A Polaroid Portrait of Wyatt McSpadden from a few years back. ©1999 Kirk Tuck
If you woke me up in the middle of the night and asked me who the best photographer working in the portrait realm today was I wouldn't hesitate to yell out, "Wyatt McSpadden!!!" He is the quintessential "photographer's photographer. No sidetracking into video, wide ranging workshops or other dodges. Just straight forward, thoughtful, imaginative photography. Brilliantly done.
If I had ever had the opportunity to acquire a photographic mentor I would have picked Wyatt. Alas, that train has sailed....
If you are near Austin today you will have the opportunity to see him in person, see his work and hear some of the stories that I think make him the funniest photographer I know. He's speaking for FREE at Precision Camera on Anderson Lane. If you work as a photographer you MUST see his talk. If you are a photo enthusiast you'll love this presentation and the value will be amazing. Join me from 6:30 to 8:30 tonight. I'll be there with a grin on my face and all my attention focused on my favorite photographer/BBQ expert and modern music aficionado.
Below is what the Austin Photo Society wrote on their Facebook page:
“It’s somewhat miraculous that I’ve managed to make a living doing this and still love what I do” McSpadden says of his career. “I’m of a generation of photographers who witnessed the transition from film to digital. A lot of folks dropped out of the biz and some of us made it through.”
A native of Amarillo, Wyatt began his career there in 1974 as the photographer for eccentric arts patron Stanley Marsh 3. McSpadden photographed the creation of Marsh’s Cadillac Ranch and chronicled the work’s evolution from local curiosity to state landmark. In 1992 he moved to Austin and turned his focus to editorial photography. His portraits of governors, golfers, musicians, millionaires, and more have appeared in scores of publications nationwide, most notably in Texas Monthly, where he is a contributing photographer. His work resides in the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Southwestern & Mexican Photography Collection of the Wittliff Collections in San Marcos, the Amarillo Art Center, and in the homes of many private collectors. McSpadden’s photography has garnered awards from professional stalwarts such as the Society of Publication Designers, Communication Arts, and the Print Regional Design Annual. His 2009 book, Texas BBQ(University of Texas Press)—a photographic celebration of classic Texas barbecue joints—is in its second printing.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see Wyatt’s work and hear the stories behind the images. It promises to be an inspirational evening.
The details:
• Date: Thursday, September 24, 6:30-8:30 PM at Precision Camera & Video
• Address: 2438 West Anderson Lane, Suite B-4, Austin, TX 78757
• Map: http://maps.apple.com/
***Note the change of venue.***
This event is free and open to the public. Bring your friends! See you there!
Join the Austin Photographic Society on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/
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