Everybody should get out and check out this great opportunity to work with a true professional in a classroom environment.  No matter your skill level, YOU CAN ALWAYS LEARN SOMETHING!

Here is a recent review I would like to share from one of my students:


"Wow! What an inspiration! I had just about given up on a gift from my wife; a Nikon D3200 DSLR.

While I had studied photography as a minor in college, I wasn't at all familiar with today's modern technology. The myriad buttons and settings discouraged me. I just shot whatever I could in the AUTO mode before giving up and using my iPhone 6S Plus for everything. None of the Nikon's pictures gave me a "Wow" feeling. It was like using my Instamatic camera from the 70's.

Your class changed that for me. The hands on demonstrations of Aperture, ISO, and Shutter speed relationships and the way you explained it all made it so easy to understand. I can't wait to try the lesson learned. I'm excited about my Nikon again.

Your method of instruction is clear with plenty of examples to show the technique of what is being discussed. I walked away at the end of the class feeling "I can do this!"

Thank you and I look forward to more study and inspiration from you.

Cal H.
Lebanon, TN

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Remember this motto to live by: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, martini in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!""

Make sure you take a look at Dury's education offerings this next few months.  They have some really good stuff upcoming and would be a great lesson for anyone.  I plan on attending the Raptors shoot and seminar - see you there.

Here is a link to their site:  http://www.durys.com/Learning-Center or you can use thr contacts below


Leslie Wilkes
Owner/Photographer
www.LeslieWilkesPhotography.com
615-585-4531

About The Dury’s Learning Center We are always adding exciting new events on our calendar for the Dury's Learning Center. Check back often for new lighting seminars, hands-on workshops, and more!     6/26/2015 • 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Creating the Fine Art Image - From One End to the Other 22767 with Jeff Johnson at the Dury's Learning Center Price $39.00 Registration Deadline is 6/25/2015 6/27/2015 • 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Creating the Fine Art Image - Hands On 22768 with Jeff Johnson at the Dury's Learning Center Price $99.00 Registration Deadline is 6/25/2015 6/28/2015 • 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Waterfalls with Jeff Johnson 22769 at Rock Island State Park, Tennessee Price $99.00 Registration Deadline is 6/25/2015 6/27/2015 •  -  Jeff Johnson Workshop - Friday & Saturday Event • $138 Value! 22770 at the Dury's Learning Center Price $119.00 Registration Deadline is 6/25/2015 6/26/2015 •  -  Jeff Johnson Workshop - Friday / Saturday / Sunday • $237 Value! 22771 at the Dury's Learning Center & Rock Island State Park Price $179.00 Registration Deadline is 6/25/2015 6/13/2015 • 7:30 am - 10:30 am Sigma Presents Roman Kurywczak - Birds of Prey - Morning Raptor Shoot 22861 at the Dury's Learning Center Price $79.00 Registration Deadline is 6/12/2015 6/11/2015 • 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm Sigma Presents Roman Kurywczak - Photographing the Nighttime Landscape 22862 at the Dury's Learning Center Price $29.00 Registration Deadline is 6/10/2015 6/12/2015 • 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Sigma Presents Roman Kurywczak - Birds of Prey Lecture 22863 at the Dury's Learning Center Price $29.00 Registration Deadline is 6/11/2015

#LeslieWilkesPhotography.com

Hello to all those new budding photographers that received cameras for Christmas, what a great gift!! Now that you have the equipment, it's time to put it to use. Our new digital cameras come with a lot of bells and whistles, some of them make sense and some don't. That is where I can help you with a One-On-One Photography Class. Treat yourself to learning how to use your new DSLR in a One-On-One Class with me guiding you through basic principles of photography and making sure you know what all of those buttons do for you. You can go to my website at www.LeslieWilkesPhotography.com and look at my specials for the new year and purchase directly from there, to make the process as easy asd possible. Please call (615-585-4531) or e-mail (Leslie-Wilkes@att.net) me with any questions or concerns. It does not matter if you got $6,000.00 dollar camera or a $200.00 camera, they all work off the same basic principles of exposure, and I want to make sure you understand how that principle works to enable you to take and make great photographs. Again, Happy New Year, and let's keep those cameras out of "Auto" mode.

Leslie Wilkes Owner/Photographer

Here are some photos that Mike took on his African Photo-Safari. I thought I would share them with you so you can see why he took my One-On-One Photography class. Leslie, Got back from Africa a few days ago and I'm still going through the 2500+ pictures from the trip but I thought I'd share a few of the ones that I think came out pretty well. Haven't started playing with Lightroom yet so these are just cropped and touched up in Picasa. I shot everything in RAW but I didn't figure you really wanted 100 meg of attachments. Thanks again, it was well worth the money. Mike J.

"One should never mistake pattern for meaning." ---- Iain M. Banks. 'The Hydrogen Sonata'

Fall Festival - Merrol Hyde Magnet School

This weekend, November 1, 2014, at Merrol Hyde Magnet School, in Hendersonville, will be their Fall Festival.  I will be hosting a booth and have lots of things for sale.  I will have photographs/framed and many of my prints for sale at the event in different sizes, something for everyones taste.  I will also have Photography Class vouchers available for those wanting to purchase a great Christmas Gift for their family and friends.  The class consists of four hours or so of instruction, and some practice of what we learned if weather/time permitting.  I will also have brochures thier letting you know more about WilkesPhotography and all that we do.  Brochures about our Wedding Packages for those looking for a great wedding photographer for their special day, I would love to talk to you about your special event and how we can remember it forever though great photographs.Come by my booth and chat and tell me what you are looking for in your photographer, I look forward to working with you.

Leslie Wilkes

Owner/Photographer

Wilkes Photography is now part of the PPA and PPMT

Hello All,
Just to let you know Leslie Wilkes Photography has joined the Professional Photographers of America or more commonly known as the PPA.  I will begin working on my Master Certification Certificate through their rigorous training classes in order to advance myself as a Photographer and an Educator.  I also joined the local arm of the PPA, called the Professional Photographers of Middle Tennessee (PPMT).  Both of theses organizations are great to be apart of and will open up a new world of resources and experiences as a photography studio.  I look forward to growing and learning a lot from both of these fine professional organizations.

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Leslie Wilkes Owner/Photographer

Great Things Are On The Horizon....

Great things are coming for Wilkes Photography.  I have a lot of things in motion right now and am really looking forward to what the future holds for me and my family.  I will let you know as the dominoes fall into place.  I just got notified that I was going to get to photograph the graduating class of Merrol Hyde Magnet School 2014, a great opportunity for me to learn and grow as a professional and build my client base.  I am looking at starting a marketing relationship Roy Matlock Jr and his company DefiNet Marketing.  They have some great ideas to boost my internet presence and grow my client base.  I look forward to what God has planned for me and my family and eagerly await our next chapter.

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Leslie Wilkes Owner/Photographer
#LeslieWilkesPhotography.com

Wilkes Photography !!!!WINS!!!! Mayors photo contest.

Great News for Wilkes Photography!! 

I was just informed that my Skyline Photograph will be used to represent Nashville in its Advertising and Media/Online Publications.  I am very honored to have won this contest and can't wait to see My Photograph do Nashville Proud.

Here is the Press Release:

Mayor Announces Winners of Skyline Photography Contest

 ‘Nashville’s Sky Through My Eye’ Winning Photos to Help Promote City

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mayor Karl Dean today announced the winners of a photographic competition called “Nashville’s Sky Through My Eye,” which challenged professional photographers and hobbyists in the area to get the best shot of the Nashville skyline. Winners are receiving a cash prize provided by sponsors and the honor of producing the city’s official skyline photograph.

“The winning photos creatively captured the beauty of our skyline and the vibrancy of our downtown,” Mayor Dean said. “Congratulations to our winners, as well as those who received honorable mentions, and thank you to all the photographers who participated.”

In the hobbyist category, the winner was Ryan Maciej and the second-place hobbyist was Tabitha Hawk.

• Maciej shot the winning photo from the Korean Veterans Bridge with a Canon 5D Mark III. He liked the shot because it included Cumberland Park and showed more than just the downtown skyline. An IT healthcare consultant, Maciej has been taking photographs as a hobby for three years. He is a Nashville resident.
• Hawk shot her photo with a Canon 5D Mark II from the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge. The General Jackson Showboat just happened by during her photo shoot. She has been shooting on and off since 2006, and she is the owner of Nashville Computer Guru and a Nashville resident.

In the professional category, Leslie Wilkes was the winner and Kerry Woo came in second place.

• Wilkes, a resident of Hendersonville, Tenn., has been a professional photographer for more than 20 years, focusing on family portraits and teaching beginner photography classes. He uses a Nikon D800 camera and was on the Korean Veterans Bridge early one morning to capture the winning photo. He also works at Vanderbilt University Medical Center as a health systems analyst.

• Woo, a Nashville resident, has spent the past year shooting photographs professionally and previously worked in search engine marketing. He used a Nikon D7000 and shot the photo from the Bridge Building. He waited two hours before sunset to capture downtown in the moment between daytime commerce and the city’s nightlife.

- more -

Page 2, Mayor Announces Winners of Skyline Photography Contest

Judging was conducted by professional photographers and representatives from the Mayor’s Office, Metro Arts Commission, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Nashville Visitors and Conventions Corp.

The judging panel identified seven photographs in each category worthy of honorable mention for their unique perspective or creativity.

Honorable mentions in the hobbyist category include:

• Jeffery Moore – Knoxville, Tenn.
• Caitlin Selle – Nashville, Tenn.
• Michael Brannin – Nashville, Tenn.
• Jeffery Johnson – Nashville, Tenn.
• Paul Schatzkin – Pegram, Tenn.
• Hanako Kobayashi – Nashville, Tenn.
• Tom Hamilton – Nashville, Tenn.

Honorable mentions in the professional category include:

• Julie Cannon – Nashville, Tenn.
• Bruce Cain – Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
• Patrick Collins – Nashville, Tenn.
• Dwane Crews – Franklin, Tenn.
• Mike Noble – Nashville, Tenn.
• Kenn Stilger – Old Hickory, Tenn.
• Donald Claussen – Hendersonville, Tenn.

Winning photographs will be used by Metro Government, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. for promotion of the city, including websites, publications and submission to national media outlets.

First place winners in the hobbyist and professional categories are receiving $1,000, generously donated by the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. Second place winners are receiving a $250 gift certificate for in-house photofinishing services at Dury’s. Winning photographs will be printed courtesy of Chromatics and put on display at the Historic Metro Courthouse. Winners will also be featured in the January issue of Nashville Arts magazine.

The winning photographs and honorable mentions in each category are available to view online at www.skylinecontest.nashville.gov, as well as in an album on Mayor Dean’s Facebook page.

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All photos were taken between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31, 2013. Participants were told that photographs must capture the Nashville skyline to qualify, but there were no rules regarding time of day the photograph is taken, perspective from which it is shot or editing used on the photograph.

Boss' Christmas Present

 

Holt Plumbing Memories by Holt Staff | Make Your Own Book
I took on a project for some friends to surprise their boss this Christmas with a book.  I really like the ease of the BLURB Book product, but the line to get it in was pretty hefty last night.  I was up till 2:00am trying to send it and kept getting server errors on their end.  When I went to their Customer Service Site, it said they were over run with people trying to send in books on a coupon deadline, lucky me.  I can't wait to see the finished product, I hope the photographs are not too bad, I didn't take them.  They were low resolution scans, that will make some of them blurry.  The people I put this together for will not worry about that too much, they had what they had, some great photo memories at #HoltPlumbing.  #LeslieWilkesPhotography will work with what is given, and make the best of it.  I hope they enjoy,

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Merry Christmas

Leslie Wilkes - Owner/Photographer

#LeslieWilkesOwnerPhotographer