the Alluvian Hotel and would love for any and all of you to come by and visit. We've got a pretty hefty dinner reservation at Giardina's around 8:30 or 9:00, so if you're around for dinner, come join us! We should have plenty of room, and it's always fun to share a great night with lots of great people!


Hope to see you there!


~wj

warner ~backyard exploration

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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

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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 Margaret & Andy ~ esession . . . round 1-oxford

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I met Nancy Margaret and Andy a few weeks ago for an engagement session. Things went so well we've got another planned for this Thursday in DC. I can't wait. It should be a ton of fun. This session was in Oxford, MS near Nancy Margaret's home, and I'm sure Andy will be thrilled to create some fun photos exploring the DC area near his home.

They'll be marrying this October in Water Valley, Mississippi and the wedding is going to be absolutely gorgeous. Kate Barron of A Bash Events is coordinating and I'll be assisted in my photo duties by Deb Tracy, who's flying in from California to second for me (thanks Deb!)

So I'll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning for a quick trip to DC, and be back in Cleveland Friday night. It'll be a bit tiring, but tons of fun. Nancy Margaret and Andy -- see y'all tomorrow!

~wj

Nancy & Roger : delta wedding

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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

Laurel - Jones County ~commission

Back in January I was asked to travel to south Mississippi to create a few images of the Laurel - Jones County area. The images are going to be used to help decorate the newly renovated offices of a law firm, so I tried to keep that in mind when creating them. The area also has a long history involving the railroad system. I did my best to tie that in as well.

I've selected a handful of images to show above, but if you'd like to see the entire set click HERE. I'll keep you updated as to which of my galleries carry these images as those details are sorted out. You can contact me directly as well for more purchase information.

I hope you enjoy them. Let me know what you think.

Take care,

~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.

Danielle & Josh ~wedding

Danielle and Josh were married a few weeks ago at Lake Caroline just outside Madison, Mississippi. The ceremony was very intimate and very beautiful. Even though the weather was quite treacherous the night before, Saturday turned out perfect and the sunset wedding was really, really nice.

Thank you Danielle and Josh for letting me be a part of your day. Best wishes to you both.


~wj

Danielle & Josh ~the night before

It's the night before Danielle and Josh's wedding. The video above pretty much shows what has gone on around Jackson today. Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes rolled through the area, and over 92,000 homes are without power. Luckily I called ahead to get a hotel room, because this place is swarming with people that have lost power to their homes. Entergy reports that over 20% of ALL it's Mississippi clients are without power. Amazing. And many of them won't be getting power restored until Monday.

I haven't heard if anyone is injured or not. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everyone is safe here in Central Mississippi. I'll be glued to the news here shortly to get more reports. Prayers and warm thoughts to everyone affected by the brutal storms today.

More later.


Blessings,

~wj

Dinah & Patrick ~wedding

I spent the weekend in Jackson photographing Dinah and Patrick's wedding. They were married at the First Baptist Church on State Street. That place is HUGE. The main sanctuary is larger than most theaters I've visited. Dinah and Patrick, however, were married in the adjoining chapel, which is so quaint and perfect.

We were right across the street from the Mississippi State Capitol, so we did a lot of our photography over there. The weather was perfect and all of the flowers are trees are starting to come back--it really was one of the prettiest days we've had in a while.

The reception was just down the street at the Old Capitol Inn. It's a boutique hotel that really is one of my favorite locations to work. They handle all of the details of the reception and they do it really well.

Congratulations Dinah and Patrick -- thank you both so much for letting me be a part of your day!

~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. . .

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.

Hannah, Natalia, & Kristina

With the Thanksgiving holiday behind us, I'm wrapping up a few portrait sessions from last week before moving on to some new sessions this week. These images are from my appointment with Hannah, Natalia, & Kristina. We started inside as I wanted to do some cool black and white images, and then made our way outside to roam the neighborhood and create some color images. The trees down here are finally starting to turn, so I was really excited by the colors we were able to capture. Towards the end of the session the girls said they wanted to play in the leaves, so that's what we did!

















And the slideshow. . .

Henry & Charles

I met up with Henry and Charles at their home in McComb. It was the first "real" photo session they'd had in a while, so I really wanted to get their mom and dad a nice collection of different types of images--black and white, color, and a decent variety between somewhat posed and totally candid moments. We spent about half of the time inside, and a lot of that was just spent letting them play in their bedrooms. A little later, as the sun was going down, we went outside so they could run around a bit and I could take advantage of the great light that was spilling through the pine trees in the yard.

And this is what we came up with.

A few on the sun porch. . .




And upstairs hanging out. . .





The light in the backyard was incredible. . .










And the slideshow. . .

Adam & Elliott

During my trip last week I stopped in McComb for a few days. One of my appointments was with Adam and Elliott. We had a blast! We went out to the family farm, which covers about 100 acres. The 4-wheeler came out and we just roamed the property. It's so much fun when I get to relive some fun moments from my childhood while "on the job". We spent several hours in the woods, roaming the huge field running the length of the property and playing around the pond (which is stocked, by the way. Next time I need to bring my fishing gear!)

Adam and Elliott--thank you. I had a blast and y'all were great.













And the slideshow:

A little trip down memory lane

I'm still on my 10 day trip through south Mississippi and New Orleans.
One more night in Jackson and I'll finally be back home.

I had a little free time this afternoon and decided to head out to my
alma mater, Millsaps College, to watch my old team play a little
football against Birmingham Southern. The campus looks incredible, and
while small, the football game day experience is really special. If
you've never been to a small college ball game, do so. It's great to
see kid's playing for no other reason than the love of the game.

This year's version of the Majors is a ton of fun to watch. Much more
so than when I played. I arrived today at halftime with the Majors
already holding a commanding 52-0 lead. The final score, of course,
can be seen in the photo I posted.

The squad finished the season 8-2, and would be 9-1 and headed to the
playoffs if it weren't for a heartbreaking last second loss to Trinity
(TX) two weekes ago. If you haven't seen the incredible play that
ended that game go to YouTube and search "Millsaps-Trinity". Iit is
absolutely unbelievable and will live on ESPN highlights forever. But
you'll have to search on your own, I just can't bring myself to post
it here.

It was great to see some faces I haven't seen in a while. And it's
always good to just take a little time and consider where you are,
where you're going, and where you come from. If you haven't done that
lately I encourage you to do so. It'll make everything you do going
forward even more meaningful.

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:

I've now stayed in a haunted house. . . .seriously

I've mentioned in recent posts about our family trip to Vicksburg last weekend. I am part of a group show currently showing at the Attic Gallery and my entire immediate family came for Friday night's opening. My parents, my wife, 2 sisters, 1 brother, and 7 neices and nephews. As well as my mother-in-law, step-father-in-law, 3 brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, and several good friends. We spent a great weekend at Cedar Grove Mansion--all 25 or so of us.

What we didn't realize until we were checking out on Sunday, is that Cedar Grove is a very well known haunted mansion. Well to to everyone but us, apparently. I got a kick out of it. My wife was a little freaked out, the nieces and nephews really loved it.

My mother is a syndicated columnist for several small-town papers throughout the southeast. So rather than fumble through my own words trying to describe the experience to you, I figured I'd post her column which tells things in a much more entertaining way than I ever could. The link to her website is in the column on the right-- USA Deepsouth. It's an eclectic collection of musings from writers all over the world. Check it out.

Here is her most recent column, just in time for Halloween:

Living and Dying in Dixie . . .


"With Halloween close by, I’m thinking this is the ideal time to write about my latest adventure. I don’t have many adventures, really, so I grab them when I can.

Last weekend our entire immediate family – 17 of us – traveled to Vicksburg for a reception at the Attic Gallery, a well-known gallery with a fabulous eclectic collection of art. Our son, Will Jacks, is one of 7 artists whose work is being featured this month. (His New Orleans photography images are “powerful and stunning,” according to Lesley Silver, owner of the gallery. Of course, his mom agrees.)

Our accommodations for the weekend were at Cedar Grove B&B, a lovely antebellum home with grounds and gardens aplenty, providing lots of running and ball-playing space for the 7 grandchildren. The October weather was perfect; the staff was friendly and accommodating; the Cedar Grove restaurant was excellent.

G-Man and I were assigned the “General Lee Suite” (all the rooms are called suites) which was located with one other room down a flight of narrow stairs. The only windows in the room were two sets of small French doors that opened onto a tiny, dusty patio. The room looked as if it might have been two rooms at one time – very, very large, but very, very dark, with a red satin bedspread and half-dozen red satin throw pillows. Heavily accoutered, my elegant Uncle Bill would have described the decor.

There was one small problem with our room – the sound of footsteps on the stairs as we tried to get to sleep each night. The only other room on our hall was not occupied, so we were curious about the comings and goings, but we eventually tuned out the noise and snoozed.

The weekend was one to remember. The reception at the Attic Gallery, packed with appreciative viewers, went smashingly. Side trips with the children were made to the Mississippi River, the Vicksburg Battlefield, and to other spots of interest. We were sorry to see our family time draw to an end.

But on Sunday morning, as the adults packed, the children engaged one of the Cedar Grove attendants in a serious discussion about ghosts on the premises.

The genial attendant told them about the “Bonnie Blue Suite” upstairs, a beautiful room with a history. Seems there is a handprint on the wall in that room that refuses to be hidden with paint. The workers paint the room . . . and the handprint reappears. Yes. The children went to see and the print is there. The story is that a Union soldier died in that room, and as he expired he grabbed the wall. His ghost, the attendant said, still roams the mansion.

And why was a Union soldier dying in this Old South mansion?

Alas, or maybe not, the owner of the house, John Klein, was married to a Northerner who was kin to General William T. Sherman. After the siege of Vicksburg, General Sherman sent word that Cedar Grove was not to be destroyed. Instead, he instructed that the huge home should be used as a hospital for Union soldiers. Quite a few soldiers actually died there, and a number of their ghosts walk through the house, the attendant said . . . and they go up and down the staircase.

“Wow!” said the children. “And what other rooms are haunted by ghosts?”

“Well, definitely Suite 23,” he said, “because that was the morgue.”

What? Number 23 is “General Lee’s Suite” – the room where G-Man and I laid our heads each night and listened to the shuffling on the stairs!

The attendant’s eyes were wide as he told the kids. “Your grandparents probably didn’t notice anything since they’re older people, but you children would have been able to detect something different down there.”

I was not overjoyed at this news, but the kids thought that having Bebe and Pop sleep in the morgue was quite a joke.

And in spite of those blasted ghosts tromping up and down the stairs, I slept well.

Happy Halloween!"

~Beth Boswell Jacks

Finally! Caroline is in a better mood. She let me take a picture of
her with Wonder Twin #1 (Wilkins)

More fun stuff below.

From the third floor deck. That's the Mississippi River in the
background.

I'm posting these from my iPhone as we watch the kid's play in the
front yard at Cedar Grove. More info is below (I think)

The Wonder Twins

The back yard at Cedar Grove.

Saturday morning with the family

It's Saturday morning and we're all sitting around watching the kids
play in the yard here at Cedar Grove.

We had a great time at the gallery opening last night, but this
morning is what I was really looking forward to. My sisters live
about three or four hours away, and even though my brother and parents
live just across town it seems like we never get to see each other.
So just sitting around with all the family on a relaxing Saturday
morning is very rare.
I've taken a few pics with my iPhone, but I can only post one at a
time apparently, so I hope this works!

Below left to right. Wilkins (Wonder Twin #1), Beth, Meredith, Wayne,
Jacks (Wonder Twin #2), and Lila. Caroline was cranky and refused to
be in the photo. I'll try sneak a photo later and get it up here.

Intersecting Visions

I am honored to be asked to participate in a group show at The Attic Gallery in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The show consists of several very talented artists from across the southeast and features two photographers, three painters and two potters. The opening reception is this Friday, October 12 from 7-9 PM. We would love to see you if you can make it!

The Laskers and the Longs

Two of the best friends Jamie and I have are Aaron and Mary McKay Lasker. I went to college with both of them, and was very excited when they decided to move to Cleveland just a few years after Jamie and I had moved back. Mary McKay works with Jamie and they are slowly taking over the office (kidding. . .but it would be very hard for anyone to argue that they aren't very good at what they do). Aaron and I took a very memorable trip to California together (thanks, Aaron!) last September and the least I can do is help them capture the early years of their children. We spent a Saturday morning creating images of their two kids Hill and Kay Ann, along with their nephew Cliff (son of Mary McKay's brother Cliff and his wife Allison). The parents (and grandma) even got nudged into a few of the photos.

Mary McKay wanted to make sure we got some good pics of Aaron's dog. Mookie is nearly 16 and obviously is moving a bit slower these days, so it was great that we were able to get some great shots before it becomes a lot harder for Mook to get around. He reminds me alot of my "college" dog, Socks (who I miss tremendously) so I was especially happy that I could do this for Aaron.

All-in-all the morning was a ton of fun. We had a blast! I love this job!

Here are a few images. Here is the slideshow.

Cotton Classic

June 2 I spent a Saturday morning a little differently than normal. On assignment for a local magazine, I photographed the Cotton Classic a 10k race held in Greenville. It was the third leg of a series of races held in Greenville, Tupelo, and Oxford. The male and female that accumulated the most points over the three races each received $5k--not a bad payday for three Saturday mornings. The winning time was right around 28 minutes--I'm not sure I could eat a pizza in 28 minutes much less run 6.5 miles!

For the main event I was stationed in the back of a pickup that traveled just in front of the leaders. It was expected that one of two Kenyans would win the race, which is exactly what happened. It was amazing to watch these guys at it barely seemed they were breaking a sweat despite 90+ degree heat.

Later that morning was a "fun-run" for the kids, and I REALLY had a fun time photographing this event. The kids were really into it and that makes things that much more fun for me. I saw several old friends that I hadn't gotten to visit with in a few years so I received an extra bonus for an already interesting morning. Plus, after the awards ceremony a local Blues musician played for a while and there is nothing better that Mississippi Blues near the Mississippi River!

Cindy & Michael

Cindy and Michael were married recently here in Cleveland. The weather was absolutely perfect. It is not uncommon for us to have 90+ degree days in May, but for Cindy and Michael the weather stayed very nice around the low 80's. The sun was out and the light was beautiful.

Here are a few images along with 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.

Tristan

Tristan Johnson is the son of Lance and Scottie. Lance and I serve on the Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department together (he is a much better firefighter than I), and it is always a pleasure to photograph the children of your good friends. It means so much to me when they enjoy the work that I do.

Lance is also an avid hunter and is turning into quite the videographer. He has been carrying a video camera on his hunting trips the last two years and has captured some amazing footage in the process. I am helping him edit a video that he will enter in a national contest with the hopes of getting hired on to do more of this (him--not me). A dentist AND a TV personality--what a combination!

Anyway, as soon as I finish editing the video I'll post it here for your enjoyment. The editing is a bit rough in spots, but hey, he is a dentist and I'm a still photographer. We've had a great time putting it all together, though.

Now back to Tristan. The slideshow is here.

Ann Riley

I took pictures of Ann Riley Cotton (daughter of Jason and Kelli) when she was just a few weeks old. This is the first session we've had since then and she has grown up so much! We had a beautiful day to work with, and the light in the house was fantastic. I wanted to try a few new techniques, so I added some texture to a few images that I thought warranted a little more "depth". Let me know what you think. You can see the slideshow here.

Meet Mollie Townsend

Valerie and Paul Townsend brought their adorable daughter Mollie by for some 1 year pics. She is too cute! We had a great time and Jamie and I can't wait to hang out with them more often.

Here are a few images. Check the slideshow out here.

Kashayla Miller

I had the pleasure of working with Kashayla last week for her Graduate Session. She is such a smart and lovely young lady. She plans on attending Alcorn State next year, and I wish her all the best!

You can view the slideshow from her session here.

I had the privilege today of helping Mary Margaret Roark create her headshots for the upcoming Miss Teen Mississippi USA pageant. The event will be held June 13-16 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Good luck Mary Margaret ! We can't wait to see you in the national event in August.

a beautiful Saturday morning

I spent a little over an hour yesterday with the family of one of my
favorite people--Pat Tibbs. Her newest granddaughter Rachel was
being christened later in the day, and since most of here family was
going to be around she wanted to get a few photos to remember the
day. I always have a great time with the Tibbs, and their kids are
so much fun!

Great time at the BPAC

The Bologna Performing Arts Center at Delta State University had a GREAT show yesterday -- a Delta Review. About 20 artists with Mississippi Delta ties came in for an afternoon matinee. Some still live in the area, some have moved off, but what talent! I was absolutley blown away.

We are very lucky to have a facility such as this in our area. Not many places get to see touring Broadway productions, ,and certainly not rural areas such as ours. We all need to support what is going on at the BPAC. We have such wonderful artists here in the Delta. Let's support them!