Minolta XG1 Find and Test.....

Minolta XG1 Find and Test Roll

So last summer when I first started to learn to work with film, I had picked up a Minolta XG1 off of ebay. It came in, in horrible condition and literally fell apart after three rolls of film. The sad thing was, the photos I took with it were really awesome. So I've had an eye out for one at a decent price ever since. Last week I found one at a local yard sale for twenty bucks. It appeared to be in great condition, so I picked it up. So far I've tested one roll of film so far over several modeling sets.

Minolta XG 1 - Kodak Tri X - Tattoo Artist - Jennifer Edge - Main Line Ink - TRD Photography

The first tests were with my pal, Jennifer Edge. She's a tattoo artist at Main Line Ink in Chattanooga. I had a portrait session lined up with Jennifer but we threw in a few fun shots on the XG1. With my style of work, I like to have a good time with it. Jennifer gets my irreverent side. ;) As far as the camera, it's been awhile since I've worked with a manual focusing camera and several of her shots came out really blurry. Kind of the consequences when you have bad eye sight.

Model - Josey McGill - Minolta XG1 - Kodak Tri X - TRD Photography

This second lady is Josey. I was attending a shootout this past weekend with the plan of trying out the Minolta as well as a new (to me) Canon EOS 1N. My first shoot of the day had been rescheduled but I wanted to make sure my new gear was in working order, so Josey came early and let me try it out on her. Again, in the studio lighting, the XG1 was a little soft of focus, but that very well could be nailing down my settings. Josey's set did turn out abit more crisp as I'd had time to get back in the groove a little bit.

Minolta XG1 - Kodak Tri X - Model Avery Blansit - TRD Photography

This third lady is model Avery Blansit. We took this photo at the shootout on Sunday with natural lighting. The Minolta was considerable crisper with the natural lighting, which again, is probably just brushing up on my settings and getting the hang of it again.

I'm super stoked with the camera and I'm excited to continue to adjust to it. I couldn't be happier with the photos I've gotten from it so far. Not too shabby for a yard sale find.

16 Things I Learned on Vacation....

16 Things I Learned on Vacation...

1. Waiting to try to make it up Clingman's Dome to photograph the sunset until twenty minutes or so before is a bad idea....especially if you're out of shape.

2. Hiking in the heat of the day in 90+ degree weather plus ridiculous humidity, not a great idea...especially if you're out of shape.

3. I'm out of shape...but not as much as I was when I started vacation. :)

4. No matter how much you plan on catching up on some reading, you never get quite the amount done that you really wanted.

5. Having a cabin outside of cell phone coverage is a blessing...

6. 90+ degree weather and a hot tub....it still works.

7. Ratty A/C in the cabin, a bit annoying.

8. I am most assuredly not a morning person. As much as I planned on getting up at 6 am at the latest every morning to go out and shoot landscapes...it happened one day.

9. Sometimes no matter how much talent you have, or how you've perfected your craft, if you stay in your bubble, you're just going to be a blip on the radar of this thing called life.

10. I don't want to be a blip, I want to be an earthquake and shake things up a bit.

11. I have awesome friends that will come and hang out, even when they are bruised and burnt. :)

12. I wish I'd had more time to grill.

13. Elk love to eat dead leaves...

14. I'm not a fan of trying to take photos while my glasses keep fogging up due to humidity.

15. People don't like to email your assistant to get answers rather than continuing to ask you questions via Facebook when you tell them to email because you're out of town.

16. Sometimes you need to slow down and enjoy life and family a bit more.

How you see the world...what is and isn't there? TRD Photography

How you see the world?

The other evening I was driving back from an event in Middle Tennessee. I was looking around and along the way I saw a few images that stuck out to me that would have been pretty cool if composed right. Of course, I had taken the day as a chance to leave my camera behind just to have a breather. The thought made my mind wander though.

Have you ever seen photos that were just so beautiful that you wanted to go there to experience what the person taking the photo experienced? Back in 2013 when I road tripped to Portland, Oregon, and later back again, albeit a different route, I was excited to see the country and experience all these amazing things and places I've seen photographs of. My experience was rushed, but even so when in the moment, I was a little disappointed. Things didn't add up.

Fall Colors in the Smokies - TRD Photography

I've had several people talk to me about how some of my photos have made people want to experience places. They see a waterfall and want to sit next to it. See the coast and want to sit listening to the waves. It's interesting how a photo can illicit such emotion and just open up our visions of the entire scene. We can see it all in our minds eye. I'm no different. I see photographs and get jealous all the time that I wish I could experience these places. It's interesting for me though because having taken some photos, I've been on the other side of it.

At the Wreck of the Peter Iredale (the photo at the top) - I was surrounded by people, people walking in front of me, climbing on the ship, people walking along the water. There was no way I was going to get a clear shot. I knew the photo I wanted but I was seriously disappointed the day of because I didn't think I got it. It actually took about a year to get it cleaned up enough to where I felt comfortable posting it.

The Fall Colors photo (above) had a car parked beneath the trees. The waterfall photo below is one I've been asked about a good bit. People asking where it is because they want to see it in person. It's not a usual falls though. It was more the result of spring runoff, and dried up soon afterward.

Waterfall in the Smokies - TRD Photography

What I think it all boils down to is how do you see the world? Sometimes amidst all the clutter and garbage, there's beauty right in front of our face. Sometimes it beautiful places you can be so overwhelmed by everything there that it can all run together. You have to stop and breathe and learn to look for compositions. Look for the snapshots, whether it's in actual photography or taking mental images. Sometimes you see a grove of trees and as a whole it's just a lot of trees, but you compose it a certain way and boom, it becomes something else.

In photography, it's all about the eye. We are blessed to have people share the way that they view the world. As photographers too, we should count it as a blessing to sit back and enjoy each others work and see different ways of viewing the world around us. Not everyone sees the world the same way. It's amazing when you can see things from a different point of view, and realize what is and isn't there is all a matter of perspective.

If you feel like checking out some of my work available as prints - check out my gallery at www.etsy.com/shop/therickydavisgallery   - new photos being added all the time.

Rates & Policy Change - Effective July 1st 2016

Rates & Policy Change - Effective July 1st 2016

I know, I know - we all hate to hear about rate increases. Originally, I was looking at some policy changes due to an increase in the lack of reliability that some of have shown over the past six months to a year. It has long been held a policy of mine to take deposits for sessions, but there's been a major increase in people rescheduling the day of sessions in the past six months, and that costs me time and money after I've had to turn away other clients wanting those dates. So I had to step back and re-evaluate how I operate as a photographer as well as how other professionals in my field operate. This has led to some changes.

Effective for shoots starting July 1st and in the future, my sessions are going to change. My sessions are going to be time based.

Mini Sessions will be 30 minutes and will now be $75. You will be limited to one outfit.

Regular Sessions will be one hour and will be $150. You'll be limited to two outfits.

Full Sessions will be up to two hours and will be $225. You'll be limited to 4 outfits.

These sessions prices are a retaining fee to book you for a date and for my time. These fees must be paid in full to book your date. These fees are non-refundable. If you must reschedule your session, I ask for a 48 hour notice, and the shoot must be rescheduled within 30 days of your shoot date. I allow rescheduling your session twice, but after that there is a $50 re-booking fee. If the shoot is rescheduled due to bad weather, it doesn't count. If I must reschedule with you for an emergency twice, I'll either give you $50 off your shoot, or you can choose to cancel your session and get your session fee back.

Session Fees - The session fees do not include your photos or cds. After your session, I will create an online gallery where you can view your photographs. These will be unedited images, and you get to choose what images that you would like to have edited from your shoot. I offer them in a couple of different ways: Digital Downloads or Prints. 

Digital Downloads - On the photos that you would like to have from your shoot, if you choose to purchase a digital download, you get the photo as well as a print release so you can print your photos anywhere or as often as you'd like. Digital Downloads are $25 per photo.

Prints - You can purchase a print of each of the photos for $20 per sheet. One sheet consists of 1 8x10, 2 5x7's, or 8 Wallets. Other sizes are available. If you purchase a print of an image, you do get a low res, watermarked copy of the photo for use online.

CD's - If you'd like to have a cd copy of your images, it's a $15 fee to help cover shipping and cd costs.

Over the years, I have fought going to this kind of rate system, but after having far too many days booked and turning away clients, only to get a call or text the morning of that it just wasn't going to work that day, something had to be changed. I hope that you guys understand the changes, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask. Again, this all goes into effect for shoots July 1st or later. If you've already booked a session going forward, it doesn't affect you.

I will also be changing my wedding policies, but that is still being finalized.

RIcky

Stifled by Style - a TRD Photography blog

Stifled by Style 

Sometimes you get known for a particular style of work, and it can start to get in your head. You worry about posting stuff outside of that look, worry about if people are going to dig it, or if you're going to end up pissing people off and losing business. If you're not careful, you end up so focused on end results and then you really just cut into the mindset that built your vision to begin with. 

I've felt this way for a minute. I do such diverse styles that have such varied audiences that it's always been something in the back of my head. At various points I've strayed from the work that I really enjoy doing sometimes. I recently read a book called "Show Your Work" by Austin Kleon (  www.austinkleon ) and it really opened my eyes to some things. Get prepared to get to know more about me, what inspires me, and see more of the the styles that catch my eye. 

My assistant Nickie Cox - Film - Kodak Tri X - TRD Photography

WWII Veteran Photographic Series - Pvt Charles E. Miller - TRD Photography

WWII Veteran Photographic Series - Army Veteran - Pvt. Charles E. Miller

It's been a little bit since my last WWII Photographic Series session. Recently I was honored to get to sit down for a little bit and interview this amazing man. His story was really powerful, from getting paralyzed in the War, to learning to walk again, and making numerous inventions to help other people with disabilities. He worked on wheelchair adaptions, sewing machine switches, an invalid lifter for a quadriplegic veteran, and even a hand control for cars. That's just part of what this great man accomplished after his own paralysis. I hope that you enjoy hearing his words as much I have.

WWII Veteran - Army - Pvt Charles E. Miller - TRD Photography - Film - Kodak Tri X

"What's your name?" 

"Charles E. Miller. Charles Eugene Miller."

"What branch of service did your serve in?"

"I was in the Army but I served all my time in the Navy. I was in heavy demolition. Other than that I can't tell you nothing else. General Whitaker took me in the office and discharged me, said I'm gonna take your rank all the way from you, and discharge you as a private. Don't ever say anything about this. If you do, there's some Japanese lawyer waiting to jump on you. So it's never been mentioned. It's a little hard to keep it to yourself, but that's the way it is."

"How were you injured?"

"It was my first mission in the South Pacific. It was island number, well I forgot the number of it. We didn't go by names, we went by numbers. We were going in on the heaviest boat, the ones where the front falls out. We hit a mine. 250lb of Japanese powder. It's much stronger than our powder, I don't know what they do to it, but it's much stronger than our stuff. I remember going up, but I don't remember coming down. Whatever hit me, hit me in mid air. They picked me up and took me back to the ship. When they got me on the ship, they thought that I was a colored man. I was a solid blood blister. I felt it hit the bottom of the boat. I thought I had better jump. It was certain suicide. I was standing right over the top of it. As far as I know, there was two others still alive" 

"From your landing craft?"

"Yeah. That's the way it goes. Those things do happen."

"So you were injured on your very first mission?" 

"Yeah, but I was over there for a long time before then." 

WWII Veteran - Army - Pvt Charles E. Miller - TRD Photography - Film - Kodak Tri X

"Were you drafted or did you enlist?" 

"I was drafted. That's why I say that Mr. Roosevelt sent me an invitation. I came out of the service with a 50% disability. I stayed out for 8 or 9 weeks and then I went back to work as a crane operator. I started having convulsions. Epileptic convulsions. I went and had one in the hospital and they grabbed on it. But I think it came out pretty good. 

"Where did you go to basic?" 

"I took my basic in Camp Blanding in Florida. They transferred us to, I forgot the name of it. But me and some other boys were on a truck to Fort Riley, Kansas. A couple MP's picked us up. They asked if he were discharged, or AWOL or I forgot the name of it. About one o'clock in the morning they came and woke me up, asked me for my name and serial number. Then put me in a 41 Chevrolet and took me to demoltion school. They taught me a lot. *looking around his kitchen* You know, there's a lot of explosives in here if you know how to mix it. Oats is one of them. I had oats for breakfast. I'm liable to blow up.  There's certain things I can remember, and certain things I don't. " 
   
"Being in demolition, and with the Navy, were you part of underwater demoiltion?" 

"No, we were surface demolition."

"How long were you in the South Pacific before your injury?" 

"I was there a couple of months. I was just a young kid." 

"What years were you over there?"

"Forty-Four."

WWII Veteran - Army - Pvt Charles E. Miller - TRD Photography - Film - Kodak Tri X

"Do you remember very much about when Pearl Harbor happened?"

"Oh, I remember it happening. But nothing I could do about it." 

"Oh no, I know you weren't in the service then, I was just curious as to if you remembered your thoughts on it when you heard it over the news that the Japanese had attacked."

"Oh yeah, everybody wanted to go fight then. But if you get too many people over there at once, it's trouble. The Japanese were fighting a religious thing. They thought that if they got killed in battle, they'd go to a better land. They was hard to kill. He wouldn't surrender. You had to kill him. But we went in with heavy explosives and blew up their barracks and all that stuff. But I definitely wouldn't want to live it again. I'm 93 now and I'm hanging on. "

"How old were you when you were in the Pacific?"

  "19. I was just a kid. I was already married though. I got married when I was 16 and she was six to eight years older than I was. I was working for a construction company. I think she married my time book more than anything else. But she was good to me. I couldn't have made it without her." 

WWII Veteran - Army - Pvt Charles E. Miller - TRD Photography - Film - Kodak Tri X

"So Lacy told me that you were paralyzed. Was that in the explosion?"

"Yeah." 

"But they only gave you 50% disability despite being paralyzed from the waist down?" 

 "Yeah, they didn't give me much. When I got out of the service, and after I got home, I started having convulsions more often. And Bill King of the Newsfree Press, he was a church member of mine. He got a Tennessee Senator, I forgot his name. There's a lot of things I should remember but I don't. " 

   "So you were able to teach yourself to walk again? 

"Yeah, on braces. I was with Wheeland Factory for thirty years and I walked on braces every day. They were 22lbs that I had to drag around. So I worked on developing something that would be a little lighter. "

WWII Veteran - Army - Pvt Charles E. Miller - TRD Photography - Film - Kodak Tri X

Mr. Miller's granddaughter, Lacy mentioned " He actually won the Veteran Handicapped Achievement award for his work on different inventions for disabled veterans." 

"That's when we started Disabled Enterprises, for handicapped people. We didn't hire nothing but the handicapped. We had one bus driver. He wasn't all there, but he was there just enough to get by. He drove the bus for us. We made pallets for several different companies here in Chattanooga. We done all right.  
I ended up getting into the antique car field. I had thirteen at one time. They were everywhere. I still have a Model A and a '55 Thunderbird. I gave them to my son. He's the only one that's interested in them. You gotta be interested in something to be that close to it. The oldest car that I ever had was a 1907 Sears. It was sold by Sears Roebuck. The mail carriers used it in the South. It had wheels small enough to where they could get through ruts and not get too much mud. "

WWII Veteran - Army - Pvt Charles E. Miller - TRD Photography - Film - Kodak Tri X

"Which antique car was your favorite that you've owned?" 

 "I guess the Sears. I fixed it up and got it to running good. I'd go in parades and it would run just as fast the parade. I'd get up in the front, just behind the horses. When I got done there was green sidewalks from the horses. "   

"We don't have parades like we used too. I remember when I was a kid going downtown the the Armed Forces/Veteran parades and they were such a big deal. People were everywhere. I remember seeing Desmond T. Doss being honored a couple of times and we just don't have that anymore."   

  "Every now and then you see a platoon march, but that's about it. They don't put any money into it. The people have lost all of their pride. " 

WWII Veteran - Army - Pvt Charles E. Miller - TRD Photography - Film - Kodak Tri X

I want to thank you for taking the time to read just a glimmer of Pvt. Miller's story. I want to give a really big thank you to his granddaughter, Lacy Stoglin, who set up this session. If anyone has any WWII, Korean, or Vietnam Veterans in their family, please reach out to me. Sadly, I can't travel all over the country, but anyone that I can meet locally or on trips, I would love to sit down and do a portrait session and listen to their story. This entire set was shot using Kodak Tri X film. 

Ricky

"Infuse your Life with Art" Video of Artist Trevor Ledford by TRD Photography

"Infuse your Life with Art" Artist Trevor Ledford

I met Trevor a couple of years ago at a tattoo convention. Since, I've done several sessions with him and recently I got to collaborate with him by doing a video entitled "Infuse your Life with Art." I am so stoked to share Trevor and his vision with you guys. He has a gallery show coming up soon, so I wanted to share that info with you guys as well as his bio so you can get to know the mind behind the art a little bit.

His Gallery Show will be held 

Place: Creative Arts Guild, 520 West Waugh St., Dalton, Ga 30720

Date: May 6, 2016 (opening reception), will be displayed throughout May, Reception time: 5:30-7:30 PM

Trevor says "I have been an artist my entire life, and an art educator for the past 13 years. I prefer to work mainly within the mediums of drawing & painting. A lot of my art tends to have a pop feel to it due to my love of highly saturated colors & high contrast values. I try to grab your attention with the image and create an emotional connection. My work is meant to be experienced in a visceral way. Always looking for new ways to create & share my art, I’m very experimental. I’ve shown my work all over the world. It’s cool to think that there are little bits of me scattered everywhere!"

Old Hollywood Glamour Event Video - TRD Photography

Hollywood Glamour Event - January 24th 2016

A few Sundays ago, Christine Bordeaux and I, welcomed four amazing ladies to a special event at the Blackbeard Tattoo shop in Chattanooga, TN. Christine provided hair and makeup, and turned the ladies into bombshells from the years gone by. We had a lot of fun and shot a little behind the scenes video as well to just give a sampling of what all went down that day. 

Ashley - Hair/MUA - Christine Bordeaux - TRD Photography

Rani - Hair/MUA - Christine Bordeaux - TRD Photography 

Lacy - Hair/MUA - Christine Bordeaux - TRD Photography 

The Boudoir Sessions - FAQ - TRD Photography

The Boudoir Sessions - FAQ - TRD Photography

Lets face it, choosing a boudoir photographer can be quite a challenge. First, just deciding to do a boudoir session can be a little nerve wracking. For a lot of ladies, maybe you've never done one before and just the idea of getting more intimate photos taken, either for yourself or your significant other, makes you step outside of your comfort zone a little bit. I've worked with a lot of women that have expressed just that to me over the years, so I definitely can understand where you're coming from.

Second, there's the idea of finding a boudoir photographer, someone that you can be comfortable with, that you can trust, and that is going to deliver some beautiful photos. To help you both get to know me and my work a little better, as well as just hopefully give you some advice to help make an informed decision I've put together a little FAQ for you that explains some of my practices, as well as answers some generic questions about boudoir work.

Vanessa - - The Boudoir Sessions - TRD Photography - Chattanooga, TN

1. What is boudoir photography? 

Some people have different takes on boudoir work. Yes, boudoir photography is meant to be more intimate type work, however different people have different views on what is intimate. For some, intimate may mean lingerie and a bedroom setting, but for others it may be a long shirt and an open field. There's no wrong answer for what makes you comfortable and what you feel is intimate.

2. Will my photos be posted? 

A lot of people are super nervous because they want their images strictly for their significant other. My policy is I won't post anyone's photos that don't want them to be. My ultimate goal at any of my shoots is I want my client to be comfortable, and if your images are just for you, or for your significant other, then they WILL stay that way. 

3. Choosing a boudoir photographer - male or female?

This is a big question out there and ultimately it does come down to what will make you comfortable. Lets face it, there are a lot of creeps out there and you can't be too careful. I am a male photographer and I've been shooting since 2009. I have many, many repeat clients and clients that state they will only shoot with me because of the way I work a shoot. But I do understand that some women just feel more comfortable with another female shooting them. Honestly, it's all about preference and the type of images/style that you'd like.

4. I want to book a shoot, now what? 

So you've been looking over my portfolio's and you'd like more information about booking a session. First, email me at trd@trdphotography.com Please let us know what type of session you are interested in. We will get back to you and tell you how you can make a deposit on your session. I personally do not discuss details on shoots until a deposit has been made. The reason being we get a lot of inquiries and some people will try to plan shoots out time and again but have no intention of ever following through. Our time is valuable so we only plan things out when a deposit is made. After the deposit is made, we will get with you on a date, discuss the style of your session, and then book your hair/makeup artist. 

Tootsie - The Boudoir Sessions - TRD Photography - Chattanooga, TN

5. Can I do my own hair/makeup?

All of my boudoir session packages now have hair and makeup built into the rates. The reason for this is a boudoir session is more than just getting amazing pics. It's about relaxing, and enjoying the experience. I have several top notch hair/makeup artists that I work with on a regular basis that I will book for your session and that will make you feel like royalty. Hair and Makeup is such a vital part of professional photographs. If you have experience doing hair/makeup for photo sessions we can discuss it, otherwise I do use the people I know are going to deliver top notch results. 

6. Wardrobe Assistance - what is it?

We get asked a lot of times whether or not we provide wardrobe for our shoots. We do not. Occasionally we might have something available to wear, but really for your session you provide your outfit. We are available for wardrobe assistance if you need it in regards to planning what kind of outfits would work best for the style/mood of boudoir session you would like to do. This is part of the planning stage and is provided, if needed, after the deposit is put down.

7. Something Came Up - what do I do?

Occasionally things do some up and you need to reschedule. We do require a 24 hour notice to reschedule your session. If something has come up and you rescheduled, you have 60 days to reschedule your shoot. If you no show a session, your deposit is no longer valid toward rescheduling. If you wish to book another session, a new deposit would be required.

8. Lifestyle Boudoir vs Glamour Boudoir 

We will be making a more detailed blog about this in the future but a quick explanation. Lifestyle boudoir is a style that entails more minimally edited work. Blemishes, colors, some softened elements but it's not the typical model looking work that I've been known for. Glamour boudoir is more of boudoir sessions done and edited with more of the modeling type look that I've done over the years - airbrushed, eye popping, etc. 

If you have any questions whatsoever, feel free to email us at trd@trdphotography.com and we'll be glad to get back to you. We hope to work with you soon.

Ricky

Rani - - The Boudoir Sessions - TRD Photography - Chattanooga, TN

Chattanooga Engagement Session - Mandy & Justin - TRD Photography

Chattanooga Engagement Session - Mandy & Justin - TRD Photography

I've known Mandy since she did a session with me way back in 2010. Over the years we've become great friends, and had many a lunches planning shoots at Famous Daves here in Chattanooga. I'll never forget the light she had in her eyes when she started telling me about this new guy in her life, Justin. I remember thinking to myself after that first talk that she had definitely found a great guy and a hunch that this one was it for her. Fast forward a few years and I'm honored to have gotten the opportunity to do their engagement session.

Chattanooga - Coolidge Park - Engagement Session - Mandy & Justin - TRD Photography

The day started out as a fall, crisp morning in downtown Chattanooga. 

Chattanooga - Coolidge Park - Engagement Session - Mandy & Justin - TRD Photography

Chattanooga - Coolidge Park - Engagement Session - Mandy & Justin - TRD Photography

Anyone that knows Mandy, knows she is not serious about three quarters of the time, and Justin told me he hates getting his photo taken with a passion. They quickly got down to just being themselves, and "kind of" forgetting that I was there. Well as much as was possible. :) 

Chattanooga - Coolidge Park - Engagement Session - Mandy & Justin - TRD Photography

Chattanooga - Coolidge Park - Engagement Session - Mandy & Justin - TRD Photography

After shooting briefly on and around the Choo Choo, and then the Walnut St Bridge, we made our way over into Coolidge Park. The fall colors were almost gone, but we found a few colorful leaves scattered around here and there. 

Chattanooga - Coolidge Park - Engagement Session - Mandy & Justin - TRD Photography

Chattanooga - Coolidge Park - Engagement Session - Mandy & Justin - TRD Photography

I am so happy for Mandy & Justin. I cannot wait to be a part of their wedding and I wish them a great 2016 and onward into the rest of their lives....

Chattanooga - Coolidge Park - Engagement Session - Mandy & Justin - TRD Photography

Chattanooga - Coolidge Park - Engagement Session - Mandy & Justin - TRD Photography

Chattanooga - Coolidge Park - Engagement Session - Mandy & Justin - TRD Photography

Pack of Wolves - Live at Mayo's in Chattanooga - TRD Photography

Pack of Wolves - Live at Mayo's - TRD Photography

I don't do a ton of concert photography, actually I think it's been about a year since the last show that I shot, but recently I was asked to do a set for local Blue band Pack of Wolves. I was a little nervous on it because concert photography isn't a specialty of mine, but I was stoked because I actually shot some of the show on film as well. Pack of Wolves is a powerhouse band and I was really stoked to get the honor to shoot them and their new lineup. While I did get some pretty sick shots on film, most of what I'll be sharing from the show I shot with my Canon 6D.

Pack of Wolves - Live at Mayo's in Chattanooga - TRD Photography - Canon 6D

Pack of Wolves - Live at Mayo's in Chattanooga - TRD Photography - Canon 6D

Pack of Wolves - Live at Mayo's in Chattanooga - TRD Photography - Canon 6D

Pack of Wolves - Live at Mayo's in Chattanooga - TRD Photography - Canon 6D

Pack of Wolves - Live at Mayo's in Chattanooga - TRD Photography - Canon 6D

Pack of Wolves - Live at Mayo's in Chattanooga - TRD Photography - Canon 6D

Pack of Wolves - Live at Mayo's in Chattanooga - TRD Photography - Canon 6D

Pack of Wolves - Live at Mayo's in Chattanooga - TRD Photography - Canon 6D

Pack of Wolves - Live at Mayo's in Chattanooga - TRD Photography - Canon 6D

I hope you enjoyed the photos. If you'd like me to shoot your show, feel free to shoot me an email at trd@trdphotography.com I'd def like to do more concert work in the future.

Ricky

"What Makes You Feel Beautiful?" Allie - TRD Photography

"What Makes You Feel Beautiful?" The Series - Allie - By TRD Photography

"What makes you feel beautiful?" 

"It's hard for me to speak on beauty in the conventional sense, but I'm sure that's not what you're looking for anyways!  I believe in beauty radiating from the inside. Finding positivity, confidence, dedication, compassion, and originality in your life and highlighting it. For me, after a hard night in the kitchen I am filthy and sweaty. I've put everything I've got into what I'm passionate about and know that I've made delicious food. I think I feel the most beautiful then, cracking a beer and reflecting on an honest day's work." Allie 

"What Makes You Feel Beautiful?" Series - Leighann W. A TRD Photography Project

"What Makes You Feel Beautiful?" The Series - 

"What makes you feel beautiful?" 

Leighann - "What most people see "Beauty" as, is overrated IMO. I'd rather people look at me and be inspired. That's where real beauty comes into play for me. When my nieces and little cousins look up to me and say they want to BE like me, THAT's what I live for. I don't want them to feel you need to be drop dead gorgeous to be somebody. I want them to know that it's being true to yourself that is beautiful. That's what makes me feel "beautiful" is being an inspiration to people who are looking up to me as a role model."

The Tongue River - Wyoming - TRD Photography

Back in 2013 I was driving back from Portland, Oregon to Tennessee with my family. We were trying to see as much as we could along the way. One day we drove through Yellowstone, which was an amazing experience but the photo opportunities were limited due to rain quite a bit. The next day I didn't expect quite so much but that's where I truly experienced the most beautiful country that I have gotten to see, at least in my opinion.

From my days as a kid, I've always been fascinated with Native American history. I found myself driving through places with names that I remembered from reading any book that I could get my hands on. We were driving over the Big Horn Mountain range and I was so blown away by the height, and just the energy of that place. It was like nothing I've ever experienced. We stopped on top of the mountain at the Tongue River. The only noise that you heard was the wind whipping all around you and the gurgling of the water. The whole time we were there no other cars came by. It was just you and this incredible energy. I took several photos, not many even get close to doing it justice.

I was thinking about the experience the other night, just remembering how it felt. I wanted to share one of my images from there with you guys. I hope you like it. Hopefully you've experienced a place like that in your life. I think we all need a place to get grounded, even if it's just a memory. Hope you guys have a great night! If you happen to like this image, prints are available - http://www.trdphotography.com/landscapeprints/tongueriverwyomingtrdphotography

Ricky

Chattanooga Choo Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean

Chattanooga Choo-Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean's Big Day. 

On November 7th, Mary & Dean Dial met at the historic Chattanooga Choo-Choo to tie the knot. With Christmas just around the corner, and Halloween barely in the rear view mirror, the Choo-Choo made a gorgeous backdrop to the days festivities. From a rainy day in Chattanooga, to horror themed Hello Kitty tables, and great times in between, it was a lovely day to see these amazing people celebrate their love and dedicate their lives to one another... I was honored to be a part of this beautiful day.

Chattanooga Choo-Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean - TRD Photography

Chattanooga Choo-Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean - TRD Photography

Chattanooga Choo-Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean - TRD Photography

Chattanooga Choo-Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean - TRD Photography

Chattanooga Choo-Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean - TRD Photography

Chattanooga Choo-Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean - TRD Photography

Chattanooga Choo-Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean - TRD Photography

Chattanooga Choo-Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean - TRD Photography

Chattanooga Choo-Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean - TRD Photography

Chattanooga Choo-Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean - TRD Photography

Chattanooga Choo-Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean - TRD Photography

Chattanooga Choo-Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean - TRD Photography

Chattanooga Choo-Choo Wedding - Mary & Dean - TRD Photography

I Am Me - Interview with Tessa Mize by TRD Photography

Tessa Mize – Interview for I Am Me – TRD Photography

Several years ago, if you’ve followed my work with TRD Photography, you may remember a magazine project I worked on entitled I Am Me. Recently, I decided to reinvent the concept behind I Am Me to use it to share stories of people and what makes them who they are today. We all have a story and my goal is to share these stories of what makes us who we are, hopefully when we see others for who they are behind the surface, we can move to a better place in humanity.

I actually met Tessa several years ago when I had the concept of the first launch of I Am Me. We have become pretty good friends since and I asked her to be a part of this debut sharing her story of her passion for music and how it has helped to shape her. I hope that you enjoy it…

Tessa Mize - TRD Photography - I Am Me Magazine - Photographer Ricky Davis - Film

IAMM – You’ve been involved heavily in music since I’ve known you, what
about music caught your attention in the beginning?

Tessa – It was happy. It was raw emotion. Music says everything that
no one even can in any other way. Before I could walk I would crawl
into my aunt’s room and sit captivatedas she played her flute. I sang to
forget problems. It felt like the most important possession I had. It still is.
I think if you are a music person you are just born obsessed with it.

IAMM – Musically, who has been your inspiration over the years?

Tessa – Amusingly I am all over the board. There can’t be only one. Rush
is a huge deal to me. My dad’s favorite was Rush so I began at a young age.
Ian Anderson, Indigo Girls, Tori Amos, Evanescence, Halestorm, A Perfect Circle, NIN, Tool, Floyd, Zepplin. All of these artists have hit home more than a few times, so I draw from them all. I don’t want to be one genre. I want to be most of them.

IAMM – Do you play any instruments or do you mainly sing?

Tessa – Actually I can play flute and piccolo. I have been attempting learning guitar here & there. I was a band geek from 6-12th grade so I made everyone I was friends with teach me a little of their instrument.  So I have toyed with oboe, trumpet, drums, and stuff.

Tessa Mize - TRD Photography - I Am Me - Photographer Ricky Davis - Film

IAMM – If you could do anything in the world that involves music, what would you want to do?

Tessa – I would be in a band. Singing my heart out. Touring. Making albums. Getting paid to do what makes my heart sing. All I have ever wanted to do is sing. Dj/kj’ing is doing the trick for now. But a stadium full of people is what I really want. Dancing & singing along to my music.

IAMM – What’s the best part about doing DJ work?.

Tessa – The best part is getting people on the dance floor, and all the
reactions when I do a karaoke song. I once had a girl stop me on the way to
the restroom one time, and say man you are a tiny little thing. I never expected a voice that big to come out of you. (We became close friends later too) You get to meet all kinds of people. It is a blast.

IAMM – What has been the most adversity that you’ve faced with music?

Tessa – There will always be negative people. Luckily the worst I have come
across is that most rock groups want a male lead. They still underestimate
women. And that’s okay. One day though…

IAMM – As a mom, how important is it to you for your kids to see you really
going for your goals?

Tessa – I am two semesters away from my associates in English. I want
them to see that you can chase your dreams AND have a contingency plan for the during. I am very hard on them about the word can’t. I think it is one of the words that makes me twitch most when it comes out of their mouths. I want themto do whatever they dream. Kira wants to be an artist. Vincent is still at the agewhere he’s like, mom I want to be Batman,
& I’m like, dude if you want to be Batman I am all about it. Batman is awesome!

Tessa Mize - TRD Photography - I Am Me Magazine - Photographer Ricky Davis

IAMM – A lot of people have dreams when they are younger, they want to be rock stars or ballplayers or movie stars or astronauts or whatever, then as they grow older, they put them aside and work in a factory or office
somewhere. Yet here you are, not necessarily living your dream, but you are working in the industry you love, and you still are holding onto your dream. What has allowed you to keep hold of your dream where others have let go of theirs?

Tessa – I am stubborn like my nana & determined like my pop. I don’t let go of things that are important to me very easily. My grandparents on both sides were so incredibly supportive of my music that if I gave it up I wouldn’t just be letting me down. I would be letting down my support group, and allthose I love. I owe them success, or at least I feel like I do.

IAMM – In previous conversations, you’ve talked about your writing. Who inspires you at a writer?

Tessa – My first literary love was Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree. I still adore the book, though now I view the meaning very double edged. I also love Edna St. Vincent Millay & Poe. & I am big into Ayn Rand. Philosophy is stinking awesome.

IAMM – I’m a huge Poe fan myself. To wrap things up, what is a final thought you’d like to share with those of us that may have put our dreams up on a shelf at some point?

Tessa – Other than your family, debt, beliefs, where is your passion going if your dreams are sitting on the shelf? I just feel like if you give up on them, then you have given up the thing that makes you you the most. I am finally at a point where I like me. That is part of the package. I am lucky that I have a guy that helps instill that in our kids. & that supports it in me. Giving up isn’t an option..In the words of my favorite blind melon song, keep on dreaming cause when you stop dreaming then it’s time to die.

Tessa Mize - TRD Photography - I Am Me magazine - Photographer Ricky Davis

I truly hoped that you enjoyed reading Tessa’s story. We’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to comment below.

Thank you so much,

Ricky

"What Makes You Feel Beautiful?" Krysten B.

"What Makes You Feel Beautiful?" Series - Krysten B.

"What makes you feel beautiful?"

"There are a lot of things that can make me feel beautiful. From simply having a good hair/makeup day all the way to wearing no makeup and having messy hair and someone telling me I'm beautiful anyway. I've always had self esteem issues so feeling that way is very few and far between."  - Krysten

"Why do you think we put such an emphasis on beauty in America?"

"The 'standard' of beauty has always been a part of the media. It obviously changes over time, but it's always there and it will always be there. I think there is such an emphasis on it because everyone will always want to be beautiful. Maybe not the standard beauty that is pushed to us through magazines/tv/movies, but in their own way." - Krysten

"What Makes You Feel Beautiful?" Series - Krysten B - Photo by Ricky Davis of TRD Photography - Film Photo - Kodak Tri X

Stay tuned for more from this series coming soon...

Clingman's Dome - 2014 - TRD Photography

Clingman's Dome - 2014 - TRD Photography

Today I just wanted to share a couple of photos I took last fall on a day trip to the Great Smoky Mountains. It was fall break, so one day my wife and kids decided to take a day trip up to the Smokies and just get away for a little bit. It was pretty warm overall but towards late afternoon we drove up to Clingman's Dome and it was flipping cold! 

The mountains were breathtaking however and it looked like there was going to be a killer sunset. I setup my tripod along with quite a few other photographers waiting on the sun to go down. It turned out that I happened into the middle of a photography workshop. It was really interesting talking to some of the other guys. As the sun started sinking however, so did the cloud cover. It seemed it was going to be a race against time. 

As the clouds starting dipping lower and lower, I looked behind me. The fog was wafting through the dead trees. I immediately said screw the sunset, and took off to a better vantage point for the scene appearing behind me. It's still one of my favorite photographs that I have taken.

"Devoured" Clingman's Dome - 2014 - Photo by Ricky Davis of TRD Photography

Anyway, I hope that you enjoy the photos and just a little bit of what transpired behind them. I'm not really known for doing landscape type work, it's just what I do to relax and change the pace up a little bit. If you do like these photos, and you might be interested in a print, I do have them available here on my website.

www.trdphotography.com/landscapeprints 

Enjoy,

Ricky

"What Makes You Feel Beautiful?" - Jessica W.

"What makes you feel beautiful?" 

The definition of beauty gets a lot of play in our society today. You're too  fat. You're too skinny. You have stretchmarks. You've got wrinkles. There are arguments over what is beauty, what's not and how evil it is to not know the difference. 

The only thing is beauty doesn't really exist. There are no set ramifications because we all have a different perspective of what it means to us. So the only real definition of beauty is what our definition of it is. That's the only one that truly matters. How we view ourselves, instead of how the world views us. 

Along that line of thinking, I plan to work on a series. What makes you feel beautiful/what makes you feel unbeautiful? 

I asked my good friend Jessica about what makes her feel beautiful.

"Learning to love myself has made me feel beautiful , looking in the mirror and loving what i saw staring back at me is one of the most beautiful feelings in the world." Jessica

Me - "What helped the most in teaching you to love yourself and being able to look in the mirror and loving the person looking back at you?"

"Self acceptance. My hips will always be curvy my chest isn't the fullest,my teeth aren't straight and I have double dimples on my cheeks but these are the things that make me ME." Jessica

"What makes you feel beautiful?" Jessica W. Photo by Ricky Davis of TRD Photography

How you see yourself is everything. Notice the perfect imperfections, but know that we all have them. By learning to love ourselves as we are, we can learn to love others for who they are as well....Until next time...

Photo of the Day - Model Nina Covington & Stark from Half Moon Ambassadors

11/28/2015 Photo of the Day

"You were once wild here. Don't let them tame you." Isadora Duncan

Recently I was honored when I got the opportunity to work with Half Moon Ambassadors, along with some of my favorite models and people. The results have been spectacular so far. This was the first time I personally got to work with Nina and it was a pleasure. Be on the lookout for more photos from the shoot.

Be sure to check out Half Moon Ambassadors on Facebook. We had the pleasure of working with Stark and Bishop when we worked with them. They have a great crew of people and it couldn't have gone better!

www.facebook.com/halfmoonambassadors