Ava & Nora Jackson Slideshow

New to Ben Finch Photography!!! Slideshows!!!! Following a regularly scheduled photo shoot, I will be displaying your photos on the blog in a slideshow. Now you can point your family/friends to the blog to share in the experience. I know... I know... it is so awesome! Hold the applause! Anyways... enjoy this session of Ava & Nora Jackson that took place a few weeks ago down in beautiful Mobile, AL. And the answer is yes... these girls are as beautiful in person as they are in the pics! Enjoy!

Feels Like I'm Going Nowhere

The other day I was in Mobile, AL working on a few projects for the University of Mobile & I ventured to the Mobile Causeway (btw, one of my favorite places for inspiration). I was setting up for some sunset shots of the downtown Mobile skyline when I happened upon this pier. It looked like it was going, rather, leading nowhere. It reminded me of all my days I've spent anxious/uncertain about the future... with little reason. It reminds me of a quote from Brennan Manning, "Whatever God does not protect you from, He will use to perfect you through."

Today I was finishing up some editing for various clients when I ran across this pic; I love how it leads me to dream & inspiration. So, I thought I would share with you & as a gift to my readers offer it as a free download to be used for your computer's desktop or wallpaper. Simply click on the image to enlarge it & right-click to save to desktop. Then you can set it as your desktop image. I hope you enjoy!

The name of the pic is "Feels Like I'm Going Nowhere."

Contact: Shane & Shane Concert w/special guest Phillip Larue

Hopefully I won't get reprimanded by Shane & Shane's or Phillip Larue's management team for posting these pics... but I couldn't help but post some pics I shot at a recent Shane & Shane w/Phillip Larue concert hosted by Contact Helpline, under the direction of executive director Scott Packett. Contact hosted the concert to raise awareness of their ministry. Contact's mission statement reads, "Offering hope by means of active listening to a community in need of being heard." Scott hired The Visible Group to do the designing & printing of the concert posters as well as some t-shirts for their volunteers... which looked killer by the way; see for yourself! I took my camera to the concert to capture images from the night so that I could share with Contact. Actually... I'm also waiting for the call from Third Coast Artist Agency to hire me to be the official concert photographer... ring, ring!

Phillip Larue opened the concert with some seriously good music from his album, "Let the Road Pave Itself." He has a soulfoul/sincere/humble presence in his music that is absolutely refreshing. Check out his music here.

Shane & Shane further blew us away with their steady ability to sound exactly like they do in their recordings. I have seen them in concert several times & can't help but smile like a kid at the circus through the whole show; they are phenomenal. I rarely go a week without listening to their music. Check out their music here.

Without further verbage... here they are:

My favorite pic from the night ^

Phillip Larue in action ^

Scott Packett informing the audience about Contact's ministry ^

Shane Barnard ^

Shane Everett ^

Ava & Nora Jackson

Ava (big sis) & Nora (lil' sis) are the beautiful, brown-eyed girls of some of my favorite people in the world... Kevin & Lena Jackson. Kevin (affectionately known as Jax) was one of my roommates in college at the University of Mobile. He, along with my other roomies at the time lived in the infinitely famous (at least in our own minds) Cottage 7C (it was quite famous at the time, I promise!). He & Lena met in college & I remember many of nights as the two were merely taking the first few steps in their relationship.It was quite fun! In fact, I think I remember being a part of them being together... hmmmm.

I will always consider Jax one of my dearest friends & although we don't see each other often... I feel like we can just pick up where we left off. He has a rather uncanny ability to make you feel accepted & appreciated... quite a wonderful gift! I have dozens upon dozens of memories of us in the cottage late at night discussing theology/philosophy/history/etc., or on the soccer field, at a Chinese restaurant called 'Happy China', at Lena's parents' house for Sunday lunch, & several other locations that Parker talked us into going which I cannot adequately describe. Plus, when Jax's parents came into town, it felt like Christmas as they would always bring great things for all 'the boys' to enjoy. They were like 2nd parents (speaking of... why haven't they come & visited me lately... I'm gonna have to have a word with them!).

Okay... enough of the banter (although it brings up some fun memories). I was down in Mobile, AL for a shoot at the University & was able to squeeze in some time with Lena & the girls on Wednesday morning before our departure. It was great to visit with Lena & to see her gorgeous two, Ava & Nora. Btw... Ava looks just like Kevin (but in girl form of course!). I had a blast & was so thankful to get to photograph for a family I care so much for. So... here are some of my initial favorites! Be sure to click on the image to see the pic in high res.

Mobile, AL Favs

I wanted to show you (my peeps) some of my photo favorites from my recent trip to Mobile, AL, for a 3-day shoot for The University of Mobile. The goal of the project was to take images that would reflect the University's culture so that we could use them in the design of their new site which will replace the current site at http://www.umobile.edu. I can't wait to show you some of my initial designs for the new site... but... you will have to wait a few weeks. For now, here are my initial Mobile favorites. Enjoy! What are your favorites?





















All images are copyright Ben Finch Photography.

Cover Designs Submitted for Rick Warren's New Book

(Cade's Cove | TN)

For several days now I have been meaning to tell everyone that I jumped at the opportunity to submit a cover design for Pastor Rick Warren's new book, The Hope You Need. Rick Warren decided to use 99 Designs to host a cover design contest open to the public. As you may imagine, this is a wonderful opportunity for everyone... especially for those of us who have been highly influenced by Pastor Warren. I found out about the contest 1.5 days before the contest end, so I rushed like crazy to submit some of my artwork & photography. And I really tried to be conservative in my design trying to design with my client in mind. I am really interested in seeing how this contest turns out due to the submission requirements & the sheer number of entries... 3189 at submission end. In particular to the contest rules was that no stock photography could be used, only original artwork & photography. I am not sure how they will be able to sort through the stock photos but we will wait & see. But from my end, I thought it was a wonderful way to showcase some of my photos that I thought would make great book cover designs. Can you imagine being able to see one of your photos on the cover? Very cool. So... If you would like to see my portfolio at 99 designs, click here. Otherwise, here are some of my favorite submissions to the contest (& description of photo locations). Which one(s) do you like most?

(And... bear in mind... I am trying not to get my hopes up because there were some wonderfully talented designers who submitted cover designs as well. Regardless of the outcome, it was a fun project.)

(Buck Bald | TN)

(Sunset Park | Athens, TN)

(Cades Cove | TN)

(Calhoun, TN)

(Lillard Farm | Decatur, TN)

(The Tomb of the Prophet Samuel | Jerusalem, Israel)

Free Textures!!!

For all you creative types, I thought it was about time to give you something to spur a little inspiration. Maybe this will become a weekly thing... in that case, I need a name like Texture Thursday or Tadow! Tuesday... ah... nevermind, I'm not feelin' the name thing.

If you are a photographer or a graphic designer (or if you just love textures), I am certain you will enjoy having these to use on your next project. Some of them with a bit of cropping could be patterned or tileable (is that even a word?). All of the images below are web resolution (72 ppi) but you can visit my Flickr account & download the print high resolution files (300 ppi), the link is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/30312002@N07/ (Beware, I am terrible about updating my Flickr page). To download, click on the image to enlarge it then right click, select "Save Image As" & then save it where you would like.

You have my permission to use these personally or commercially (heck, who am I to give you something & then tell you what to do with it). But, if you would be so kind & do use it, I would love to see how you used it in a project. That would be fun to see! And... don't keep the goodness to yourself, but send others on over too.