Found One

"The View" by Wexx

I was going through some of my archives tonight and found a little jewel that I shot a while back, but never posted it. Its a simple dusk shot of Canada seen from the American side of Niagara Falls.

I don't think the colors will reproduce as vividly on the Web as I see them on my monitor. Oh well, it is a nice one, though.

Sitting Sail

"Docked" by Wexx

It is a great tragedy, of course I mean this trip. Marquette, Michigan, such a wonderful place. I can envision the scenic photography that my light capturing box should be recording, but alas, suck-ass weather keeps it snuggly-tucked away in its carrying case. Why, why must you do this to me, I ask? The torture of my mind seeing beautiful photographs that are impossible to collect upon.

I shot this one anyway. Its simple, a sailboat docked for the winter. But, I didn't let a lack of sunshine kill it out. Screw it, I did the unthinkable... I used PhotoShop to tone the hell out of this one. It came from the camera looking like a mega-turd that Andy Rooney would spat lousy commentary about. But, by God, I tried to make it look like a dream. Be it a dream or not, I did my best. And what else can you ask of a man, other than his absolute greatest devotion to a cause, even if that cause is photography? Nothing, I say, nothing. So be it.

And this might just become the IMAGES of Marquette magazine cover.

Well, this one came straight from one of the two hotel pubs I am staying at. The server was beautiful, and sweet. She invited me to the next joint since the taps close early here tonight. I took the ticket and I would be a fool not to go along for the ride, right? Yessir, think I will join in the fun... Hunter would.

Yummy

"Eye-talian" by Wexx

Well, I rarely post food shots, but I like this one. I don't think its a master work or anything like that, but it was a breath of fresh air for me.

I went to this restaurant to do the shot at about 8:30 p.m. tonight and worked on it until 10:30 p.m. I shot it all kinds of different ways, but I like this one the best I used two umbrella lights off to the sides of the table and let in massive amounts of ambient light with about a 20-second long exposure. The most fun part of it was light painting with a cheap-ass flashlight and a cylinder of paper wrapped around it to limit light from spilling all over the scene. You really can't tell a big difference with the light painting, but I had an incredibly fun time being super meticulous with it.

I needed to do something like this assignment. I was about to my wits end with photography, to be honest. My creativity and passion is just kinda fading or something. I can't let that happen. Gotta keep on going with it. I think my assignments have just been pretty ruff here lately and really gotten me down. But, I can't let it overcome me. This one was just a normal, monotonous assignment that I said, "fuck it," and made an interesting time for myself.

Welcome Home

"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.