I Was Blinded by the Sun

I was blinded by the sun only to see how much I've grown...

While I was shooting in Anguilla I sat on the beach for two mornings to watch the sun rise. On one of those mornings I was reminded of being thankful in the presence of my own shadow.


The clouds were thick and the sky was beautiful. I sat on the beach and the sand was almost cold to touch. The tide was coming in and the water reached closer and closer to my feet by the second. I started photographing items on the beach because the lighting was so perfect.


Then it happened...

In the blink of an eye I felt warmth on my shirtless back and I was temporarily blinded by the bright light reflected from the sand. I had lost track of time. The clouds had parted and now the sun revealed its strength. My eyes adjusted once I opened them and I tried to recompose my earlier shot. Everything looked totally different. The contrast, the texture, the depth, the shadow - all different.


I lay on the sand, chest to the ground, and continued shooting. Its like my subject had grown and I was photographing its past. This gave me an idea. I thought about my past and my future as I so often ponder the correlation between the two. I lifted myself from the earth beneath me and I felt the warmth growing in the sand between my fingers. I turned around and what did I see?? Me! Much taller and better looking though...


So many of us doubt ourselves. I know I do sometimes. We doubt our intelligence, our decisions, our spirituality, our talents, our gifts, and even our physical appearance. The truth of the matter is this: If you will gather the courage to stand and turn around, you will see your growth and be thankful for that. Some of us have bad memories that we would rather not recount, however, you must be thankful for the obstacles you have already overcome.

I believe this message is more for me than it is for you but I felt inclined to share my thoughts with you today.

Blog you later!

- KNIGHT
Ross Oscar Knight

I Was Blinded by the Sun

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Southern Weddings Magazine Launch

photo courtesy of Rae Leytham

Just before the Inauguration Brandi and I attended the launch party for SW Magazine. It was a great welcome back from Africa because we hung out with so many of our friends and industry associates. We hadn't seen some of them since October and November 2008. When Brandi and I first arrived we met Lara - Publisher of SW Magazine and Owner of Bliss Events. Lara and I get to tag-team on our first wedding together this summer in Destin, FL. With her close attention to detail and decoration I am sure shooting this wedding will be one of my favorites!

Special note: I called Lara while I was in Florida this week because I needed to use an office to work on my grandmother's program. Lara is from Pensacola like me. She connected me with Rae Laythem who invited me to her photography studio to work. I really appreciate the two of them extending a helping hand. God blesses us all with friends. Whether for a season or for a lifetime, I am happy to have friends that care.

- KNIGHT

Southern Weddings Magazine Launch

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Double Trouble and a Heartfelt Thank You

Thanks so much to everyone for your thoughtfulness. I received over 100 comments, phone calls, emails and/or texts about my grandmother. Its amazing to know how many of you care so deeply about my well-being. As I sat through the funeral yesterday, I thought about all of you and how God has blessed me with a wonderful extended global family.

To lighten the mood, I was able to spend time with both of my nephews for a day. They bring me such joy and continue to grow more and more every time I see them. I call them double trouble when they are together because they kick, scream, jump, laugh, cry, and shout non-stop! I used to cut my little brother's hair growing up so we kept the tradition going and I cut his son's (left) hair for the first time. Their hair grows identically so it was like going back in time when my brother was begging me to trim his curls.

I didn't bring my camera to Florida so I had to use my iPhone to capture these adorable shots.

- KNIGHT

Double Trouble and a Heartfelt Thank You

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Coming Soon - Hans + Jamie | Wintter is for Lovers

Hans and Jamie Wintter had a beautiful winter wedding ceremony at a little chapel north of Atlanta. This is one of my favorite pictures from the bunch. More to come soon.

- KNIGHT

Coming Soon - Hans + Jamie | Wintter is for Lovers

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A Time for Prayer - Passing the Torch to the Next Generation

photographer unknown

"Just bring me back some sand baby. That's all I want. I want to tell everyone that I've been to Africa and touched the ground."

Those are the last words that I heard from my grandmother when I called her for the fourth time while I was in Africa.

I am currently celebrating the life of my late grandmother - 1/21/2009. I was so happy she was at least able to see the Inauguration of President Barack Obama on the 20th. I called her house on that cold morning to let her know I was freezing and that I made my way all the way to the Capitol grounds. I couldn't believe it myself. I only reached her voicemail but then I called my dad and he was in the same room with her giving her my story play by play through my eyes. I had one hand on my cell phone and the other hand wrapped tightly around my camera.

My grandmother was beautiful, a warrior and the rock of our family. She and her siblings played a major role in the Civil Rights Movement while growing up in Florida. I smile and at the same time shed tears when I recount the stories that she shared with me. That was a sad time for our country. Braving the cold for a few hours on Inauguration Day to watch history was nothing compared to being sprayed with water hoses and not being allowed to eat at the place of your choosing.

I am so happy that my grandmother saw me graduate from college, start a career, buy a house, run a successful business, fall in love, get married, and travel the world. I sent her a copy of every magazine I was published in and she would call me to let me know she received every one.

Only one unedited Inauguration photo for now (I have 1000). I pushed to the front of the crowd to honor the legacy of my ancestors. This one is for you grandma. I can be anything I want to be when I grow up! Thanks to you...and God above.


For me, this is a time for prayer and the celebration of my grandmother's life.

- KNIGHT

Ross Oscar Knight

A Time for Prayer - Passing the Torch to the Next Generation

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A Historic Moment...I'll be there!

I debated going to D.C. for a while to catch just a glimpse of the Inauguration. What deterred me was thinking about all of the traffic, congestion, people, and the cold. Then I thought about what I would tell my kids one day. "Hey kids, sure your dad was a young photographer in 2009 yet I sat at home during one of the most historic days of my life." Surely, that would not suffice. So I am headed to the District after shooting a wedding this weekend. My father-in-law and I will experience history together and I'll be sure to photograph my little heart out - even without a press pass!

I took the picture above during a political rally in October 2008. I found it very befitting for this moment in time.

- KNIGHT

A Historic Moment...I'll be there!

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Back in the US of A - Never The Same

After 3 weeks, 39 hours of combined travel time, 5 weddings, 9,500 photos, countless hours of video, $20,500 Ghana Cedis, numerous taxi rides, constant negotiations, Christmas, a New Year, a heated political run-off (NDC and NPP), a festival for a tribal King, the Botanical Gardens, 4 Parties, 2 different hotels, a slave castle, visiting a talking bird named Apple, the University of Ghana, the Cape Coast fishermen, the Art Market, gifts for family, Shoprite/Game, Oxford St., the Rain Forest, Labadi Beach, Franky's Ice Cream and so much more...Brandi and I have finally returned home to the US of A.

Words cannot begin to express the life changing experiences I had in Ghana West Africa. I learned just as much about myself, my relationship with my wife, and trusting in God for direction and protection as I did about the history and great culture of Ghanaians. My one wish is that my father and grandfather could have traveled with me. I take solace in knowing that their sacrifices in my youth has played an all too important role in where I am today. I love you!

Almost two years ago I decided that I wanted to travel to the continent of Africa to photograph weddings. At first I kept the idea to myself and continually prayed about how I could achieve this dream. I contemplated for a few months then decided to publicly post my dream on the blog. This is my testimony:

Post 1

Post 2

I have so much information to share that I could spend all of 2009 posting stories about the trip. Instead, I have decided to start another website that will host images and stories from all of my travels, past and future, around the world. The site will be launched later this year.

I want to thank our host family in Ghana, the Abeasi family. Especially Nana Adwoa (we attended college together and she modeled for my July workshop) and her cousins who took time to get us acclimated to Accra, answer our questions, and feed us constantly. Also a special thanks to Rodney, a photographer in Ghana that drove Brandi and I around wherever we wanted to go.

I'm looking forward to a great year in 2009! We are shooting our 2nd wedding of the year this weekend in North Georgia. Its for the Wintter couple!!

Blog you later...

- KNIGHT

Ross Oscar Knight

Back in the US of A - Never The Same

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A Bride For All Seasons

RSVP at: www.msquaredpr.com/FourSeasonsBridal

Ross Oscar Knight Photography

A Bride For All Seasons

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Kwadwo + Louisa | Labadi Beach, Ghana West Africa

Brandi and I shot Kwadwo and Louisa's garden wedding last Tuesday near Labadi Beach in Ghana. The breeze from the Atlantic Ocean and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore made for the perfect setting. I believe we were destined to shoot this wedding. During our first meeting in Manhattan New York, Louisa expressed the importance to me of documenting her wedding through powerful photographs. After hearing about the location, details and colors for the day I knew that I wanted to accept this commission. Simply put, it would help to provide a variety of wedding styles for my first book on weddings in Africa. Also at the first meeting Louisa and I shared stories about our faith and discussed our spouses' careers. Kwadwo (MPH in Epidemiology) in New York and Brandi (Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences) in Atlanta work closely with Breast Cancer research. By faith hopefully they will be working on an overseas joint venture soon!

Both the bride and groom's families are from the Ashanti region of Ghana so they are considered Akans (the larger tribe) and speak the native language, Twi (pronounced "too-wree"). Over the past 2 weeks my wife and I have learned many words from the Twi dialect and want to learn even more. The ceremony was done entirely in English, however, that didn't stop us from impressing certain guests that spoke Twi with our knowledge.

I've posted a few photographs below and you know where you'll find more coming up!

- KNIGHT

Ross Oscar Knight

Kwadwo + Louisa | Labadi Beach, Ghana West Africa

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