Bald Head Island, NC to Southern Virginia

Bald Head Island was a beautiful setting for Grey and Seth to celebrate their wedding. Within sight of "Old Baldy" lighthouse, the guests gathered inside the island chapel to witness their union. Following the quaint ceremony, Seth and Grey motored to the Shoel's Club at the end of the island in a covered golf cart to enjoy dinner and dancing with their closest friends and family. The evening ended with the groom joining the band to sing a few special songs for his wife and friends.

Images © Robert Harris Photography


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Our weekend was not complete until we joined Kaitlyn and Charles in the heart of Southern, VA for their wedding. Beautiful blue skies presided over the entire day until nightfall and fireworks filled the skies. The bride's dog also dressed for the occasion and witnessed her master's vows with a front row seat.

Wanda and I congratulate both couples on their wedding! Our best to you and your life ahead!


Images © Robert Harris Photography

Congratulations!

Images © Robert Harris Photography


Wanda and I would like to congratulate the brides we worked with this past week. We had a great time capturing many special memories of Anne and Stephen on their wedding day in Richmond, VA. The day was not complete until the the bride's uncle chauffeured them in his vintage Bentley to the Jefferson Hotel. This beautiful automobile was a perfect ride for a great couple. We wish them well as they enjoy a trip to France and Switzerland.

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Image © Robert Harris Photography

We also had the pleasure of creating a beautiful bridal portrait for Sara-Manson Hawthorne who was married this past Saturday as well. The gown was custom made with elegant straps hand sewn from Sara-Manson's mother's gown. The final portrait was custom painted to bring out the classic beauty of both the bride and the dress that is unique and unforgettable.

Sara-Manson commented how "alive" the portrait looked when she viewed the completed art for the first time. "The entire process was better than I ever could have expected."

Thank you, Sara-Manson. It was our pleasure....

Congratulations!

Ansel Adams Printing

"The Print is the Performance"

In a previous post, I mentioned the phrase: "The Print is the Performance." This term was first used by the great landscape photographer, Ansel Adams who documented dramatic black and white photographs of the untouched American landscape . As a young boy, he discovered the piano and developed a talent that could have carried him through a lifelong career in music. A few years later however, he discovered photography. Adams found similar meaning in the process of photography to that of performing concert music. He realized that a sheet of music filled with notes could not be fully appreciated until the talent of the pianist brought them to life on the instrument. The same holds true in photography.

Adams would work on a negative (sometimes an entire day) in the darkroom to bring out the full range of what he felt and visualized when the photograph was made. He equated this process with performing the music in a concert. Thus his phrase, " The negative is the score: the print is the performance"

In today's digital world, this phrase is vitally important for photographers to understand. The moment a photograph is made is only the beginning of the creative process. It is only complete when the artist carries the vision through to a "well performed" print.

Yes, we see most photographs (including personal ones) on a computer. Technology is a wonderful vehicle for sharing images in ways we never have previously, however the value of a skillfully crafted print holds the true and lasting vision of the artist and the hearts of subjects it preserves for generations to come.

Robert

Robert Harrris Photography

The Print is the Performance: Part 2

In a previous post, I mentioned the phrase: "The Print is the Performance." This term was first used by the great landscape photographer, Ansel Adams who documented dramatic black and white photographs of the untouched American landscape . As a young boy, he discovered the piano and developed a talent that could have carried him through a lifelong career in music. A few years later however, he discovered photography. Adams found similar meaning in the process of photography to that of performing concert music. He realized that a sheet of music filled with notes could not be fully appreciated until the talent of the pianist brought them to life on the instrument. The same holds true in photography.

Adams would work on a negative (sometimes an entire day) in the darkroom to bring out the full range of what he felt and visualized when the photograph was made. He equated this process with performing the music in a concert. Thus his phrase, " The negative is the score: the print is the performance"

In today's digital world, this phrase is vitally important for photographers to understand. The moment a photograph is made is only the beginning of the creative process. It is only complete when the artist carries the vision through to a "well performed" print.

Yes, we see most photographs (including personal ones) on a computer. Technology is a wonderful vehicle for sharing images in ways we never have previously, however the value of a skillfully crafted print holds the true and lasting vision of the artist and the hearts of subjects it preserves for generations to come.

Family

Images © Robert Harris Photography


A family is like a fingerprint; they are all unique. With today's busy lives, we realize the one common element is that many families are scattered across the country (world) and the time spent together is a true rarity. We are in the privileged position to be a part of many families by creating a work of art of these cherished moments when loved ones are together. A portrait captures these fleeting moments for everyone to hold their loved ones close, even when they are far away. Family is the "heart" of our lives.