5 minute read
Charley Windham
The Photo Man
By Natalie Downey
Some people grow up knowing their artistic talent, for Charley Windham, it was a discovery he stumbled across as an adult.
In 2022, Charley originally got a camera for his work as an insurance agent. Upon looking back at his pictures, he was surprised to see how well they had turned out. “I thought, ‘I can actually take decent photos’,” Charley recalls.
Charley decided to keep shooting. With the encouragement of some photographer friends, he began seeking out photo opportunities in intriguing places. He went to the Krog Street Tunnel in Atlanta, famous for its colorful street art, and found that he really enjoyed the experience of capturing photos as a means of creative expression and fun, rather than just for work. The same year, New Years brought in a heavy blanketing fog, which Charley ventured out to photograph. The result was a hauntingly stunning photo which went “locally viral,” Charley recalls.
Realizing people were enjoying and sharing his art gave Charley the motivation to keep exploring his talent and try new things.
Charley had never thought of himself as an artist, but he says he always felt the desire to create in some way. “I never was good at drawing or painting,” he says. But even though he was skeptical of his own skill at first, when other photographers saw his work, they insisted he continue. “Everyone else seemed to see it,” Charley says, and even though he figured his photographer friends were just being nice, he received so much positive feedback that he finally felt he had some natural talent, and as he grew more confident, his passion for photography grew as well.
“Now it’s something I feel like I have to get out and do regularly,” Charley laughs. He makes time to shoot almost every day, and he’s always looking for new places and ideas. Charley especially enjoys visiting abandoned places or areas where things are out of place or overgrown. “I see it as a metaphor for mental health, representing internal growth,” Charley explains. “I’m always trying to figure out how to represent what I’m seeing.”
While Charley enjoys landscape and abstract photography, he also finds himself drawn to capturing images from live performances. There’s a palpable but invisible buzz of energy at live events, and to capture an image of the experience is a challenge Charley willingly accepts. “I love taking performance pictures - capturing what people look like in the moment,” Charley says. He sits back and watches, waiting for the moment the energy swells and the conditions are perfect, then he takes his shot. “I feel the energy and vibe and it leads me to the right moment,” Charley explains.
Charley aims to take photos which will stand the test of time, that keep telling stories long after the experience has come to an end. “A pretty picture is cool, but I want to capture emotion in documentary-style photography,” Charley explains. “Sometimes seeing a vulnerable moment helps us rise.” As he strives to capture authentic snapshots, he pushes himself out of his comfort zone.
At first, Charley felt comfortable shooting in black and white, a realm he felt was conducive to processing that emotion in photos. Over time, Charley realized that in order to branch out in the world of photography, he’d need to begin working with color as well. So, he resolved to learn the ins and outs of composition, lighting, and working with colors.
Photography has opened many doors for Charley, leading to opportunities far more than he realized, through connection with people, travel, and even the chance to shoot for some of his favorite musicians, such as The Drive-By Truckers. “The camera is my ticket to get out and see the world,” Charley says.
Sincerely personable, authentically rough around the edges, Charley has a boyish enthusiasm for his newly-discovered talent. An obvious people-person, one of Charley’s favorite discoveries from behind the lens is seeing what it does for other people. “They feel recognized, seen,” he explains. “I like to capture people in a light they typically don’t see themselves, watching their faces glow, seeing their confidence boost when they see what they look like - that empowers them.”
For Charley, his journey as a photographer has been a journey of self. “I realized I am an artist,” he says, “I like creating, and without creating, my mind becomes stagnant.”
Learning to appreciate his own work has taken time, and challenging himself to grow outside of his comfort zone has been an intentional effort. “I want to grow not just as a photographer, but as a person,” he says, “So I embrace criticism, because it will help me get better.” The support he’s received from other photographers has also been instrumental in his continued growth.
“It’s humbling and encouraging to be around artists I respect and have them also respect my work,” he says.
Charley’s photography can be enjoyed through his social media pages @dubography_photography. He is available for hire as a freelance photographer for events and performance photography as well as private sessions.
