Cemetery Series - The Introduction
TRD Photography - The Cemetery Series
I have long been fascinated by cemeteries. Some people hear that and immediately think you're one of those weirdo's sacrificing puppies or something like that. I may not be completely right in the head, but I'm not one of those people either. I've just always found cemeteries to be a surreal, peaceful place, and a lot of times they are full of just beautiful art.
I've done numerous shoots at some local cemeteries but the focus was always on the models. One day I was walking around and just letting myself just be. I was feeling the energy and the emotion. I started really looking at the statues and just looking closer than just a glance. They have so much emotion if you look at them and try to see something different.
Soon after this, a couple of tattoo artist friends of mine went and took photos. I immediately fell in love with the photos and just the moodiness of them. One of my goals is to check out different cemeteries in my travels and take some photos. I hope to be able to put together a really solid series and hopefully show it someday in the future.
The photo above is one of my favorites at this point. I just love the emotion and the cracks in this angels face. The truth is, I actually have this tattooed now. I've been in the process of a Spiritual warfare sleeve and I wanted an angel. I hated getting one of my photos tattooed, but it truly wasn't about the photo as much as it was about the emotion in this face. My pal, Kitty Konniption, did an incredible job! Keep an eye out as soon I'll have an album up from some of these travels.
RIcky
www.trdphotography.com - Chattanooga, TN - trd@trdphotography.com
www.facebook.com/trdphotography - IG @trd_photography - Twitter @trd_photography
George...it's me again, George....
An Introduction to my pal, George....
If you've followed my work at all over the last year, you may have seen some photos of my pal George the Ventriloquist doll pop up from time to time. I just thought I'd take some time to introduce you guys to George and give you a little on his backstory.
So I met George a little over a year ago out in a Goodwill in Portland, Oregon. I saw him and he waved me on over and told me he wanted to be a star. So I said "come on." We got back out to Tennessee and he took part in the group shoot for Main Line Ink in October for his photo debut but then he just hung out for a bit. We didn't talk a whole lot for a bit.
Later in the spring I was about to do a shoot at a carnival that was passing through a small town close to my house and the model was running behind. I was hanging out shooting and I looked in my trunk, and there he was. He called me on over again and said "Dude, c'mon, it's a carnival. The pics will be epic!" So I said "let's do this thing." I decided to post some bts pics on Instagram and I asked him what his name was. I remembered an old inside joke that I had with one of my cousins when we were kids about the name George, so it didn't shock me when he said "just call me George."
We took some pretty awesome stuff and George kinda became a hit on some of my pages as well as his prints got a big reaction from the conventions I went to this year. Recently George got into a pretty epic shoot with model Raven Lee. The above shot is from that set. So just keep an eye out for George. He pokes his head out ever so often, especially on Instagram. If you come shoot with me in my studio, feel free to give him a high five or a hug. He's always poking his head around....
Ricky
www.trdphotography.com - Chattanooga, TN - trd@trdphotography.com
www.facebook.com/trdphotography - IG @trd_photography - Twitter @trd_photography
Thanksgiving, and a little bit of what I'm thankful for....
Thanksgiving and a little bit of what I'm thankful for....
So a lot of times when November rolls around I keep seeing people's social media feeds fill up with daily posts of what they are thankful for.....for several days and then they seem to run out or forget or something. As far as I can recollect, I've not ever posted about what I'm thankful for so I decided to drop that today for something to blog about.
Everyone always says that they are thankful for family and friends, etc. I am too but I want to go a little deeper on the subject of friends.
I'm really thankful for my career, and beyond the fact that I love that I get to be creative and stuff like that, what I'm really stoked about is the friendships that I have made doing whatever it is that I do. I started shooting professionally back in 2009 and I'm blessed to count so many of those that I began working with back then still as good friends. Many of them have quit modeling, some have moved to other states but it's awesome to still get to see them as I do.
The way that I work, I've gotten to know so many amazing people. There's no way that I can share all the stories, or mention everyone by name, heck I couldn't even fit everyone on the collage that I made for this post. I just wanted to drop a message to thank you all for your friendship. I'm thankful for each and everyone of you guys. Some of you guys we don't get to see each other as often as I'd like, but I think about you guys often and love all the work we've gotten to create over the years. I hope that you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I did want to drop a few lines to a few of you guys specifically though.
Dan - I'm blessed by our friendship dude. I'm stoked to see what God is doing in your life and you've been an enormous inspiration to me in my walk as well.
Raven - I know you've experienced a lot of loss this year, you are in my thoughts and prayers girl. You are one of the sweetest and most genuine people I've ever met.
Jourdan - Dude I'm so stoked for you and Q. I hope you guys have a great first Thanksgiving and Christmas as a married couple.
Nea - I'm so honored to have gotten to shoot your maternity photos and that you came back from North Carolina to have me do them. I hope you guys have a great first holidays with your little bundle of awesomeness!
Kitty & Patrick - I love you guys! I hope you guys can get back to Chattanooga soon!
Jessika - I'm so stoked that we reconnected and have gotten to make some killer work together. I'm thankful to have gotten to know you a lot better.
Tootsie - What can I say? I'm stoked that whenever I have a hair brained idea like a photo with worms, you're like "I'm down."
Christine - Dude, you've been one of my best friends since the beginning of this journey. I'm stoked to have seen the transformation from when we were both starting to seeing you now. You are awesome man!
Brandy - You're one of my best friends and despite you constantly falling off the face of the earth, I'm stoked to know you.
Edge - Dude, you're just one awesome person. I think you're one of the few that has more hair brained ideas than I do. I appreciate you letting me shoot at Main Line while I found my own studio when I came back from Portland and you're help with finding extras for our shenanigans.
Nickie - Dude I've known you since right at the beginning of this whole photography thing. Our shoots helped me grow and learn so much and I really value our friendship over the years. I'm so stoked to see how life has blossomed for you over the years,. Seeing you and Tim and your family grow has just been amazing.
Jessica W - I'm so stoked to know you and Jonah. He's an amazing little dude and I always enjoy catching up with you!
Tessa - I'm so glad we got to work together again this year. I hope all is well with you!
Amanda P - I'm so stoked that you've gotten to go back to school and that it's going well for you! You and I have gotta get together again soon and bring Cricket into the mix too!
Mandi - Dude I have really enjoyed getting to know you over the years. I love all of our work together but I am really glad to count you as a friend first and foremost!
Steph - I'm so stoked to see where God has lead you in your life. To see you and Ben so happy and surrounded by hairless cats, it's an amazing thing. :)
Jolee - Dude....that is all. :) Just kidding. I'm so stoked that you're happy and that you've begun life anew with your best friend.
Chels - Dude, I'm so blessed to know you. I'm so honored to be getting to shoot your's and Michael's big day! You are such a great friend.
Amberly - I'm glad to see things working out in Florida for you! I've enjoyed working with you over the years.
Tom - Dude, I'm stoked we got to get together again after all of these years.
Leighann - I enjoy working with you a lot! You are awesome!
Vanessa - Girl, you are one of my fav people to work with. Beyond working together I really enjoy that we have become friends over the years. It's always a fun day when we get to hang out and shoot!
Brandy & Steve - Guys I have really enjoyed getting to know you guys and working with Vintage Vapors. You guys are growing so fast! Can't wait to see what 2015 has lined up for ya'll.
Renee & Polli - Guys, you two make me miss the Northwest so much. I have really enjoyed getting to know you guys and work with ya'll. Crossing my fingers on a trip in 2015.
Lynn - Bro, I enjoy our conversations at Main Line so much dude. I've learned a lot from you.
Randi - Come visit Sis!
Cici - Dude, you're in TN and we still haven't connected in my home state. We gotta change that. I've loved working with you out in Oregon though. lol
Kim & Josh - I've really enjoyed working with you guys and getting to know both of you.
Jamie - I love being around you and your creative vibe! I hope all is well!
Shae - Dude, you are so amazing to work with and just to know. I enjoy hanging out with you!
Mo - I'm so glad that we got to shoot again after all this time! Congrats on getting signed with the agency!
Tina - I've been blessed this year to meet you and get to know some of your story. I was truly honored to work with you on such a personal project.
Off the top of my head, that's all I can think of. I've met so many amazing people, I truly hope I didn't leave anyone in particular out. If I did, i am sorry! I just wanted to take a minute to make it a little more personal than just a generic post.
Ricky
www.facebook.com/trdphotography - IG @trd_photography - Twitter @trd_photography
TRD Photography - Chattanooga TN - Modeling - Band - Promos
Lady in Red- Renee Rockwood
Well, welcome to my blog. I've tried my hand at blogs a handful of times and overall I kinda suck at them because I forget to update them on a regular basis. I'll do my best to not suck on this one. I'm Ricky and I'm an alt photographer based in Tennessee. Be sure to keep an eye out for my stuff.
I chose to start this blog off with a photo that I did back in 2012 with the amazing Renee Rockwood. She's a killer model based out of Seattle, WA and you may have seen her in Bound by Ink or some other mags. Anyway, she's a killer person and you should def go give her a follow. A lot of people still come up and talk to me about this particular photo because they loved the mood and the red. We were shooting in a sweet little backroom bar off the Puget Sound and it was just an amazing experience.
Keep checking back and I'll keep doing my best to have something new here a couple times a week for you guys.
Ricky
www.trdphotography.com - www.facebook.com/trdphotography - Instagram @trd_photography - Twitter @trd_photography