By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
The name Jimmy McDonald is as synonymous with photography as it is Richmond County itself.
This week, area residents are receiving their August editions of Carolina Country, a magazine published by Pee Dee Electric. On page 5 is a feature photo taken June 19 by the 46-year-old Rockingham resident who happened to miss the regular monthly meeting of the Richmond County Photography Group due to a scheduling conflict. Instead, he and his son, Christopher, watched the show from their home in Rockingham. Then they followed it to the Hamlet Depot.
What a show. What a snapshot.
“I was just lucky to be there,” McDonald said. “I’ve never seen so much lightning.”
McDonald, who has been honing his craft since Christopher was born 19 years ago, took a series of photographs of the lightning display that was eye-catching and jaw-dropping. Sometimes, people don’t even realize what they’re seeing. This was one of those times.
“It was a perfect … once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” McDonald said.
Of the photo Carolina Country used, “that’s one of my favorite. We definitely remember the ‘pop.'”
McDonald’s photos also have appeared in Our State magazine. His sports photographs regularly appear in the Richmond County Daily Journal.
McDonald said he’s improved quiet a bit over the past two decades — for a variety of reasons.
“The equipment has improved, which doesn’t hurt,” McDonald said. “I think understanding light is the key. Without light, you’re not going to have a photo. Understanding the (camera’s) functions. Even with the lightning shots, I know how my camera needs to be set up.”
McDonald said another key to success is being willing to experiment.
“I have hundreds of thousands of photos that I’ll never post,” he said.
The Richmond County Photography Group which McDonald guides meets monthly on the third Thursday at the Arts Richmond building on East Washington Street in downtown Rockingham.