Nikon® PRO Rick Pinelli : Owner, ProDigital Images, Germantown TN.

Rick Pinelli first became interested in photography, and the media arts, early in his childhood. Using the famlies, Kodak Brownie camera, Rick learned the disciplines of photography. In the late 60's, Rick purchased his first SLR, a Nikon Nikkormat. In 1974, Rick attended the Nikon School of Photography in Tarrytown, NY. Soon after, Rick purchased the Nikon F2 Photomic, with wide / telephoto lenses, filters, converters and started to build his Nikon system. "The Nikon F2 Photomic let me be creative by giving me the functions, other SLR's did not have at the time."

Rick has always been fascinated with extremes, and that fascination has carried over in his photographs as well. "I was intrigued with shooting multiple exposures, whether it be buildings, people, or the moon." Tri-Colour and close-up photography was another area where Rick experimented, using various lighting, filters and lenses.

Rick achieved success in Video as well. Establishing himself with corporate clients including IBM and Sprint. Rick also video taped weddings and special events in and around the Tri-State area. In 1993, Rick became house photographer for Denim & Diamonds, a Country Western Club, located in Mid -Town Manhattan. "My Nikon N90 never left my side, I carried it day and night", a true work horse of a camera.

Today, Rick works out of Memphis, Tennessee, and is owner of ProDigital. "Tennessee is situated between the Great Smokey Mountains to the East, and the Ozarks, located in Arkansas to the West. It is a nature/wild life photographers heaven."

Rick has migrated to 100 percent digital photography, using a Nikon 950 Coolpix, and the Nikon D100. March 2003, Rick attended the Nikon School of Photography's Advance Digital and Color Management course in Atlanta, Georgia. "Technology and Education have taken us from the chemical dark room, to the Digital Darkroom. They work hand n' hand, to enable me, to give my clients, the finest photographs possible."

Rick has added Air Brush Makeup Artistry to his resume for 2005. This past January, Rick became a MAC Pro, and offers his clients the opportunity to have their Wedding Makeup professionally applied and camera ready.

"I had been doing makeup and airbrushing since the 80's. Today, MAC Pro offers a cutting edge, silicon based Airbrush formula for face and body, expressely for Makeup Artists working in HD Television, Film and Beauty."

June 2006, Rick will be participating in a Nikon Master Class, with World Renown Wedding Photographer, Joe Buissink. Joe has photographed celebrity Wedding for Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Christina Applegate, Christian Slater, Angie Harmon, Lauren Holly, Robert Zemekis and the list goes on.

"I believe in continuing my education when ever available . It will certainly be exciting, working and sharing knowledge with Joe Buissink. I admire his work and look forward to return with alternative photographic skills, and to continue to give my clients the very best of what I have to offer."

In the Bag
As you will see from his photographs, Rick Pinelli likes to work up-close and in varied light, and that calls for short lenses on his D2X, D100, F5 and N90 bodies. Generally a 17-35mm f2.8 ED-IF AF-S Zoom, 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G AF-S Zoom or 12-24mm f/4G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkors. 10mm Nikkor Fisheye. He also carries a 70-200mm VR Nikkor 2.8 Zoom, 70-300mm f/4-5.6G AF Zoom-Nikkor / 80-200mm 2.8 ED AF Zoom-Nikkor and 28-70mm 2.8D ED-IF AF-S Zoom Nikkor. He packs 2 - SB-800DX, SB-80DX & SB-25 Speedlights for those times when fill-flash is necessary, and almost always uses a sturdy tripod. The Coolpix 950? That travels along with Rick, where ever he goes as well!

To see samples of Rick's work, please go to Rick's Portfolio page.

Click here for Rick's Wedding Portfolio.