Richshots Photography Gallery

03/03/2025

I'M DOWNRIGHT GIDDY about my new AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm 1:2.8E FL ED lens I received last week just in time to give it a test run. For years I've been using the SIGMA version of the same lens and was content with the outcome. However I notice a significant difference when using the exact brand made for my Nikon camera. You can spend thousands of dollars on your camera. But if you don't invest in the proper lens, you're not getting the most out of your investment. The only welcome inconvenience is that I have to make adjustments to my presets in Lightroom and Photoshop.

10/17/2023

Just a few photos from Mr. William Padmore birthday celebration

09/25/2023

LOOK AT THE PURDY BALLOONS! Early Saturday morning photos taken at the annual Plano Balloon Festival in Plano, Texas.

09/15/2023

LIFETIME MILESTONE RECORDED. Twenty-seven year old Software Engineer request me to come view his new car. He says that it has been his dream car since childhood and he would like for me to photograph a product of his achievement. "Sure," I said. "Meet me Sunday morning at 10 a.m. at the specified location, and we'll make it happen."

Life Choices. 🙂

06/16/2023

MAAAAAAANNNNN!....I GOT THIS! Creating satisfying results where me and my client are happy require getting over the unexpected hurdles in my path to victory. Letting my client or subject become aware of my anguish is not an option.

I was contracted by an architectural firm to trek to downtown Dallas, Texas to shoot headshots (and environmental portraits) for two of their employees to be included in their advertisement and promotional publications. Did I mention that I HATE DRIVING INTO DOWNTOWN DALLAS during business hours; especially, on a rainy day?

First off, the GPS route on my phone didn't mention the road construction work that required me to take an alternate route. Then there were "One Ways" with more construction work. Angry drivers were honking at me. I get to the office building and there is mandatory valet parking; I hade no cash on me. I had to unload all my equipment while still in oncoming traffic. I then took the one and only elevator to the 31st floor. Once there, I only had 10 minutes left to assemble and test. I HATE THE PERCEPTION OF NOT BEING ORGANIZED.

Now we're ready to get this thing going. I'm already exhausted and frustrated; then I learn that my subjects are the "quiet nerdy types." But by the time I finish coaching them, they were ready for "GQ" and "Esquire" magazine covers. They were happy, confident, and they enjoyed the experience.

As of today, I got a call from the owner requesting that I come back and do his portraits executing the same poses and using backdrops. He just kept complementing the results.😆 LOL!

05/14/2023

MAN! What a boring life?!!! It's so exciting 😊. It's the little things that often go unnoticed that are reminders that life ain't so bad.

With all the beautiful weather, I decided to go on a photographic scavenger hunt for Texas Wildflowers. I found that there were tons of butterflies everywhere pollenating the foods we eat and the beauty we enjoy. I decided to photograph them in action.

California has its mountains and foothills. Texas has its wildflowers and wilderness.

03/05/2023

BLACK FRIDAY

03/03/2023

Architectural photo shoot of the Texas Cancer Specialist in Fort Worth, Texas.

11/29/2022

WEALTHY AIN'T THE SAME AS RICH

Comedian Chris Rock made a joke about the difference between "wealth" and "rich." He said "with 'wealth' you can't get rid of money. But 'rich' you can lose during one summer over a drug habit. This is a photo of an indoor pool from Hearst Castle near San Luis Obispo, California. Anything in this photo that is colored gold is made of real gold-leaf metal. This photo only includes about 1/4 of the actual pool. The rest of the castle and landscape is so opulant in detail and art, you'd just shake your head in disbelief. William Randolph Hearst was one of America's so-called "Robber Barons" and was the owner of this Hearst Castle.

11/03/2022

"WINTER IS COMING" - A Game Of Thrones Reference

A statement repeated often is meant to give a message.
The GOT fans know that the "Winter is coming" statement is a double entendre. Yes, the winter season is upon us. And there are those projecting that this winter season will come with unique concerns. It's the pleasant images you keep that can help you get though unpleasant times.

10/27/2022

CORRECTING A HISTORICAL WRONG

The photograph you see is a "Benin Bronze Oba Head." This is a photograph I shot in 1994 on my visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Earlier this month, the Smithsonian has returned this piece and dozens of others to their original country of origin--Nigeria.

In 1897 Pre-colonial Nigeria, the British burned and looted the royal palace in the Kingdom of Benin. More than 3,000 pieces of Benin's art and culture was taken back to Europe and divided off to European countries and other countries around the world as trophies for their museums and private collections. "The Kingdom of Benin is renowned for the exceptional quality and diversity of its royal arts"--Smithsonian. Much of the art was created as far back as the 1400's.

The Nigerians have been on a campaign to get their art back and accused these countries of making money off their culture. The Smithsonian has agreed to return to Nigeria the 39 pieces it has in its possession. The photo displayed here is only one rendition of many versions of the Benin Bronze Oba Head.

10/16/2022