Contemporary Classics: Vintage-Inspired Contemporary Atlanta Photography

Contemporary Classics by Carlton Mackey.
More to Come

That Ole Sweet Song Keeps...Jamaica On My Mind

Jamaica has been on my mind a lot lately.  My new fine art collection is a series of portraits titled FACES OF JAMAICA.  Five images from this collection of 22 portraits are currently being exhibited at the Southwest Art Center in Atlanta, Georgia as part of an Atlanta Celebrates Photography exhibit titled EYE TO THE WORLD curated by Briana X. Camelo of the Fulton County Arts Council.  I give an artist talk about the exhibit this Sunday October 28th.

Earlier this week, the above image from that collection was exchanged as part of THE IMAGINARY MILLION, a curated exhibit, an art auction, and gala sponsored by Wonderroot, MOCA GA, and The Zuckerman Museum of Kennesaw State University as part of ELEVATE, a week of “free contemporary art happenings” organized by the City of Atlanta’s Office of Cultural Affairs.  It was by far one of the coolest inaugural events in the city.

In this new collection, I also try to offer a glimpse of yet another view of Jamaica.  In the Fall of 2011, I traveled to Jamaica with Dr. Noel Erskine a trained theologian who was raised in the Jamaican village in which the Rastafarian faith originated.  We traveled from Ocho Rios to the remote Bobo Shanti in the hills of Bull Bay.  Dr. Erskine is the author of the book From Garvey to Marley: Rastafari Theology.

Through this collection I seek to gain and to promote a deeper understanding of each of the distinct people who grace its pages and of the Rastafarian faith that, for some of them, is at the core of their understanding of themselves.  My primary objective, though, is for the viewer to peer deeper into their own lives.  This collection is as much about an examination of the self as it is about studying the faces of any of the individuals in these photos.

These are the faces of everyday folks just like you and me.  These are folks who call the same place home as the legendary Robert (Bob) Nesta Marley and the contemporary track sensation Usain Bolt.  These are folks, however, who are not singularly defined by icons of popular culture by a particular faith.  They worship, sing, dance, work, make love, play, and express themselves in as many distinct ways as anywhere else in the world.  They are certainly, however, shaped by the place they call home.

See the FACES OF JAMAICA Collection and order prints HERE.  

Prints are discounted for the initial debut of the series through November 7.

Start your collection today at the lowest prices they will ever be! 

-Only $200 for 16x24 prints

-Only $350 Ready to Hang (on Giclee Canvas or Framed)

life as a living memorial

Today a life was lost
a loss of light
like a long lucid dream
-only a loose hold on reality
lingering between
what is now and what lies ahead
the flesh has been laid to rest
the soul must now take control
our living must now be a fitting
memorial to the legacy
of those who leave us behind
-carlton mackey (01/11/2012)

Art (and Love) on Atlanta's Beltline

The mural in these photos is part of the largest temporary public art exhibition in the City of Atlanta. When I first saw it, I knew that I wanted to shoot a couple near it. 

The couple would have to be cute, quirky, funny, down to earth, and with a great sense of humor for this to work. When Shawnta and Brandon came along (thanks to google for helping them find me), I knew they would be the perfect couple. 

Art on the Atlanta BeltLine invites residents and visitors to explore new segments of the Atlanta BeltLine that are lined with unique temporary public art installations. 

The public art initiative selected new and returning artists to showcase dynamic installations and performances on the Atlanta BeltLine corridor, an emerging system of parks, trails, transit and development that reclaims a 22-mile loop of historic and mostly unused rail around the City’s core.  

This mural, The BELTLINE BEARS, was created by Kyle Brooks.  See more of his work at www.blackcattips.com

Photos by Carlton Mackey

Series 4 of THEN THERE WAS YESTERDAY -a collection by Carlton Mackey

Image above is from the fourth and final series of 4 photographs which make up the 16 photograph THEN THERE WAS YESTERDAY collection

THEN THERE WAS YESTERDAY 

-a new collection by Carlton Mackey. 

Limited Edition prints are available for purchase today at 

www.mytruevision.com/thenyesterday.html

Series 3 of THEN THERE WAS YESTERDAY -a collection by Carlton Mackey

Image above is from the third series of 4 photographs which make up the 16 photograph THEN THERE WAS YESTERDAY collection

THEN THERE WAS YESTERDAY 

-a new collection by Carlton Mackey. 

Limited Edition prints are available for purchase today at 

www.mytruevision.com/thenyesterday.html

Series 2 of THEN THERE WAS YESTERDAY -a collection by Carlton Mackey

Image above is from the second series of 4 photographs which make up the 16 photograph THEN THERE WAS YESTERDAY collection

I'm very proud to share 4 more images from 

THEN THERE WAS YESTERDAY 

-a new collection by Carlton Mackey. 

Limited Edition prints are available for purchase today at 

www.mytruevision.com/thenyesterday.html

Then There Was Yesterday -a new collection by carlton mackey

Then There Was Yesterday

-a collection by carlton mackey

4 Series.

4 Photographs in each Series.

Limited Edition 20x30 Prints
Available for purchase Dec. 8

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I have been quietly photographing the images for this collection for the last 3 years. 

I am so honored to release them soon. 

Thank you. 

ART IN UNEXPECTED PLACES - Bloom by Lauri Stallings and glo ATL

One of my students sent me an email inviting me to attend an event that he was helping with. In the email, he expressed such excitement and said that he knew without a doubt that I would love it.
...then he said where it was
...and I prepared how I would kindly tell him no thanks.

I don't do malls, and I had no desire whatsoever to be in Lenox Mall on Valentine's Day Weekend.

But this was Andrew Tate, one of the most engaging and enthusiastic students, and he made a convincing argument.


What I experienced was one of the most dynamic public, free, (kinetic) art exhibits I've seen in Atlanta. These dancers, who later I had learned had never practiced in this space, infused their bodies with everything in their environment.

Stairs were turned into piano keys. Escalators were suddenly lifting more than just people and their bags of very visibly marked commercial products. Actually the dark black metal stairs Croc catchers temporarily disappeared and people seemed to float on their own.


This space where the preoccupation with self and the drive for individuality is mocked by the somehow ignored reality that everyone inside looks like a carbon copy of the next was transformed. Suddenly an experiment other than commercialism was introduced and once injected (even if unknowingly) seemed to flow throughout the entire "body".

Some people accepted willingly and became a part of the art themselves. Others waltzed aimlessly and seemed to be aware of nothing other than their never ending string of text messages.

...and just like that they were gone
...moving spontaneously through the arteries of the space and disappearing without leaving a trace...or at least one may think.

But I beg to differ. I think that their energy was transferred, and the next time you are in Lenox Mall if you listen closely you can hear Mozart playing when you walk down the stairs.
-carlton mackey

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Wedding, Art, Love 2

kari is back at it again...



memories captured for aaliyah and cedrick samuel
on august 8, 2009
tampa florida

(more from this wedding to come)

Wedding, Art, Love

Kari Mackey is an amazing photographer. She took all of the images in this blog post. Each one in its own way embodies the ethereal nature of love. Kari is an artist, and it shows. I love her and am glad that she is my partner, wife, and friend. You would love her as your photographer.
These images are from the wedding celebration of Kelli and Kendrick Richardson at the Champagne Palace and Gardens in New Orleans Louisiana on July 31, 2009.


Kelli and Kendrick's Wedding is this Month's VISION Photography Feature
Click Here for Documentary Slideshow