Pushing Pixels

Perry Dozier Jr. - Columbia, SC 2009

Looking back on my email box, I found the first correspondence letting me know that I had been selected to participate in fourth series of the Palmetto Portraits Project a year ago today.  Less than five days from now, on Wednesday, September 16, 2009, the exhibit will open to the public with a reception at MUSC’s new James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine, located at 29 Bee St. in Charleston, SC.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: art, gallery, photo, photograph, photographs, photography, south carolina.

The view from the dock at Charles house on Mosquito Creek, near Bennetts Point, SC.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend some time on the coast at one of my favorite places in the world, my friend Charles’ river house on Fenwick Island.  The best thing about Fenwick is that it is private, and with the exception of about 5 houses which are all owned by members of the Baldwin family, it is completely un-spoiled by the meddling of man.  Wild, un-touched, and completely cut off, this is the perfect place for me to get back in touch with my personal vision, explore, and have an adventure fishing off-shore, and have deep philosophical discussions with others much wiser than I.

Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: beauty, boat, carolina, coast, creek, dock, marsh, natural, nature, palmetto, photography, print, river, shilouette, sunset, travel, tree, water.

Finished images from the Spanish Vines - Spring 2009 - Bottle Shoot

 I didn’t really have any actual Spanish music on my iPod when I went into the studio last night for the Spring 2009 Bottle Shoot for Spanish Vines, so Buena Vista Social Club had to suffice, to get me in the mood (yes I know its Cuban, not Spanish, but the vibes are similar, and that was really all I needed).  The one thing I love about working in the studio on a small shoot like this, is that I can put on some music, sip a drink, and work at my own creative pace, even though the client needed the shots turned around extremely quickly.  Not too long ago I would have dreaded being stuck in a dark studio for an hour or two, but I guess with age has come an appreciation for the opportunity to slow down and work at a more relaxed pace. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: advertising, apple, canon, commercial, demo, digital, photography, product, studio, tether, tutorial, wine.

NASCAR driver Kurt Busch, takes the high line into turn 1 at Darlington Raceway, during the 60th running of the Southern 500, on Saturday, May 9, 2009, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Brett Flashnick)

The clock showed it was 2am, as I made way home to Columbia in the back seat of Mary Ann’s car early Sunday morning, following the 60th running of the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, in Darlington, SC. I was completely drained from two non-stop days of making my way around the “Lady in Black” while on assignment for the Associated Press, but was content as could be, and didn’t mind the fact that it would be 3am or later before my head hit the pillow. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: ap, assignment, associated press, car, darlington, NASCAR, photography, photojournalism, race, racing, sport, tire, track, work.

I believe that our culture is founded on, and formed by symbols that enable us to connect what we can see with those things that can only be understood by our souls.  The symbols we use to express our patriotism, faith, love, and even socioeconomic status, are simply an outward expression of the desire we all share as human beings to belong to something larger than ourselves. The representation of these symbols in the images I have created reflects the way I see what my subjects present, as a means of communicating their belonging to the world around them.

A political protester grasps a confederate battle flag, outside of town hall meeting at Seawell's, in Columbia, S.C., for Republican presidential hopeful John McCain.

The proceeding statement was the founding basis for my first fine art photography show titled “Symbology,” which contains 15 16×20 format silver halide prints, from editorial images which I have created over the past decade as a freelance photojournalist.

The show will run April 23-25, 2009, at the Columbia Music Festival Association located at 914 Pulaski St. in Columbia, SC. Click Here to View a Map. 

Symbology will open with a free reception on Art Night, Thursday, April 23, 2009 from 4-9pm.

The show will continue on Friday, April 24, 2009, with gallery hours from 11am-3pm, followed by a special performance from local rock band, All Walks of Life from 7pm-Until.  Tickets for the show are $5, and can be purchased at CMFA in advance or at the door.

Gallery hours will continue on Saturday, April 25, 2009 from 11am-3pm, and will conclude with a special talk, and question and answer session from 2-3pm.

For more information on Artista Vista, Columbia’s Premier Gallery Crawl, visit their website www.artistavista.com or Click Here to download a PDF gallery map.

Tags: art, artist, fine art, gallery, photographer, photography, print, show.

As tradition, during the first or second week of every new year I spend a day going back through all of the images I have created during the previous year to prepare for annual contest submissions.  For me this is an opportunity to look back on what I have learned over the year, re-evaluate what I might do differently next year, and see my growth both as a photographer and a person.  This year was a little different.  In a few months I will celebrate being a photographer, and a small business owner for a decade.  A small milestone in the greater scheme of things, but a pretty big one for a 28-year-old.  

While last year was tough for me personally, and professionally (we are all dealing with this down economy).  The year of 2009 has started off for me with a great deal of opportunity and promise, with several great adventures already in the books that I can’t wait to share with you, and others that are out there which I don’t even know about yet.  I am going through a period of tremendous growth again, after being somewhat stagnant creatively for some time, and I am very excited for what the future holds.

The gallery of images contained in this post is never usually seen outside of contest judging rooms, where they may only get a brief glimpse of time on a projector screen.  With that in mind, I would like to have the opportunity to share some of my favorite images of the year with those of you who read this blog.  I sincerely hope you enjoy, and feel free to share your own stories, comments and critiques.

I wish you all a very happy, healthy, and prosperous 2009!

Tags: 2008, best, contest, gallery, photographs, photography, slideshow.

9/27/07 - Columbia, S.C., Local alternative rock band Closer, rehearses for their upcoming performance at the Five Points End of Construction Celebration on Friday, October 5, 2007. The group which has been together off and on for almost eight years consists of David Reed, (vocals, guitar), David Baker, (bass), and Nathan Reed, (drums). © 2008 Brett Flashnick/All Rights Reserved

After reading the story The Day the Music Died in The State today, about how Richaland County just shut down all of the bands that practice at the Sumter Street Storage sheds, I really can’t help but wonder what can be done to help make this area more friendly to the creative community.  The Sumter Street Storage facility was not only a safe haven for up and coming musicians to practice over the past 20 years, but it was a source of creativity for my own visual art as well.  I made the above image of the alt. rock band Closer as the practiced inside of their rented shed in late 2007.  I cringe to think of all the tax money that the Columbia Talent Management project just spent on a survey about how to attract the creative class to the area, when the answer is simple.  Prove that you are there to support them!  Most creatives didn’t get into their respective fields to get rich, or famous, they probably didn’t even choose it at all, it chose them.  We create because there isn’t anything else we could envision doing, or because creating fills a deeper part of our souls and fulfills our lives, and the lives of those who are inspired by what we create, be it music, art, poetry, etc…  The easiest thing you can do to help out is show them that they have your support.  I know this was a ruling made by the county fire marshall, but what now?  Now is the time for Columbia to step up and provide, or just even allow a place like Sumter Street Storage to operate.

Tags: alternative, arts, band, blue, Columbia, creative, facility, music, ordinance, photograph, photography, photojournalism, practice, rock, SC, south carolina.

It seems fitting that such a long campaign resulted in such a long election day.  All total, mine was about 22 hours, and many many miles, of non-stop action.  I finally managed to get a few hours of shut eye between 3:30am and 8:30am this morning (Wednesday).  Now that I have had a chance to get some much needed rest, I just wanted to post a few of my final images from the day, that showed the somber mood that surrounded me and those I was with, as Sen. John McCain, R-Az., gave his concession speech.  More behind the scenes information to come

Sen. John McCain, R-Az., consession speech is shown to a nearly empty room at Republican Party Headquarters © 2008 Brett Flashnick/All Rights Reserved

Shell and Katie watch and listen, as Sen. John McCain, R-Az., gives his consession speech in Phoenix, Az., Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008. © 2008 Brett Flashnick/All Rights Reserved

Young Republicans, president, Jason Bailey, talks about the future of the Republican party following Sen. John McCain's concession speech in the 2008 Presidential Election. © Brett Flashnick/All Rights Reserved

Tags: ballroom, Behind the Scenes, candidate, concession, election, hotel, McCain, screen, shilouette, somber, speech.

Campaigning atop the Greystone Blvd. Bridge © 2008 Brett Flashnick

I went out this afternoon to photograph last minute campaigners under the grey skies of election day, and ran into friends Katie and Megan from the Lindsey Graham for Senate campaign, who were cheering on  motorists as they made the daily mass exodus out of downtown on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.  Even Lt. Governor Andre Bauer showed up before the afternoon was over, to waive on behalf of Sen. John McCain, and I even waved a sign for the Grahamster myself for a little while.  As we were all standing atop the bridge, we chatted about those who chose to make vulgar gestures, and yell slurs out their windows as they drove by at 45mph.  Too bad they didn’t want to stop, and waive a sign for their candidate, perhaps we could have shared some ideas, found some common ground, and had a good time together.  After 20 months of campaigning I’m sad to see everything beginning to come to a close.  Off to Republican HQ to watch the results come in.  More later.

Megan campaigning atop the Greystone Blvd. bridge for Sen. Lindsey Graham © 2008 Brett Flashnick

Tags: bridge, campaign, cheer, Columbia, day, election, graham, greystone, lindsey, SC, senate, sign, south caorlina, us, vote, waive.

All Images in this post: AP Photo/Brett Flashnick

Walter Anderson, a retired veteran, spent 30 years in service to his country.  Every morning of those 30 years, Anderson, got himself up, and to his duties, as an enlisted member of the United States Army.  On the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, it took Walter Anderson’s wife, a recreational therapist, a volunteer coordinator, and a handicap accessable van, and two gracious poll workers, to get the 74-year-old from his residence in the nursing ward of the Dorn VA Medical Center, in Columbia, S.C., to the polls at Burnside Elementery, a mere two miles away, but they did it, and at 10:40am Walter Anderson cast his ballot in the 2008 Presidential Election.  It is my belief that if Walter Anderson can go to work in service of his country every day for 30 years as a member of the United States Army, so that all of us could have the ability to vote, and still make it to the polls no matter what the effort involved, there should be no excuse for anyone else.  Go VOTE!

AP Photo/Brett Flashnick

Tags: anderson, army, booth, Columbia, disabled, Dorn, election, medical, SC, south carolina, transport, va, van, veteran, vote, voting.