the dargie family ::: portrait

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Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Time: late afternoon
Tools: Nikon D700, Nikon D300, 2 SB-900's, 1 SB-800, natural light, Nikkor 180mm 2.8, 85mm 1.4, 35mm 2.0, 10.5mm 2.8 fisheye --Sigma 30mm 1.4

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

magan & blake ::: wedding

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

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

caroline & joe ::: wedding

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Well, it took me a few days to get back to Caroline and Joe's wedding thread, but I made it!

Here are a few images from their wedding. They were married in New Orleans back in July. The ceremony was held at the beautiful Trinity Episcopal Church with a wonderful reception right off of Jackson Square at Muriel's.

Thank you Caroline and Joe for allowing me to document your day.

~wj

caroline & joe ::: e session

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More from Caroline and Joe's wedding:

After spending the afternoon with Caroline creating her bridal images, we headed downtown to meet Joe. We walked around for just a bit, starting at the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge. Apparently that is the spot to go in Nashville, as there were several other photographers working there at the same time!

Here are a few of the images from the session. Hope you enjoy them. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

~wj

caroline :::bridals

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Continuing on with my "catch-up" from a busy spring and summer, I've got quite a few images from Caroline and Joe's wedding in July I'd like to share with all of you. I'm going to break them down into a few posts though, as it would probably be too many images to share all at once.

First, here are a few images from Caroline's bridal session. I went to Nashville in June (that's where she and Joe live) to work with her in creating these. We spent most of the afternoon at Cheekwood-Botanical Garden creating bridal portraits, then met Joe a bit later downtown for a quick session with the two of them.

The engagement session will be next, followed by images from the wedding in New Orleans. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

~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

just taking a few minutes to ponder and reflect . . .

Brett Dennen - "Heaven" from Michael Coleman on Vimeo.

I'm back in Cleveland after several weeks of travel for portrait and wedding commissions. I've been home now only two days in the past two weeks. While I am so very grateful for the work I am doing and the clients who have entrusted me, it is nice to be here to hug my wife and slowly begin my march to getting caught up. I have one more trip to Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville and surrounding areas next week, and that's really about it until the end of July.

In between editing today, I have also been working on a personal project that will begin in July. I have a trip planned to Honduras towards the end of the month, and another to Mexico planned for the beginning of October. I'll be adding more details as I'm able to do so, but for now, click the play button above. Close your eyes and listen to Brett Dennen's words. Take note of the images that enter your thoughts. Those are the images I hope to bring back from Honduras and Mexico.

Now, I'm off to get back to work on my recent commissions. I'm eager to share the images that were created from my time spent with you all. I am very lucky to be allowed to do what I do, and thankful to all of you that make it possible.

I hope you all find at least a small piece of heaven today, whatever that may be for you.

~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

iHolga

I've found a new camera.

It's not a fancy-schmantzy camera either. But it's one I have with me almost all of the time.

I love my "pro-gear" but sometimes it just gets too big and cumbersome to carry around everywhere. I'd really wanting to get a holga to play around with, but I just haven't found the time to do that yet. Point-and-shoot? Maybe. I've got a few, but don't always have them either.

So what did I find?

My iPhone. My buddy Chris Williams jokingly calls it my iHolga. The image above was created on a recent trip down Highway 61. Sure, I tweaked it a bit. And I won't be able to make very large prints from it. But I've found my iPhone is perfect for creating spontaneous images -- in part because I almost always have it with me. But I also love the "un-perfection" of it. As I've said many times -- focus is overrated!

So I'm creating a new product line for my gallery. Table Mounts. These are images printed about 3"x4", matted to just over 5"x7", mounted to foamcore, and then we add a little easel back so the finished piece can stand on its own. I've posted a few images below to give you an idea.

So my iPhone works perfectly for this. And I'm having a great time exploring with it.

By the way -- these are available not just for my personal work, but also for portrait and wedding images. And not all of the images are iHolgas. Quite a few were created using my 'real" cameras. If you'd like to find out more, just give us a ring or shoot us an email. I'd love to here your thoughts -- so if you don't mind -- post 'em below!

Now, a few images.




Each matte is signed and titled.




A built in easel is adhered to the back.




All lined up.






Hope you like them! Let me know what you think!

~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

Pictage PartnerCon Presentation

I've gotten a few emails this week asking for the link to the materials form my presentation at PartnerCon a week or so ago.

I thought I'd post it here. If you have any questions or comments let me know. I;d love to hear what you have to say.

Thanks again to all who attended.


The link:

http://www.wiljax.com/partnercon08



~wj

"scary" isn't so bad after all . . .

I did something scary this week. I stood in front of a room full of people and did my best to keep them from throwing things at me.

But I get ahead of myself. Let me digress just a bit.

This has been one hell of a year. So many ups and downs for both me and Jamie (especially Jamie). We have felt every emotion possible. And we've grown because of it. It was during one afternoon that was extremely trying, that I decided it was time to get better at just that . . .TRYING. And that's not always easy.

Trying requires that we extend ourselves. That we do things we're not used to doing. That we put ourselves out there for ridicule, embarrassment, criticism, and . . . . growth. Quite often it's fear that keeps us from doing new things, and I was determined to look eye to eye with that fear and see if I could beat it.

So when I found out that Pictage was accepting abstracts for presenters at it's annual LA Partner Conference, I submitted one. I figured it was a pretty long shot for me to be selected, but hey, at least I was trying, right? Well, they did pick me, I was stunned, and I spent the better part of two months thinking, fretting, writing, rehearsing, sweating, working, practicing, trashing, accepting, and yes, trying.

And on Tuesday I marched down the aisle to the little podium where I was to give my presentation. I stood in front of some of the best photographers in the world. I recognized so many of them right away. I just knew they would call my bluff at any minute, and I wanted quite badly to just run out of that room and never come back. Who the hell am I ? What the hell am I doing sharing my thoughts with this group?

And that, of course, is the point. I got through my presentation. I tackled my fear. And I found out just a little bit more about who I am.

So thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who came to hear me speak. It really was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. I hope you gained at least some small nugget of information that can help you down the line. Thank you to all of the wonderful folks at Pictage for giving me a chance to do this. Thank you to all of the wonderful photographers that I met, and friends that I made, for inspiring me to continue to push myself to become the best photographer -- and best ME -- I can be.

And thank you Jamie, for listening patiently while I whined about not being able to do this. You were right.

All I needed to do was try.


To all of you. Go try. Do something new. Do something you've always thought about, but were scared to attempt. Make time. Don't wait for it.

It's a pretty good feeling when you do it.



~wj

continuing to learn . . . .

I spent a few days recently in Asheville, North Carolina with two of my great photographer friends, Corey McNabb and Amber Holritz at their most recent McWorkshop. I was only able to attend two days out of the five day event, but they were well worth it. You never stop learning, and my trip was a great example of that.

This week wasn't all about photography (though I learned so many great things that I can't wait to implement), it was about taking a step when you're a bit hesitant to do so, being active rather than passive, and making an effort to connect with others.

I laughed more in two days than I have in quite some time. I learned a lot about myself, my photography, and my friends. And made several new ones. Thanks for letting me hang out guys, I had a blast and learned more than you probably realize.

If any of you readers get a chance, go check out some of these great photographers that were at the workshop with me:

Jessica Campbell
Laurie Johnson
Jessica Powell
Jill Schwarzkopf
Mariah Smith
Chris Young
Maureen Swanson

And finally, a few images I created while I was there:


~wj

nancy margaret & Andy ~ esession . . . round 2-dc

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I flew up to DC a little over a week ago to create a few more images of Nancy Margaret and Andy for their guest sign-in book. I can't wait to wrap up the design on it. It's going to be a challenge, though, because I've now got twice as many images from which to pick! And I've got to edit them down to only 20 or 30! Between Oxford and DC, it'll really be a fun book to display and share.

Nancy Margaret and Andy, thank you both for being such gracious hosts to me while I was in Washington. I truly had a blast and I can't wait for the wedding in October.



~wj

PartnerCon

I'm quite honored and humbled to be asked to speak at this year's Pictage Partner Conference to be held in Los Angeles September 9th and 10th. Most of you photographers are probably quite familiar with what this is, but for those of you who aren't, PartnerCon is an annual conference held by Pictage where many of the worlds best portrait and weddings photographers come for education and creative fellowship. It's called Partner Conference, as most of the attendees work directly with Pictage who provides our online hosting and printing services, among other things.

My presentation will address the importance of photographers developing their personal work. I'll talk a little about how to continue to explore our own photographic visions, and how to work that in to your portrait and wedding business. My goal is to make things both informative and inspirational.

If you're planning on attending PartnerCon and would like to know a little bit more about what I'll be discussing, feel free to drop me an email. I'll be happy to tell you more of the specifics. You can see the complete schedule of presenters HERE.

In the next few weeks I'll be adding a little more information about this. For those of you attending, I'm really looking forward to meeting all of you. It should be a fun and inspiring two days.

Take care and keep exploring.

~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

Happy Fourth of July!

Baseball, hotdogs, and apple pie.

Lila ~dancing queen

These images are of my youngest niece, Lila.

I call her the Dancing Queen because she dances as much -- if not more -- than almost any child I've ever met. She is also the songwriter in our family. I haven't kept a scientific count, but my gut tells me this child has written and performed at least 150 original tunes in the last 18 months. Perhaps her mom or dad can help us out with a more accurate total? She is quite prolific!

Keep singing and dancing Lila. Keep singing and dancing.


Love you tons.

~wj

Caroline ~co-starring The Wonder Twins

More photos from our recent family trip. This time I took Caroline out along with The Wonder Twins (Wilkins , light hair ; and Jacks, dark hair). We had a great morning playing and exploring.

In the middle of our adventure Caroline looked at me and asked, "Can you make a movie with these images?"

"Well. Sort of," I replied.

"Good. We're ready to be famous. That way we can start our band."

By the time the trip was over, they had cheerfully and unanimously named their new band "The Rockers". And this was to be not only the images that made them famous, but also the ones to be used for their album cover.

"It's more efficient that way." That's how Wilkins put it.

Alas, it was not meant to be. By the end of the day the band was no more.

"I can't take this Hollywood lifestyle, " bemoaned Jacks. He, of course, was all set to be the quiet, moody art-eest that was so aloof his fans would just HAVE to know more.

"I'm quitting the band."

Caroline overheard. "Well, if Jacks is out, then I am, too."

I turned to Wilkins. "So, are you done as well?"

Wilkins is the showman. He was all set to be David Lee Roth to Jacks' Kurt Cobain. (Caroline would be a mixture of Cher, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, and Liza Minelli) My sister had told the three all about Elvis only hours before. Wilkins was smitten to the point that we had already ordered him the classic Vegas jump suit that was The King's trademark.

He curled his lip and snarled at me, cocked his hip and mumbled in his best Elvis impersonation.

"Uhhh, that's right, baby. The King has left the building. Uhhhhh, thank ya. Uhhhhh thank ya very muuuch."


_____________________________________________________________________________________________


Tomorrow: niece Lila -- Dancing Queen

_____________________________________________________________________________________________


peace, love, harmony, and sequined jump suits with the collar flipped up

(all of which make me smile)

~wj

Caroline ~a study

Jamie and I spent a little time with our nieces and nephews recently. I was excited about the three or four days we would be with them, because I really wanted to try a few things photographically and they always make great subjects. I wanted to go beyond just making "pretty pictures" and did my best to push myself to not only create photos of the kids, but to create feeling as well.

I dunno. I just have such a curiosity about the vulnerabilities of all humans. We're born innocent. We say what we mean. We mean what we say. We're not afraid to show our emotions. Then somewhere along the way --slowly -- but often quite certainly, we begin to build walls. Rather than admitting our fears, our worries, our ignorances -- we craft a life we think is correct. Often hiding to others the vulnerabilities we all feel in one way or another. We don't always know we're doing it, and I don't mean to imply this is bad -- or good -- it just is what it is. And I am fascinated by it.

If we are lucky, we recognize the boundaries we've built in our lives. We recognize them early enough that we are able to do something about them. I doubt we ever truly overcome them, but I do think we can whittle them to the point that we reclaim some of that innocence that we were blessed to have when we entered this world. But it's not easy. And just as it takes time to build them, it takes even longer to tear them down.

So while spending a little time with my nieces and nephews this week, I decided I would take the opportunity to use them as models. These images are an exploration. An exploration of life. Of childhood. And of my own feelings and curiosities. Children are truly a wonder, and we adults could all do ourselves a service if we tried to be more like them.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now, on a technical note. I've had a few questions from other photographers about how these images were created. They were all photographed with a Nikon D200 and deliberately underexposed a stop or two so that they would be a little more grainy and film-like. But the key ingredient, technically speaking, is the Lensbaby. Well, that and not being afraid of a little (or a lot) of blur. The images were then processed in Lightroom using some custom presets, and a few were textured a bit in Photoshop to finalize the effect I was looking for. If you have any questions about how they were created feel free to post them here or email me directly. I'll answer as best I can.

Take care and continue to explore.

~wj

Airport Rollercoaster

Somtimes the simplest things garner the most excitement.

-------------------------------------
Posted via iPhone after hearing The Wonder Twins shout "This is better
than Disney!" for the whole tram to hear.

~wj

The Wonder Twins

Jamie and I will be playing mom and dad to our twin nephews Jacks (L) and
Wilkins(R) for the next five days. It's kinda like looking after the
Tazmanian Devil -- times two!

If you haven't heard from us in two or three days, please call the
authorities! We're gonna have our hands full.

------------------------------------------------
Posted via iPhone, as I wonder whether or not it is safe to fall asleep.

~wj

Name This Photo ~the backstory

The video above will give you an idea of how Jamie and I spent our ninth anniversary. That's not us in the video (thank goodness), but it is the same stage where we participated, and that event was one of the challenges we "enjoyed".

It started with a business trip to Los Angeles. We both had some work out there, and originally had planned to come home just as soon as we were done. At the last minute we decided to stick around for one more day and spend it together. It was our only day without work obligations. We rented a car. We bought sunscreen. We had so many options but only one day to complete them. After kicking around lots of fine culture ideas -- museums, theater, art galleries -- we finally settled on a choice. High culture lost. Pop culture won. We went to Universal Studios.

We did the typical things. Toured the backlot. Rode the new Simpsons ride. Watched the Shrek 3-D movie. In general we were having a pleasant enough time and feeling like teenagers again. While eating lunch we heard an announcement over the PA that casting calls for the Fear Factor -Live! show would begin in fifteen minutes.

"Let's do it," Jamie said to me through a wide-eyed smile.

"Seriously?"

"Yes. C'mon. It'll be fun"

"I dunno about the food part, Jamie. I don't think I can do that."

"Sure you can. C'mon. It'll be an adventure."

"OK. But we make a pinkie promise. Either they pick us both or they pick neither of us. Deal?"

"Deal."

We were picked. Me, Jamie, and four guys from California. It wasn't as tough as we thought it would be. There were six slots available. Six of us showed up. That's it. So we all were in. Who says Hollywood is tough to crack?

I won't go into the minutiae of the show. Those details are much better when Jamie and I act them out. But I can tell you this. It involved hanging from thirty feet in the air, reaching into a tank full of live eels, maneuvering across a spinning floor, struggling with American Gladiator-style opponents, flying around the stage tethered only to a very thin cable, an inverted bicycle-thingie, electricity (LOTS of electricity), and, of course, a smoothie. Ahhh, the smoothie.

No need to offend you with what was in the smoothie. I'm sure you've probably got some idea. Multiply that thought by a hundred. I still can taste it. Uggh.

But the worst part? Well, there's two things actually.

The first are those awful spandex outfits. I think I would have preferred to be naked. You know the dream where you walk into a room, then become horrified because you realize everyone is dressed and you're as nude as the day you were born? I have that dream several times a year. I lived it last week. I need therapy now.

And the second? This requires a short story from the show.

At the start of the show they had us lined up backstage. Our only instruction was to run out on stage "and show some energy. We've got a packed house of a little over two thousand." OK. Now I'm nervous. And naked.

We run out on stage. Five guys and Jamie. Four of them from California with family and friends rooting them on. Jamie is the only girl. And then me. And all I can think is, "just don't embarrass yourself." Too late. The spandex sold me out on that one.

The hosts start on Jamie's end with the introductory interviews. One of the California guys is first.

"Give it up for Mike everybody!" The host is working the crowd.

Mike gets a few cheers. Not overwhelming but certainly respectable. He says something, but I don't really remember what it was because all I could do was think about how ridiculous I must be looking. Next is Jamie.

I figured since she was the only female the crowd would pull for her. Boy did they ever.

"And how about a hand for Jamie," shouts the host.

Eruption. Yells. Whistles. Thunderous ovation. Two thousand people stand and cheer as if Jamie just hit the game winning homerun in Game 7 of the World Series. She was quite charming, and I was glad to see her finally get a chance to use her theater degree in Hollywood. I was very proud of her.

The other contestants are introduced, and while none received the ovation that Jamie got, they all had nice little fan clubs in the audience. I was happy for them as well.

Finally the judge came to me. "Be humble and witty and charming. Be humble and witty and charming. Be humble and witty and charming," I whispered to myself. I was definitely nervous and my mind was racing. Or perhaps the tight pants had just cut off circulation to my brain.

"And how about a big cheer for Jamie's husband Will !!!!!"

Here comes my moment. My time to shine. I'm going to be discovered now and my life will change forever!

I lift my head and step forward.

Crickets. Nada. Nothing. SILENCE. In a room full of people -- have I mentioned it was over two thousand? -- not a single person cheered for me. They did not clap. They did not whistle. They did not yell. They did nothing. I brought the show to a screeching halt before it ever really began. It was now quite obvious that I wasn't as witty and charming as I thought. But I couldn't quit, so I mumbled something stupid and got off the stage as quickly as I could.

Not only was I naked. I was insignificant. At least to this crowd. As I climbed the stairs to get to my platform where the first event would take place, I began repeating my mantra, "It's never as good as it seems. It's never as bad as it seems." Moments later the platform fell out from beneath me and I was left dangling from a bar, thirty feet in the air, with no choice but to hold on. I didn't know how long I could do it, or how the people beside me would fare. Only time would sort that out.

I guess it was an odd little metaphor for what had just happened, and for what was about to happen. Crazy stuff shows up in life, and it's usually not the way we expect it. Especially when we try things we're not accustomed to doing. We're cheered, revered, ridiculed, ignored -- often all in one day. But we keep moving forward. So that's what I did.

Oh, and the significance of the photo? That's me and Christian. We made it to the finals.

He won, and I was happy for him. Yeah, it would've been nice to win. It would've been nice to thumb my nose at that crowd, show them that I could succeed even without their affection. But who really cares. Nobody there would've remembered anything about that show the next day. Nor would they care. And the prize wasn't really that great anyway. But deep down, I knew I didn't quit, and that I did the best I could.

I got much more out of this adventure with my wife than potential victory on a live version of a show that is no longer on the air. I had a fun time with my best friend on our anniversary, and now I've -- we've -- got a pretty cool story to share at parties.

If you've read this far, thank you. I wish you the best. I hope you got a little chuckle out of this.

Now, go try something scary, then come back and tell me all about it!


~wj

We have a Winner !

well, two actually.

Susan Solo and Ruth Rackley (how's that for alliteration) both submitted the correct answer about the same time, so I decided to declare them both the winner. I'll post more later when I have time, but for now, the photo below should give you an idea of what the answer is (if you haven't already read their comments)

Final Clue . . . .

OK. My "Name This Photo" Contest will probably end sometime tomorrow. You can see the photo and rules by scrolling below, or by clicking HERE.

So, here are a few more clues.

1. It is not skydiving.

2. It involves a TV show.

3. It was a contest.

4. We needed mouthwash.

And that's about it. Guess away!

~wj

A clue to help with the contest

While I take a quick break from editing photos, I thought I'd provide a little clue to the contest below.

This, of course, does not count as the "next post" (see rules below), so feel free to continue guessing.

And now your clue -- or riddle

an unexpected life event
a nervous climb, but quick descent
my love, we thought, we'd make a team
but then the laughs, perhaps a scream
so unity we lost too fast
'twas not to be, 'twas not to last
our struggles through our common fears
we'd pondered much throughout the years
such strength, such guile, and bravery
but still a taste unsavory
to reunite, we found our way
to chuckle at our sudden day

Anymore guesses?

Good luck !

~wj

Name This Photo ~contest

OK. That's me on the left. Christian is the guy on the right.

If you can guess the significance of this photo, I will reward you with a $20 iTunes gift certificate!

Here are the rules.

1. You have to post your answer here
2. You have to at least be relatively close to the answer. I don't expect anyone to get it exactly right, but I do at least expect you to be somewhere near the ballpark.
3. Only answers posted before I make my next blog post are eligible. Sometimes I post several times a week. Sometimes I take a little more time. What I'm saying is, I'm not sure when my next post will be.
4. Sorry, family. You're not eligible because I've already told all of you about it. Please don't ruin it for the others. You can post, just don't reveal the secret.
5. And along those lines, I've already told many of you non-family members. So y'all are out for now as well. Maybe next time.

So, if you meet this criteria, guess away. I'm anxious t hear what y'all have to say. Just know, that there are some hints already in this post.


Take care.

~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

NOLA JazzFest -- brilliance defined

I first heard the John Butler Trio late one Saturday night while watching an Austin City Limits rerun. This was about a year ago. I was blown away by John's talent and the unique sound of his band. It's a funky, bluesy, caribbean style infused with heavy beats, driving guitars, brilliant musicianship and infectious spirit. And the lyrics are poignant and moving.

I've had their music front and center on my ipod for the last few months and when I heard they would be performing at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival I knew I really wanted to find a way to attend. Luckily I was able to do so. And even better was that Jamie was able to head down to her hometown and attend JazzFest with me.

When I say that this man is one of the most brilliant artists I've ever encountered I do not say that lightly. He abilities are tremendous and he displays them in so many ways during his performance. Guitar. Banjo. Xylophone. Stand up bass. Kettle drums. Harmonica. Electric piano. So many incredible sounds blended together to form one of the most moving hours I've ever experienced.

Here is a performance by John that displays just how good he is. When listening to this, keep in mind that this is one man; one guitar. It sounds like at least three of each of not four or five. Give it about sixty seconds. He starts softly and builds into a performance that will leave you with little more to say than . . . "Wow"



Now, if you enjoyed that here's a link to pick a few of his songs on iTunes. While the studio stuff is great, I highly recommend the Live at St. Gallen album. Studio recordings do not do this man justice. The energy he displays in front of a live audience is amazing, and it's just not something you can capture in a studio -- no matter how brilliant the technicians are.

CLICK HERE TO GO THE JOHN BUTLER TRIO iTUNES PAGE

Right at the end of his set, the rains came. Not a hard, heavy rain, but a soft, cleansing one. Rather poetic and fitting I thought, considering the audience. When the first raindrops struck the crowd a celebratory cheer echoed around the stage just as one of the band's songs was reaching its pinnacle. Here's a picture of Jamie I took with my phone just after she covered up to protect herself from the rain. John, of course, is on the screen in the background.



Music is a powerful thing, my friends. I often wonder if it isn't the most powerful artform that we have. Just as any art, it's often done just for the sake of doing it--there's very little purpose behind it. But when the artist has a point, and has mastered his or her craft, music can change the world. One person at a time. John Butler is one of those artists. He has a point. Listen to his, then find yours.

Good luck on your journey. It's a wonderful ride if you'll let it be.

~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

baby Avery

Jamie and I did wind up staying in today and I decided to catch up on some editing. So here is a bit of it. More to come the next few days.

About two weeks ago I went down to Laurel, Mississippi to create some black and white images of the area for an interior designer client. While down there I met April and her daughter Avery for a portrait session. I didn't realiuze it beforehand, but after meeting April I learned that her father-in-law is one of my Cousin/Uncle (long story) Roy's best friends. I've met Grandpa Tony many times and played several rounds of golf with him as well, and he is one of my favorite people. Always smiling, always laughing, I don't think I've ever seen Tony in a bad mood. So it was a pleasure to create the first "professional" photos of his granddaughter. I can't wait to see him again so we can talk about it.

We created these images at my friend George Bassi's home. George is the executive director of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel. If you ever get the chance to visit, definitely do so. It really is a little gem of a museum, and the town of Laurel is so lucky to have it there.

Oh, and we did go see Juno tonight. Wow. It is a very smart, funny movie. Ellen Page absolutely deserves her Oscar nomination. If you enjoyed Little Miss Sunshine, you'll love this movie as well. Which, now that I think about it, is not surprising considering they are both Fox Searchlight movies.

And now, a few of Avery's images.

First day on the slopes.

Jamie and I are spending a long weekend in Colorado with her mother
and step-father, as well as two good friends of ours, Aaron and Mary
Mckay. I promised my niece Meredith that I would blog everyday while
we were out here so she could keep up with the trip. So here you go
Meredith!

Today was our first day skiing and at the end of the afternoon I
convinced Jamie and Aaron to make one last run down Longshot. I
blogged about this a few weeks ago, so if you saw that you might
remember that Longshot is a run, just on the edge of the mountain at
Snowmass. It run from the top of the mountain all the way to the
bottom. An elevation of over 11,000 feet. The kicker is that you
have to hike up the mountain about 300 yards just to get to the start
of the run, and once you're on it, there's no getting off.

We were all pretty worn out by the time we got to the top, and Jamie
and Aaron were about ready to kick me, but they did great and we all
made it down. Here are a few pics. Hope you like them Meredith!

It wasn't really dark, but it sure seemed that way as we were walking the 300 yards uphill to the top of Longshot.

My beautiful wife Jamie taking a break while we caught our breath before heading down the slope.

My buddy Aaron catching his breath as well.

Me and Jamie trying to work up the energy to get started.

Aaron trying to decide if we're still gonna be friends when this is all over.

Ragan & Jack

I'm wrapping up orders for Christmas--so much to do!

I met Jack, Ragan, and their parents--John and Melissa--in Memphis recently for a downtown photo shoot. I am flattered that this is the third year that they have asked me to create images for their Christmas cards. Melissa always wants to do something that reflects the family's roots, so the previous two years we created images around the Delta--Melissa's home. This year, we focused on downtown Memphis (where the family currently lives), primarily Beale Street and the Mississippi River Bridge.

This image from two years ago was created in the middle of a large, empty cotton field that was taking a break for the winter and biding its time until spring.



This one was used for last year's card and was created at Dockery Farms, a place considered by many to be the birthplace of American Music. So it seemed to fit.



And here are a few images from this year's session in Memphis!








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:

OSP NOLA

Part of my trip last week was spent in New Orleans. I met several other photographers in the French Quarter and we spent three days listening to great speakers and roaming the streets. We had several great models assisting us, and boy were they ever patient with us! I can't imagine how tough it must be to model in the first place, much less in the middle of Bourbon Street with 10 photographers yelling different directions at you. Thanks to all of our models for all of their hard work.

On Monday night we had a night shoot in the French Quarter, and Tuesday we went across the river to a cemetery in Algiers. Here are a few images from those shoots.

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.

Harry Potter. . . perhaps?

Well, actually this is my nephew Wayne. For the last week I've been on a whirlwind tour through south Mississippi, culminating with a three-day stay in New Orleans for some workshops, client meetings, and "brain-picking" along with several other great photographers. (I'll post more about all that very soon)

So on my way back north, as I slowly head home (I'll be back on Sunday after a few more appointments and meetings) I stopped today in McComb for a portrait session (the Sanders. . . .more to come) and a chance to spend some time with my sister and her family. Nights like this are one of the benefits to my job, and I am grateful for them.

My nephew Wayne is one of the most intense, most brilliant children I know. He is 10, carries a book with him everywhere (and I mean everywhere), and has written more stories in his 10 years than I'll write in a lifetime. He is his father's child (brother-in-law Charles is a brilliant writer himself).

Tonight, he was reading away and I couldn't resist snapping a few photos before he went to bed.

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

Amber & Christopher

Amber and Christopher were married a few weeks ago near Chattanooga. The weather was wonderful, the settings beautiful and the couple. . . .well, they were soooo much fun to work with. You can see their engagement session here.

From the rehearsal Friday night. . .




And the rehearsal dinner. . .






Just before the ceremony. . .




Amber's jewelry and accessories were family heirlooms. . .







And for more images. . .the slideshow.

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.

Thank You Clarion Ledger and Attic Gallery

The Clarion Ledger in Jackson ran a nice little piece about tonight's opening at the Attic Gallery. I was flattered the they chose to use one of my images.

Jamie and I are headed out in about an hour or so to meet lots of family and friends in Vicksburg. It should be a blast. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone, especially my nieces and nephews!

(Hi to all--Meredith, Caroline, Lila, Wayne, Beth, and the Wonder Twins--Wilkins and Jacks. old y'all I'd talk about you here!)

Click here for the Clarion Ledger writeup.

A beautiful night at the Cadre Building

What a great night!

Jennifer and Bob were married last night in a beautiful ceremony and reception at the Cadre building in downtown Memphis. We had a great time and created some great images. I got to meet a lot of really great people and saw several faces that I haven't seen since my time as a junior high English teacher nearly 15 years ago.

Settling in for big day tomorrow

So I've just arrived in my hotel room here in Tunica, MS. Amazing how
much this place has changed in the last 15 years. What once was
cotton fields as far as you could see is now filled with neon lights
and tons of activity. Tunica County was once the poorest county in
America. It now is the wealthiest in Mississippi. Amazing.

Anyway, a good friend of mine was nice enough to set me up with a
hotel room for the weekend and I'm now settling in for a big wedding
tomorrow in Downtown Memphis. You should see it. You'd think I'd be
out playing blackjack or something, but instead I'm ironing shirts,
polishing shoes, and charging camera batteries! Oh, and watching
foorball in the background. Multi-tasking at it's finest!

It's about a 20 minute drive from here to the location, so I should
get a good night's rest and be ready to go when I meet Jennifer and
Bob around noon. The weather should be perfect and the venue is
gorgeous. I can't wait!

"New Orleans" to debut tonight

Today is the 2 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. I've spent a lot of time the last several months working on a personal project focusing on the city of New Orleans. Wednesday night will be the opening of my show, and will feature nearly 60 panels--52 of which are my photographic images--telling a story of the last 2 years in New Orleans. The other 8 panels are text panels helping to move the story along.

I am very excited and very nervous, as this has been my baby for nearly 18 months and it's finally ready to share with the world--I hope. I've shared a few of the images the last couple of months here as I developed the look and feel. Everything is highly textured, pretty blurry, and at times a bit confusing--all done very much purposefully. I want the image to feel like the city feels--a bit beat up, but with tremendous beauty underneath all that muck. I hope I've pulled it off.

Anyway, if any of you are anywhere near North Mississippi Wednesday night I would love for you to stop by. Wine, cajun food and lots of good music will also be a part of the evening.

And whether you can make it or not, please keep those affected by Katrina in your prayers.

For more information you can download the press release here.

Dutch. . .is that a cool name or what?

So I've been working on a book from a photo session I did back in june, and I realized I haven't posted anything from that session. Shame on me!

These are some pages from my photo sessoin with Dutch, the son of Andy and Becky Songy. Becky and my wife Jamie have been BFF's for a looooooooooooong time. Needless to say, when Jamie and I started going out, becky was one of the first that had to give me the seal of approval before we could get to far along. Thank goodness she did!

So here is the layout. The design is for a square coffee table book. let me know if you have any comments or questions about it.

~wj

(click on the image to see it larger)

More from Jennifer & Bob

I've been editing Jennifer and Bob's engagement session the last few days and the images are great! They had so much fun with each other and it really shows. Here is the slideshow.

Jennifer & Bob

Well, I first have to apologize for being so tardy in posting! It's been a busy month--which is a good thing. I have a ton of stuff to put up here so there should be quite a few new posts the next few days.

The first is an engagement session from Saturday (7-7-07). Let me preface this by saying that my first job post-college was teaching 7th and 8th grade English (as well as coaching football and baseball) at Marshall Academy in Holly Springs, MS. While Jennifer was not in one of my classes she was a student (she was a Junior at the time). So it's kinda strange beng called "Coach Jacks" during a photo shoot.

I met Jennifer and Bob around 4:00 PM in Memphis and we didn't stop until around midnight! But it really only seemed like about an hour or two had passed. We went all over downtown--the river (naturally) , a Redbirds ballgame, the trolley, Flying Saucer (one of my favorites!), and of course, Beale Street.

The wedding is in Downtown Memphis on September 29 and I can not wait. It's going to be too much fun!

I'm headed to New Orleans

I've scheduled a trip to new Orleans the week of June 11-17. I'll be scheduling session beginning Tuesday, June 12 and continuing through Saturday, June 16. Each day will have two time slots available--11 AM and 4:30 PM. If you are interested in setting up an appointment give me a call or shoot me an email.

Check one off the list.

Ever make a list of things you'd like to do before it's too late? Run with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain ? See the Sistine Chapel ? Surf in Costa Rica? Well, yesterday Jamie and I got to put a check on our list. It may not seem like much to Bay Area folk, but for a couple of small town Southerners our bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge was incredible. I was SOOOOO proud of Jamie. She did great.

We rented a couple of bikes and headed out, crossing the Bridge and making our way across the bay to Sausalito. The view of San Francisco from there is absolutely gorgeous. We had lunch, then took the ferry back across. What an afternoon!

San Francisco !

We just got to San Francisco last night, and I immediately ran into an old high school friend, Bradley Peacock. Bradley is now an attorney for FedEx in Memphis and was in San Francisco with some co-workers. I hadn't seen him in over 10 years, and Jamie (my wife) and had a nice visit with him. Jamie and I are about to head out to explore the city for a bit before she has to get back and go toa few meetings. I'll post more later.