My buddy Jim Purkey stoped in this morning. As I was showing him my new flag I got to use as a background, inspiration struck. Jim’s about patriotic as they come so what better subject to test with? I like the shot and better yet, Jim likes it. He’s been a photographer for more than 50 yrs and it’s not too easy to get a compliment out of him. I think this made both of our days.
Next Friday and Saturday Oct 5th and 6th is our Hay Bales and Pumpkins Special. Posting examples of last years set would do no good because it’s totally different this year. This is a Limited Edition special that’s taking place at the same place as our Gone Fishin’ Portraits (see the samples below). Of course we won’t be IN the creek though.
The center piece of the set is a 1936 Allis Chalmers Tractor! How cool is that! Plus all the hay bales, pumpkins, corn stalks, mums etc. We’re going ALL OUT for these (I’d like to think we always do)!
The session fee is $49 and that includes a signed, matted and custom framed 5×7 of your choice. Of course the better than money back guarantee is in effect as always.
I got to hang out in Memphis for a few days a couple of weeks ago. Some photographers up there put the word out to just come up and have some fun for a few days. I got to see some of my best photographer buddies from GA and Make friends with more from around the country. Other than GA there were people from TN, AL, MS FL, & TX. A great time was had by all and those folks give a whole new spin to southern Hospitality. Here’s a picture with Keith & Wendy Hardin http://hardinfineart.com/ Bennie Durham http://www.benniedurham.com/ (Bennie is about the best tour guide anywhere) Mike and Chance Bentley http://bentleyphotography.com/ and that handsome devil on the right is me. I really like the way I’m growing a bridge out of both ears. We all had a great time and I’m looking forward to going back.
Bennie showed us a place that is absolutely gorgeous for outdoor Formal Portraits. If you want something REALLY special and unlike anything anyone else in town has, lets talk about a road trip!
Here are a couple of my favorite images from the trip. The first one is the Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr was shot. 
This one is from Clarksdale, MS. Although it’s not exactly at THE crossroads, it’s Representative of the crossroads from musical lore. It’s not far fetched at all to make the argument that these crossroads play a major role in the music (blues and Rock) we listen to today.
I made a very similar picture about 4 years ago and the hard drive it was on crashed. Even though I had a lot of personal pictures on that drive this was one of only two or three that I really regretted loosing. It was well worth the three hr round trip from Memphis to get this one picture. This will be my first limited edition print. I’m thinking it will be an edition of just 10.
Speaking of road trips, Right after Memphis I went to FL to photograph Dan and Tundra Taylor’s extended family. I may be back there right after Christmas so let me know if you’d like to have some Beach Portraits. 
I’ll be in Huntsville this weekend for the Big Spring Jam http://bigspringjam.org/. It’s five stages of music for three days. I might just be in nirvana. I’ll be hanging out with a couple of my best friends, Scott Couch and his wife Beth and I’m looking forward to seeing other friends I haven’t seen in a while and making some new ones too. It has been too long since I’ve visited so this should be a great weekend.
More on that next week.