Photos by Jerry Winnett, Grindhouse Photography

In the world of photography, it’s tough to find bodies of work that jump out at you. With the Middle Tennessee region being another notch in the Bible Belt, many photographers feel restricted by what they can shoot, sticking to the same baby photos and family portraits we’ve seen time and time again. As photography is an art, the artist is defined by his surroundings: that is to say, that a great artist is great not only because they possess the talent to be great, but because they possess a talent and creative potential that is not available to other artists. With the addition of camera technologies being added to smartphones, it seems that anyone with skinny jeans and access to Instagram can say they’re an artist because they took a picture of lunch. It is for this reason that the Murfreesboro Pulse team is proud to announce one of its latest members: Grindhouse Creative’s Jerry Winnett.

Having over 20 years of experience as both a graphic designer and a photographer, it’s safe to say that Winnett knows what he’s talking about. He got his start with photography at MTSU, more or less to fill a class credit and take pictures of architectural designs when he was flashed by a classmate. After that moment, Jerry began to notice this pattern again and again in college, when other photographers and their subjects began having sexual relationships, despite the taboo of such acts (Winnett refers to this phenomenon as “the nipple that ate my soul”). It was the camera, Jerry concluded, that let people know what they really are, and not just for cheap thrills or sexual gratifications. It was the camera that told the truth, but Jerry wanted to make sure that it was a truth that people wanted to hear. Not for the sake of eroticism, but for the sake of escapism. It was the forbidden, the taboo, and the untold that his camera wanted to capture.

It was this philosophy that helped Jerry understand what made interesting photography. He wasn’t looking to simply “shoot sexy.”

Winnett

“Anyone can shoot two people in a bedroom and make it look sexy,” says Jerry. “You’re not there to play cards. But to put two people in non-bedroom situations, such as an abandoned factory or under a bridge, that takes talent.” Adding to that, Jerry also adheres to the old wisdom that an artist is only as good as what he brings to the canvas. And like with any art, photography is all about experimentation and growth. The thing we like about Winnett the most is that he has a very non-pretentious approach to the art of photography. He makes it very clear that he doesn’t want to take the same photos as everyone else. He would rather try something new and fail than rehash what he’s and everyone else have already done for the sake of safety. What’s more, you won’t hear him talk about the superiorities of shooting on film. For Grindhouse Photography, it’s all about the speed and cost of the image, and not patting yourself on the back. Digital augmentation is another form of manipulation of the image, and Jerry proudly uses Photoshop, as he sees no difference between it and the lens of the camera, or telling your subject to strike an unnatural pose.

Jerry tells us, “If you’re going to be pretentious, only be pretentious about the results and the process, not the media. Real photographers use Photoshop. I use computer software to digitally paint, enhance and augment almost all of my photographs.” At the end of the day, Jerry views himself as more than just a photographer. Jerry is a visual artist. A graphic designer.

And while our friend may respect the art, he feels that there are a lot of people who don’t.

“Out of all the people I know with cameras, I feel that I actually only know 100 actual photographers. That may sound like a lot, but when you think about how many “so-called photographers” there are in the area, it’s really not. I define a real photographer as someone who spends 60 to 70 percent of their time honing their craft, not just something that they see as a hobby.”

Winnett also tells us that there’s a great deal of preparation involved with his photography shoots, as he’ll spend days driving around Nashville and the Middle Tennessee area simply to look for new, unique, and often hidden locations that most people don’t know exist. His preparation and dedication—as well as the room he leaves to experiment—with photography is what he feels separates him from the plague of others simply looking to make a quick buck in an already saturated market.

But saturation isn’t the only thing that’s killing the local industry. Jerry cites our proximity to Music City and the bands that feel that they are entitled to free photography, illustration and art.

“I’ve had twelve bands try and contact me for ‘portfolio work’ this year alone. They ask if I can do it for free. Now, I ran City at Night magazine, worked for Mid-Town Printing, and did cover art in the rap industry for eight years. Every solo artist rapper who I spoke with paid me up front for my work, coming up with $1,500 by themselves. And now, I get five guys in a band who can’t come up with a hundred dollars apiece! Look, real artists don’t do this for free. They deserve to be paid. And the fact of the matter is, you paid good money for your musical instruments. And you’re proud of them. That’s no different than me being proud of the lenses I have to buy. Investing in good photography means investing in yourself.”

Essentially, Jerry isn’t here to make friends, he’s here to make art. And while he’s one of the nicest people you can meet, he’s really here to give you a good quality image. Jerry Winnett’s Grindhouse Creative can be contacted here or (615) 977-2695. His work can be seen at http://about.me/jerrywinnett or http://grindhousecreative.smugmug.com/. Also, be sure to like Grindhouse Photography on Facebook. Welcome to the team, Jerry. (Special thanks to Dale Rainey for the title quote.)

Winnett shot the below images in a Rutherford County abandoned house in November 2012 with model Paula Kay, 17, of Kentucky.