Last weekend started with one of the most interesting speakers I've photographed in a while. A client had me photographing Blake Mycoskie, the inventor/owner of Tom's shoes, speaking at the UGA Continuing Ed. Center. If you aren't familiar with Tom's shoes, you need to be! Blake's story about how he created the "one for one" shoe company, which gives a pair of shoes away with each pair purchased, is a heart-warming story of success fueled by a giving spirit (and indeed, success because of the giving spirit!).Check out Tomsshoes.com to read about an incredible person, and an inspirational company! My kids have a pair, and I gotta get some!
Saturday found me photographing a mighty cute little 1 year old at the studio, as Grant Foster proudly showed off his play tractor. I had the great pleasure of photographing Grant's grandfather with his tractor last year, as I took engagement photos on the family farm. We rode into the middle of the property on a trailer pulled by his grandfather's giant International tractor, where we got engagement photos of Grant's aunt and uncle amongst some giant rock formations particular to that area. Grant will surely be working on the family farm in another 10 or so years, enjoying his grandfather's tractor as much I enjoyed driving my grandfather's 2040 john Deere in my childhood!
The highlight of the weekend was in a trip to Newnan, Georgia (south of Atlanta) to photograph a classical concert by Charles Wadsworth, UGA's most notable musical graduate! Charles is a native of Newnan, where he and my father were great friends (and UGA contemporaries). My father was Charles' best man, and they have remained "best" friends since those crazy early years together (including the start of Newnan's first radio station, with air time consisting almost solely of their singing and playing music together!). "Charles Wadsworth and Friends" concert was held in the "Charles Wadsworth Auditorium" (newly finished in art deco style, and featured performers from around the world (Kristina Reiko Cooper, cellist; Stephen Prutsman, pianist; Chee-Yun, violinist), and another homegrown, Newnan talent, soprano Courtenay Budd. The evening was magical in so many ways, as Charles is both a world-class performer and a comedian as a host...and the performances of the evening left this photographer with chill bumps! The night was capped with a trilogy of works conceived and executed by Prutsman with Cooper, Budd, and Chee-Yun. I love concert photography, in no small reason because it puts me in position to appreciate such wonderful, inspiring performances. This was one for the books!
