The photography of Tom Graves has been published in Playboy magazine, Southern Exposure, The Chouteau Review, The Jackson Daily News, the book Crossroads:  The Life and Afterlife of Blues Legend Robert Johnson, and has been exhibited in galleries and gift shops across the Mid-South.  Graves cites many influences on his work but chief among them is world-renowned photographer William Eggleston.  "I can claim to have been somewhat acquainted with William Eggleston, who is a fellow Memphian, some years ago," says Graves today.  "I even was present on one of his photo shoots and looked down the barrel of a loaded German luger that he was absent-mindedly pointing at me.  But it was his work that influenced me.  Eggleston revolutionized color in photography and I've always been interested in his dye transfer process that highlighted and brought out color as he saw fit.  I've developed my own variation of the dye transfer process that also allows me to manipulate color in a subtle way to my satisfaction. 

"Eggleston, to me, has the most remarkable eye -- he sees compositions in ways very few others do.  He could be sitting in a restaurant and observe the way the napkin holder looks with the salt and peppers shakers next to it and find a composition there.  No one else would notice, but he does and he captures these things brilliantly.  My own compositions at present are more object-oriented I think than his, but I am amazed at compositions I've discovered thinking like Eggleston.

"I've been influenced by many other photographers as well and noticed early on that many of them use Leica cameras.  I am devoted to Leica lenses myself and use them now exclusively although I'm likely going to be delving more into people and events and I'll be needing a camera that works better for split second captures and night flash photography.  Other photographers I've liked include Bert Stern who did incredible advertising work, Baron Wolman and Annie Leibowitz at Rolling Stone, Mary Ellen Marks, all the work of Diane Arbus, Hiro, and the still photography of the infamous Leni Riefenstahl.  I think her work in Africa is just extraordinary." 

To view my photography, please go to Facebook and type in Memphis Art Photography.  The link is http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.209672612405897.52187.209231695783322

If you are interested in my stained glass photographs and would like to check out my project Masterworks: Historic Stained Glass of the Mid-South please go to www.kickstarter.com and type in my name, Tom Graves