Jeff Wilson began his career in photography in a humble manner, as the photo editor of his high school newspaper in a time when physical photographs were actually cut and pasted into a layout. While quickly tiring of shooting volleyball games and student council meetings, the creative fire had been lit. After graduating from St. Edwards University with non-embarrassing but not stellar grades, he spent the better part of a decade working the trenches of state employment.
At the Texas House of Representatives he worked on an ongoing documentary project photographing lawmakers during the legislative session. He soon amassed a brilliant catalog of images that were created on a work-for-hire basis and can never be published by him for money. This marked the last time he would ever be paid to shoot 35mm available light with nothing but a Leica and a bag of Tri-X. At the Texas Department of Public Safety he traveled the state for six years as a Forensic Photographer. There he amassed a brilliant catalog of images he would rather not think too hard about. His work with blood spatter patterns has been called “adequate” by several DNA and Trace Evidence analysts. He subsequently worked for renowned photographer Dan Winters, who put him to work as his assistant for several years. Sequestered in Driftwood, Texas, under Winters’ tutelage, Jeff developed his photographic skills, a strong work ethic and a penchant for Red Wings.
One of his not so recent works, a photo essay for Texas Monthly Magazine about Texas high school football stadiums, received a nomination for a National Magazine Award and was recently expanded into a book entitled “Home Fields” to be published by the University of Texas Press in the fall of 2010.
A more recent work for the afore mentioned Texas Monthly, a piece on Texas dancehalls, was a National Magazine Award finalist. With that under his belt, Jeff has developed a reputation amongst his pets as a reliable and amiable provider. His wife and daughter are on the fence, but leaning toward “winsome.”
Jeff has been featured in the PDN Photo Annual and American Photography, and his photographs grace the foyers of several discerning South Austin collectors who live on his street.
CLIENTS
AMD
Bloomberg Businessweek
Chatelaine Magazine
Discover
Disney Adventures
ESPN Magazine
Houghton-Mifflin
Latina
Life
Matador
Men’s Journal
Men’s Health
New York Times Magazine
People Magazine
Politics Magazine
Popular Mechanics
R/GA
Sicola/Martin
Texas Monthly Magazine
Time Magazine
Underline Studio
Wired Magazine