Wise Words

"The courage to create only superb work,

through thick and thin, 
and fight to protect it at all cost,

is not generated in the head...

it comes from your very heart and soul."

- George Lois

New Work: Chas Martin

I had the privilege of shooting Chas Martin, maitre d' of the Hotel ZaZa and sommelier of Dragonfly for Modern Luxury. Chas has more energy and enthusiasm than anyone I've ever worked with. My thanks to Chas for being an open and willing subject, and to the folks at Modern Luxury for the great assignment.

All Images © Nick Prendergast

New Tear Sheet: Conor Lyons for Dallas Child

I had the pleasure of shooting Conor Lyons for a story about gifted kids in the new issue of Dallas Child. Creative Direcor Lauren Niebes had told me about the assignment a week or so before the shoot, and we immediately began thinking of ways to illustrate his quirky personality and his advanced intellect. Conor was a fun subject to shoot, and a cool kid to hang out with. He draws really detailed maps, builds amazing WWII figurines, and has an incredibly inquisitive mind. Here's an outtake from the shoot featuring some of the clay soldiers he's created:

© Nick Prendergast

{from the Dallas Child website}

Many thanks to Conor, his mom Julie, and Lauren for her amazing concept and direction.

Preview: SuitRak

© Nick Prendergast

I just finished a shoot for an awesome clothing company called SuitRak. I'll post a few more shots when the website goes live, but in the meantime I'd like to thank designer Randy Dam, as well as our incredible crew: producer Tamber Johnson, hair and makeup artist Al Tidwell, stylist Kim Hays, and digital tech Jake Toler. Model: Christopher Bunn

Recycle Revolution for NBC DFW

I shot Eddie Lott and the rest of the Recycle Revolution crew with creative agency Mother NY for NBC DFW. I was and remain very inspired by their story, and I hope we captured a bit of what makes RR so important to this community.

I went back to Recycle Revolution a few months later to shoot some photographs of the people and process at work there. The facility serves as a community drop center, as well as providing recycling pick-up for small businesses and residential areas that don't have a municipal recycling option. 

Peters Bros - Fort Worth, TX

{Javier steams a straw hat's brim}

I shot the folks at Peters Bros hats in downtown Fort Worth, TX as part of my ongoing 'Craftsmen' Series.

A very brief history: The Peters brothers - Jim and Tom - were Greek immigrants who started their business in Waco as a shoe shining operation. In 1911, they moved into a storefront in downtown Fort Worth and began repairing and cleaning hats on the side. In 1921, Tom moved to Philadelphia to work for Stetson. After learning what he could from the master hatters there, he returned to Fort Worth to begin making custom hats of his own. Millionaire Amon Carter took such a liking to their hats (especially their Shady Oak, named after his ranch) that he would give them as gifts to celebrities and dignitaries when they travelled through North Texas. In 1933, after Jim passed away, Tom Peters moved the business into the building it occupies to this day, 909 Houston Street. Tom's grandson Joe Peters runs the shop now, using the same processes and honoring the same level of quality that made Peters Brothers reputation when the brand began.

{Current owner Joe Peters}

{Joe presses a felt hat"body" into a hat form}

{Joe checks the brim on a freshly steamed hat}

{A 'Shady Oak' gets some shape to its brim}

{Peter's Bros signature hat: The Shady Oak}

{Wooden hat forms}

{Bands for practice gold-stamping}

{Letters for gold-stamping the customer's name inside the custom hats}

{Peters Bros sign outside their storefront @ 909 Houston St}

Cassy Lawson for Dallas Child Magazine

I had the pleasure of photographing Cassy Lawson and her lovely family for the current issue of Dallas Child. I shoot for this column frequently, and the challenge quickly becomes finding new ways to capture the feel of a family in their home without it getting visually repetitive. When I suggested to Cassy that she and her family sit on the floor behind their couch, she must've thought I was crazy. I really like the location, though, because I think it gives the shot a sense intimacy that other, more obvious spots around a family home wouldn't provide. Check out Cassy's activities-for-mothers organization, PROJECT MOM.