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"Parade" by Wexx

This one is a little late. I meant to post it on Veteran's Day, but I had a soiree and completely forgot to do so. Anyway, its a shot of the 101st Airborne homecoming parade in Cool Springs. I really like this shot and I wanted to share.

Wexx's Place

"Mikey" by Wexx

A new portrait that I had fun doing.

Visualize

"Vocalize" by Wexx

So, here is an updated photograph of Thaxton Ward in action.

I like this shot because its natural, not touched. A little over-exposure gives it a glow and the stage lights paint it red. Yeah, rock.

The One

"The Shadow" by Wexx

During one of my assignments in Louisiana, Matt and I picked up this little jewel. It was titled "Black Jesus w/ Cloth Robe." Nothing inside me could have stopped me from making the purchase. You must understand, I am completely intrigued with religious imagery... the more bizarre, the better.

Anyway, Brian and I were here at the illustrious Wexx Studio and he saw the wonderful figurine sitting still neatly boxed. He demanded we take it out. I obliged. Brian grabbed a light and started casting massive shadows from the icon on the wall. He demanded now that I take photographs as he laughed wildly. Honestly, I was uneasy. I had never seen such a disturbed look in his somniferous eyes. He was all sorts of terrifying. He looked right through me, sneezed, and then pelted me with a handful of orange slices.

The Jitters

"Desperate Eyes" by Wexx

Well, something just wasn't right here. I couldn't put my finger on it, but the bride was well short of blushing. She seemed to dance thinly back and forth over the lines of paranoia and terror. She said everything would be OK in the morning. I heard her crying several times to a nameless friend on her cellular about how he tried to tear the ring from her finger as he shoved her high hopes of matrimony to the ground, the tires of his Corvette bleeding off into the distance.

He must have been a real tyrant... or maybe he just grabbed his guts and ran. Either way, she should have opted for my cosmetics diva to fix her makeup. Anyway, she was a good sport and tried to smile. Something kind of unsettling about it all...

Fear and Loathing in 1954

"The Ameri-CAN" by Wes Aldridge

Once again, my brother. We watched "Walk The Line" and got all drunk and tear-faced, so naturally, we had to bring things back down from the stratosphere in good ol' Gonzo fashion. This place we are staying in is right out of 1954, a rather incredible sight to behold. Its like time-warping, unintentionally of course, and waking up all "Leave It To Beaver"-style. Anyway, needless to say the Turkey gobbled and the camera snapped. This one has some kind of surreal auora to it, can't exactly explain it. But, it is what it is

We Got One...

"Engagement" by Wes Aldridge

Mindy and Barry needed an engagement portrait, so we did one. Big thanks to Brian McCord for helping me do this one. He did all the grunt work, ha! B Money rocks. But, at least he wasn't terminated while making brisk movements with his mutt. And, oh yes, thanks to Kate-O for her emotional support, the carrying of a light stand, the buying of drinks for the crew, and keeping the horde of young Korean children from ran-sacking the gear.

On Assignment: Harlingen, Texas

"Morning Formation" by Wes Aldridge

I went to the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas, this morning to get some shots of the cadets in marching formation practicing for graduation on Saturday. The sunlight wasn't really breaking through the clouds, but that was alright because it made for a great silhouette shot.

A replica to the Iwo Jima monument is on the MMA campus and luckily, this is where the formation was being held. Today, I post this photo in honor of Joe Rosenthal, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Associated Press photographer who shot the original image of the men raising the flag at Iwo Jima. Joe passed away in late August of this year, but as this replica proves, the image he captured will live on forever.

Wexx Studio

"To Begin" by Wes Aldridge

Today it begins. I moved into a photo studio/apartment today... Wexx Studio it shall be called.

Some of my greatest friends, Matt and Scooter, came and pitched in a big hand. Thanks fellas. But, as usual, it was mom and dad who came up to be the ultimate moving crew.

This was the end of the move in. I conned the two of them into posing by the awesome brick wall that will become a cornerstone of Wexx Studio. Dad, looking proudly into my lens, all decked out in his Georgia Bulldogs gear. Mom, looking off to the side at the miles of boxes that need to be unpacked. These are good people. They're the kind of folks that volunteer to help you move on a holiday weekend and don't complain about it. Good hard working, honest people that will put a barrel of elbow grease in, even after they've got nothing left to give. I wanted them to look in this shot exactly how they looked, no frills and prepping. I wanted to show that. I love them like nothing else.

One With Nature

"Doe" by Wes Aldridge


"Buck" by Wes Aldridge

The heavy cloud coverage blowing in from the hurricanes off the coast haven't allowed for much sunlight to do nice exterior shooting on this seasonal romp. But, sun aside, here are a couple of nice ones I snagged today.

These photos make me think about the folks that hunt and kill these beautiful creatures for sport. I can't understand it, sorry hunters. I mean I felt a connection with the buck and doe when I took these photos. It was late in the day and they were grazing in this field. I myself was a little hungry for dinner too. I stood there and got within 20 yards of the two. They didn't mind me being there because I wasn't firing a huge gun at them. I was simply going about my business admiring their beauty and they were having some grub. I would snap a frame and the shutter would break the silence and catch their attention, not startle them, but they would just look at me as if they were saying "cheese" for the camera. It was all-in-all a very harmonious encounter.

Bear E Goes To Play

"Bear E" by Wes Aldridge

Well, this one was a little too raw for most, so yeah, here's an edit.

Bear E big. Bear E strong. Bear E crazy. Bear E wild. Bear E like salsa. Bear E like cerveza. Bear E no like Joker. Bear E no like MACE.

Still funny, just not as insane.

Another Day, Another Shot

"B Money" by Wes Aldridge

Well, Brian and I went to do an assignment on a horse whisperer today. It was very interesting. This man could take some of the most extremely wild horses I've seen and make them completely docile. This is a shot of Brian, not the horse whisperer himself. We were searching for the perfect location for his portrait and found this spot. Brian ended up getting a pretty awesome shot of the fella and some neat shots of me as well.

Finished and back

"Pong" by Wes Aldridge

After a long and gruelling seven day shoot in Asheville (not to mention 12 straight days of working, haha), I have returned home. I am quite delirious because for some unknown reason, I haven't slept in the past two nights. I thought I would post something cool, but very pointless that I shot. Now, its time for a cocktail to help crash out. Early 7:30 shoot in the morning, and the cycle goes on.

On Assignment: Asheville, North Carolina... the end must be near

"The Altar" by Wes Aldridge

This is the main alter in the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville. I really am terribly exhausted and I have nothing to say, but I wanted to post this one.

On Assignment: Asheville, North Carolina... still

Today our Asheville adventures led us to the Town Pump Tavern. In all my years of patroning bars, this is my favorite by far. I described it best to Mark as this place being a place where Hunter Thompson would come in for a beer. I will be back here. Here are some shots from it that I want to share.


"Outside" by Wes Aldridge


"Tavern Flag" by Wes Aldridge


"Jessica" by Wes Aldridge


"Bulls Eye" by Wes Aldridge


"The King" by Wes Aldridge

On Assignment: Asheville, North Carolina... Day Four

"Lifeless" by Wes Aldridge

This is a shot from Riverside Cemetery in Asheville, NC. This place is where Thomas Wolfe and O'Henry are buried, so its pretty interesting. But, I actually enjoy this shot much more than the literary idols graves. So, here is what I like.

On Assignment: Asheville, North Carolina

"Mountain Music" by Wes Aldridge

Today was pretty good, busy as hell, but pretty good. We are working on the Asheville Visitors Guide. Its a pretty big deal publication for our company.

I was fortunate enough to do a portrait of an incredible, multiple Grammy-winning Appalachian musician and storyteller named David Holt. This guy has played with some big timers... one of the most notable is Doc Watson.

We traveled to his mountain home and he had a great view from a porch swing looking into a vast wooded area. David brought out a beautiful steel guitar and banjo for the shoot, amazing instruments to look at and even more amazing to hear him playing a concert for two in the mountains. I worked the angles and lighting for the shot, but it was wonderful because it was a private concert for me in this man's natural element. It was natural and authentic, a sacred moment in my photographic career. This was another one of those moments that it really pays to be a photographer and love what I do.

Statue at Brooks

"Spring" by Wes Aldridge

Well, I am bored as hell right now. In Asheville, NC, and tired as hell after a day full of shooting starting about 6 a.m. Yeah, I love this photo. There isn't much skill involved or anything like that, I just like how it looks. It is from Memphis, Tenn., at the Brooks Museum. Enjoy.

Fashionably Red

"Jill" by Wes Aldridge

Everyone, meet Jill. She had an amazingly red dress. We had a session in a destroyed building. The clash of elegance and decay. I think its beautiful.

On Assignment: Memphis, Tennessee... Beale Street

First things first... Memphis in the summertime is hotter than Hell. My assignment tonight was to shoot some of the night life action on Beale Street. I walked up and down the street for two hours shooting the touristy stuff that I needed, no problem. Then I decided that I needed to have a personal assignment: Find a resounding echo of the Memphis Blues.

My ears ended up following the raspy voice of a Delta Bottom Man, a slide guitar and a dancing bass line coming from the Blues Hall Juke Joint. I walked in and fell in love with the place. The music of "The Dr. Feelgood Potts Band" felt real and perfectly in place. I shot away. Eventually someone started buying beers for me. I made friends and had a great time listening and shooting great music.

Tonight was incredible and I have fallen into love with Memphis. The smells of BBQ on the street and spilt beer on the sidewalks and music coming from every alleyway and summer sweat trickling down my brow. It was a good night to be alive and with a camera in my hand. I went to Beale Street and found the blues.

Here is a serious of shots.


"One" by Wes Aldridge


"Two" by Wes Aldridge


"Three" by Wes Aldridge


"Four" by Wes Aldridge


"Five" by Wes Aldridge


"Six" by Wes Aldridge


"Seven" by Wes Aldridge


"Eight" by Wes Aldridge


"Nine" by Wes Aldridge


"Ten" by Wes Aldridge


"Eleven" by Wes Aldridge


"Twelve" by Wes Aldridge