matt trogdon

I have been blessed to have access to a tiny plot of land near Morrow Mountain State Park in rural Montgomery County, NC. Nestled in the Uwharrie mountains, it’s a tranquil and calming hideaway from every day stresses and concerns.

There is little that the gentle waves on Lake Tillery can’t wash away after taking in a sunset over the water. Every July for as long as I can really remember, one of the communities on the river hosts a fireworks display.

The river grows congested with watercraft of varied pedigrees, and the anticipation for that first explosion.. that first pop and sizzle of the fireworks.

Fireworks - Lake Tillery, NC

We wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Fireworks - Lake Tillery, NC

The Fireworks on Lake Tillery are coordinated by the Woodrun Community. If you’re ever in the area and interested in seeing this fireworks display, check their website for information.

Image published on July 4, 2012 | Permalink | Leave a response

heather and ben-9254.jpg

I’ve known Heather for a number of years and was asked to be a second shooter for her wedding earlier this month. It was a beautiful day, the weather was phenomenal, and a grand time was had by all. The Gardens at Gray Gables, a venue in the quaint community of Summerfield, hosted the ceremony and reception.

Wedding Photography is very near and dear to my heart. There are so many different emotions and reactions to capture during the day, it takes dedication and a quick eye to be able to grab those little glances between the couple. Here are some of my favorites from the day.

heather and ben-0303-6.jpg I spent the morning with the groomsmen while they knocked out a round of golf.

heather and ben-0305-6.jpg The ladies were accompanied by fellow photographer, friend, and incredible talent, Sagen Kime. Feel free to check out her site for her images from this lovely day.

heather and ben-9141.jpg The ceremony was relatively short and sweet. When you have a love like what is shared between these two, words can sometimes be superfluous. heather and ben-9158.jpg

An endearing glance during the ceremony. I love the expression and emotion in this photo.

Much congrats, love, and best wishes to both of you on your new life together.

Heather and Ben, thank for letting me share your day, capture these moments, and to help tell this chapter of your story.

Image published on June 28, 2012 | Permalink | Leave a response

This past weekend, my friends Heather and Ben got married. I was thrilled to be a second shooter for the event, working with Sagen Kime throughout the day.

heather and ben-9254.jpg

It was a 14 hour day and I almost completely filled my memory cards capturing some moments for Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose.

Image published on June 22, 2012 | Permalink | Leave a response

If you’ve passed through downtown Asheboro in the last short while, you’ve probably noticed some incredible murals downtown. These wonderful creations were brought to life by the skillful hand of resident artist Susan Harrell. She recently opened her own studio gallery here in Asheboro, and I was lucky enough to be part of the crowd that join Susan in celebrating the grand opening.
Susan Harrell Gallery Opening

Having appreciated her mural work, I was ready to be wowed by what waited behind the door. Cameras in hand, I crept into the intimately lit gallery and instantly found myself in awe of her work. The gallery has a wonderful flow and energy that matches her work perfectly. It welcomes you, puts you at ease, and allows you to focus on the works of art being presented.
Susan Harrell Gallery Opening

The fact that the gallery is also her studio allows the public a brief look into current works in progress, personal pieces of inspiration, and the tools of the trade. While not in the forefront, her brushes, another canvass, and pieces of memorabilia were scattered carefully throughout the space.

Susan Harrell Gallery Opening

The Four Saints Brewing Company, Randolph County’s first brewery, was on hand to help celebrate the grand opening and provide some of their hand-crafted beers to the crowds in attendance. In addition to the fine beverage selction, the event was catered and everyone seemed to gravitate towards the beautifully appointed center table for friendly conversation or hors d’oeuvres.
Susan Harrell Gallery Opening

The grand opening for the Susan Harrell Studio Gallery was a resounding success. As the evening progressed, Susan made a point to reach out to those that had joined her for this special occasion… and not once was she spotted without a glowing smile.
Susan Harrell Gallery Opening

At some point during the opening, a memento was left on Susan’s desk. Being a child of the 80′s, I was immediately drawn in and wanted to capture this moment.
Susan Harrell Gallery Opening

For those of you that may be traveling near Asheboro, if you’ve seen her murals and want to see more of her work, Susan’s Gallery is located at 375 South Fayetteville Street in Asheboro, North Carolina. Check out her website or Facebook page for more information.

Image published on June 8, 2012 | Permalink | Leave a response

Here’s a fun fact: when the photographer is around 5’6… and the subject is 5’11.. things get interesting.

It isn’t often that I add a step stool into my loadout, but this past Tuesday was a bit of an exception. Just the same, I took some photos for Ms. Kaitlin and was pretty happy with the turnout.

Kaitlin

She was a pleasure to work with, very laid back, and at ease in front of the camera.

Kaitlin Kaitlin

…and my favorite of the bunch…
Kaitlin

Image published on June 6, 2012 | Permalink | Leave a response

Not too long ago, I was invited out for a stroll through a peaceful little corner of the world by my friend and exceptional photographer, Sagen Kime. I’ve always fancied myself as more of a landscape type guy and enjoy capturing those still moments, but this particular place really put me at ease with my time on this Earth.
The property, I was told, had been many different things over the years. A home, a shop, an oasis from a busier existence. You could see hints here and there of where nature continues on, whether we’re involved or not.

This elusive green anole lizard was trying to lure me into a game of Peek-a-boo. It worked and he was a good sport, but I won… I think.

The next two images were touching for me. I know that the author of the note, the owner of the glasses isn’t around anymore. Seeing a note like this reminds me a lot of little scribbled notes left behind by my grandpa, the same with the glasses. It’s one of those things that we are all faced with… what we leave behind. To see the works around me as I snapped these pictures, I gained an appreciation for the hard work and masterful hand that had built so much of what I was experiencing.

While so many of the buildings around the property were showing their age in one way or another, there was always new growth peeking out around every corner.

To see some incredible photography, check out Sagen’s site. She’s a talent behind the lens, a true artist with what she does, and an inspiration.

Image published on May 23, 2012 | Permalink | Leave a response

This past weekend, I spent a few hours roaming around Sanford, NC at the 2012 Relay for Life event. It’s always an event that fosters a number of emotions, but hope is paramount of all of these. There was a great number of folks walking… survivors, caretakers, corporate sponsors, family members, the young and old.

Reflecting back, Cancer doesn’t care who you are. It isn’t biased. It will change the lives of anyone, regardless of race, creed, gender, or social standing.

I’ve personally lost family to cancer and I’ve seen folks fight through the battle and come out on the other side with their hands held high.

If you’ve never been to a Relay, the next two photos may not make much sense. Every event I’ve been to has always taken a moment to allow the survivors and caregivers an opportunity to wish cancer away in their own way. For the Lee County Relay, you’ll notice the crowd blowing bubbles with the hope that cancer will float out of their lives, burst, and never come back. It always tugs at the heartstrings to see the survivors going through this process. There tends to be a sense of relief in the air, so to speak.

There were a handful of local acts providing entertainment to the crowd as well. One of the standouts for me was the Fog Blues Band, a local blues rock band from Sanford, NC.

These guys really lit the stage up. If you’re in or around Lee County, NC and want to check them out, I recommend it. More information is available on their website: thefogbluesband.com

Of course, show up hungry. A huge percentage of the teams offer food for sale. The regular fair fare is available, but you will come across homemade lasagna if you look for the 3M booth. Regardless of where you are on the track, one of my favorite scents seems to follow you around.

Image published on May 17, 2012 | Permalink | Leave a response

Earlier this month, my wife and I were invited to a Pints for Prostates event at Rockfish Grill in Durham. A group of local upcoming breweries banded together to offer a tasting of their beers for the event, and to simply refer to the day as incredible wouldn’t quite do it justice.

Casks for a Cure 2 was able to raise a substantial donation for the cause and it allowed the fine folks of North Carolina a taste of the best craft beers in North Carolina. We tasted offerings from Four Saints Brewing Company, Sub Noir Brewing Company, Steel String Brewery, Deep River Brewing Company, Haw River Farmhouse Ales, and Fortnight Brewing Company.

Four Saints Brewing Company

Sub Noir

Steel String Brewery

Deep River Brewing Company

Haw River Farmhouse Ales

Fortnight Brewing Company

Each brewery offered up a different style, which was refreshing… and from the chatter in the crowd, it was appreciated. I encourage each and every one of you to keep your eyes peeled for any events that these breweries may be involved with. Go out, meet the folks that are pouring their time and talents into crafting beer and hoping to make a difference in each of their respective communities.

It was refreshing to see a great turnout for the Casks for a Cure event. I came across Zane, a sticker enthusiast that was enjoying the day out with his parents.

With giveaways, hammers, stickers, and beer… who wouldn’t be excited?

One of the yet-to-be-named hammers.

Just a taste...

And while it was a great day out, the goal was to raise funds and awareness for a cause. A founding member of Fortnight Brewing Company had lost his father just the day before. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men, other than skin cancer. It’s the second leading cause of cancer death in men, behind only lung cancer. One man in 6 will get prostate cancer during his lifetime, and 1 in 36 will die of this disease.

Just before we left for the day, I was approached by a gentleman who looked like he had something on his mind. I’m not sure what made him step forward and introduce himself, but he noticed my camera and asked if I wanted to get a great photo. I just hope he wasn’t let down. Among the crowd was a prostate cancer survivor… proudly displaying his support bracelet.

Survivor

We talked for a few minutes about his experience, the importance of early detection, and just how wonderful it was to see the local support for the cause.

The rest of the photos from the event are available here.

Image published on May 14, 2012 | Permalink | Leave a response