Dwight
McCann has been a photographer for over 35 years and a computer programmer
for the University of California for over 30 years. His current venture into Live Entertainment photography started in a Biker Bar, the Ghostriders Tavern (now defunct) in Los Alamos, California about seven years ago. After shooting thirty bands lighted by a couple of bare lightbulbs he was invited to shoot at the Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez, California, in what became the Maverick Saloon Project. Fortuitously, Rick Barker, local country radio station Program Director at the time and "Nashville to You" promoter, was so impressed with the consistently superior images of the emerging country singers he was bringing to California from Nashville that Dwight's images were featured at the original Maverick Saloon and later at the Maverick Saloon & Grill in Santa Maria, California. Through the "Nashville to You" Acoustic Radio Tour, Dwight photographed eight of the 2006 CMA award nominees. His images now appear on numerous country artists' websites (BrittonJack, Scotty Emerick and Craig Morgan are typical), numerous fan websites as well as a dozen images on Volume 1 of the Nashville to You CD. Rick is currently managing rising country star Amber Rhodes.
During this same period, Dwight formed another alliance, with Casa Cassara Vineyard & Winery, through a chance meeting at the Maverick Saloon with John Krska, a huge country music fan as well as the General Manager for Casa Cassara. This bond continues today, with Dwight shooting winery events and other material for Casa Cassara, as well as occasional private concerts by some of these same artists at the Casa Cassara Estate Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills appelation off Mail Road just east out Highway 246 from Buellton, California where Dwight now lives and has his studio.
Then in the Fall of 2004, Rick Barker became involved with the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, in their Entertainment Department. The Chumash Casino Resort had decided to bring in world class talent to their little valley. Because of Rick's experience with Dwight's photography for "Nashville to You, Acoustic Radio Tour " he was surprised to discover that the casino was not photographing the amazing lineup of world class talent that they were presenting. Rick approached the casino, discovered they were very interested in testing this option, and arranged for a three event "photo audition". Dwight shot Randy Travis. Then Dierks Bentley in a Toys for Tots benefit and finally Clay Walker. The casino reviewed all the images, coordinated with their Public Relations department, and reached an agreement with Dwight to shoot all their entertainment in an open ended arrangement that includes Live Concerts, Boxing and MMA, Poker Tournaments and occasional VIP and Tribal events. This relationship appears likely to continue forever. Dwight currently provides courtesy images to half a dozen local news media and occasional national programs such as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
So, what is it that Dwight does? He photographs world class Live Entertainment with state of the art Canon digital cameras using the very best Canon optics. But beyond this, his special talent, his knack, his forte is to capture the essence of the artist's performance. That look. That face. That posture. That twinkle in the eye. That string of hair. That glitter of costume. That composite of band members. The edge. The Vibe! The look. When you look at his images you can smell the perfume or sweat, feel the heat, taste the smoke and hear your ears twitching to unheard music. His images make you feel like you are right there and that the concert is being played for you!
Dwight has recently started shooting portraits and glamor. You can see what he's doing by clicking on the image on the left titled Glamor Project.
And it's getting better and better each month. Dwight is constantly upgrading his equipment and incorporating new features and facilities. He is working with a wider and wider clientele. He is working other genres to expand his experience. He has started to shoot professional boxing and MMA which has many of the same requirements as concerts: an eye for the action, what is going to happen next, fast pace and ever moving participants where "the shot" only happens once and for a tiny fraction of a second. Dwight recently was published in Boxing News, a boxing weekly magazine out of London, England, and The Fist, a boxing monthly out of Australia, has signed on with FightWireImages wire service. In November 2007, he was asked to shoot ShoBox and ShoXC occasionally for Showtime Network. Dwight has also just started shooting in his new studio, portraits and glamor. It is all about people and events. It is all about Live Entertainment. Conveying the essence of the magic of performing artists and their huge artistic support structure that turns a bit of singing and music into a grand "Standing Ovation" performance.
So, what's going on here ... can you hire Dwight? To be honest, it would be tough. He is fully committed for the foreseeable future. The only work he is doing currently is coincident with his existing clients. If you are booked to perform at the Chumash Casino Resort you can probably license his work. If you are a fighter who is on a card to be fought at the Chumash Casino Resort then you can probably license his work, too. But the real purpose of this website is simply to share with you these images in a constantly updated set of galleries and projects. If you really want to hire Dwight his current day rates run between $2000 and $3500 plus licensing and expenses ... and he may already be committed anyway!
All photographs on this website are the property of Dwight McCann Digital Imagery. They are protected by U. S. Copyright Laws and are not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of Dwight McCann Digital Imagery. © Copyright 2008 Dwight McCann Digital Imagery All Rights Reserved.
