AJ Williams (Intern)
AJ first got his hands on a camera at the age of eight. By the time he was a young teen, freshly uprooted from the farmlands of Iowa and replanted in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, he was hopelessly smitten by photography, it would never be just another ailing fad. On the contrary, it would turn out to be his driving passion and utmost delight.
Two decades since his first disposable windup, AJ has developed his own unique style of pristine realism that occasionally softens itself with a little romance. Through his photographs, AJ presents a version of the world that is flawless yet eerily recognizable; a kind of dramatized authenticity evocative of cinema. It is this immaculate style that won him the gold award in illustrative work from College Photographer of the Year (CPOY), and continues to set him apart to this day.
AJ understands how to masterfully articulate the complexities of mood and emotion through his thoughtful choice of composition, lighting, color, and processing. It is worth noting that the latter is a large part of AJ’s joy, as he painstakingly works on each image until it reaches its final form, as close to perfection as this fallen world will allow. During his current role as Digital Imaging Specialist for iconic rock and roll photographer Lynn Goldsmith, AJ has continued to refine his technical skills. His time is spent retouching celebrity portraits, scanning/restoring film negatives and slides, creating fine art prints, and managing international agencies – all the while tightening his grasp on the inner-workings of photography as a business.
Since moving to Nashville, AJ has actively sought out the next generation of aspiring photographers who long to learn and refine their craft. Currently helping the young men in his local Church, a select few of them have taken a serious interest in photography as a hobby. As he has shares his deep passion for the craft. An easy-going disposition and generous nature render AJ the kind of teacher who sincerely delights in seeing others grow in confidence and skill. AJ has always appreciated the value of mentors in his own life, and seeks to humbly learn from other respected photographers with many years of experience and wisdom. He does not shy away from criticism or advice; in fact he relishes it.
Whether he’s on a professional set, or shooting nature to unwind, AJ pours his heart and soul into his work. Everything from his portrait and product photography, to his landscapes and night-crawling, gleams with the richness of a lucid dream. His portfolio, though distinct in style, is by no means homogenous. Few photographers can capture the hushed loneliness of a neglected Cadillac nestled in a damp garden, right alongside the synthetic beauty of the city at midnight in all its neon splendor. This stunning variety of images is a testament to AJ’s conscious effort to push open a fresh creative door the moment the resources of his current comfort zone have been exhausted. AJ’s innate desire to explore, coupled with a disdain for a static life devoid of risk or discovery, is sure to serve him mightily both professionally and recreationally for decades to come.
