About Me
I am Tony
Hi there!
Photography is the art of frozen time… the ability to store emotion and feelings within a frame. -- Meshack OtienoIf
you've gotten to this point, you've probably figured out I'm a photographer. ;-)
I'm based in the beautiful town of Aiken, SC, and enjoy shooting in the Carolinas, from the beaches to the mountains. But my travels take me around the country, from the East Coast to the West Coast, as well as around the world, and I always travel with a camera.
I really enjoy capturing the beauty I see around me and presenting it in a way that evokes emotions from the viewers. I shoot almost anything. Landscapes, seascapes, woodlands and nature images are where I started, but I've branched out into people (portraits, dancers, live music), horses and equestrian sports, and architecture.
My first 'real' camera was a classic Argus C3 that my father bought in 1949. I transitioned to SLR film cameras and did some darkroom work while in high school and college. But then I went on a hiatus from 'serious' photography as my life went in other directions.
I rediscovered my passion for photography a few years ago. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed capturing an image and creating those stored " ....emotion[s] and feelings within a frame."
My style has been influenced by numerous photographers and artists that I've followed as well as those that I know personally. So, while I don't claim to be 'self-taught', I will claim some natural ability to frame an image that has been nurtured by many friends and mentors.
My work has been shown in several galleries and been seen in several magazines. I've received numerous awards from competitions, including a First Place for one of my images from NC Edge magazine photo competition. The Aiken, SC, Chamber of Commerce featured my work in their "Welcome Aiken" 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 brochures. I also serve as one of the official photographers for the Aiken Steeplechase.
My photos are available for sale, and they can be presented on various types of media. If you don't find what you want on these pages, please drop me an e-mail. I can do custom crops and quote prices for different sizes. I am also open to discussions about photo requests, including portraits
I can be reached at [email protected]
#ExplorerPhotography
Follow me on Instagram @apgouge