"Why?" - with Denis Reggie

Image copyright Denis Reggie. All rights reserved.

The concept behind "Why?" is pretty easy to understand.  I want to share images from well-respected photographic artists and ask why the image is special; what makes it unique or what makes it a favorite of the artist.

I started "Why?" for two reasons. First, there are too many of you who don't know the movers and shakers in the industry; those photographers blazing a path in creativity and setting the standard for so many different aspects of imaging and the business of photography. Second, I wanted to find a better way for you to enjoy the back-story behind every image. Nothing beats hearing it from the artist directly.

We're kicking off July with a bang and sharing one of the most recognized photographs in history, captured by Denis Reggie. The image of John Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette, as they came out of the church after their wedding ceremony, appeared in just about every magazine in the world, not to mention newspapers.

Remember, this image was captured on film.  There was no "chimping" until the proofs came back from the lab! Denis had no time to experiment and as he talks about in this sound-byte, there was no time to scout out the location in advance.

One of the things that makes Denis one of the finest photographers in the world is his solid foundation in understanding every aspect of photography. There's no guess work when Denis is shooting, regardless of whether it's digital or film.

You can learn more about Denis and check out his work with a visit to his website. Just click on the image. And, if you see him speaking at a convention/conference take the time to introduce yourself.  He's been responsible for so many milestones in professional photography, especially in getting more photographers to understand the value of their work.