Elton John fans know that he loves collecting things, especially fine art photography. His photography collection rivals that of most museums, but now, it’s coming to a museum.

London’s Victoria & Albert Museum has announced that an exhibit called Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection will open May 18.

According to the Evening Standard, the photos will be organized across eight themes, including fashion, celebrity, the male body, American photography and historical images documenting the Civil Rights Movement, the AIDS activism of the 1980s and the 9/11 terror attacks.

Legendary photographers like Robert Mapplethorpe, Cindy Sherman, Diane Arbus are all represented, and there are celebrity portraits of icons like Marilyn Monroe and Miles Davis, among others.

“Fragile Beauty takes our collaboration to really exciting new heights, showcasing some of the most beloved photographers and iconic images,” Elton said in a statement, per the Evening Standard.

This isn’t the first time Elton has had items from his collection displayed in a museum. In 2016 and 2017, London’s Tate Museum featured an exhibit called The Radical Eye: Modernist Photography from the Sir Elton John Collection.

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For Courtney Shea Smith, launching her own photography business made sense for several reasons.

In addition to her passion for capturing beautiful and precious moments with the click of a shutter, she knew it would be an enterprise she could continue on the move. Shea Smith loves to travel for location shoots, but as the wife of Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Braden Smith, she knew her husband’s NFL career could lead to frequent relocations.

The couple met as students at Auburn University and knew early in their relationship they wanted to spend their lives together, Shea Smith said, wherever that took them.

“I pretty much knew that I wasn’t going to be in Alabama, and I wanted to have a business that I could take with me if we were to move through multiple cities, and I’ve always wanted to travel,” Shea Smith said. “That was a huge part of why I wanted to pursue photography professionally.”

Shea Smith, 27, formed Ninety Three Creative, named after the number she wore on her jersey as a catcher for the Auburn softball team, while still living in Alabama. She specializes in weddings shot on film and said she is “very intentional” in how many events she shoots so she can attend Colts games and spend time with her husband during the offseason.

More recently, Shea Smith launched Courtney S. Studios, the branding she uses for her studio-based portrait work. At her Carmel studio, she specializes in maternity shoots.

Smith isn’t officially part of the photography business, but Shea Smith said he has been crucial to its success, from giving her the confidence and space to pursue her dreams to more tangible efforts, like helping set up and tear down equipment when she needs a hand.

“Braden is incredible. I cannot say enough about him,” Shea Smith said. “He has supported me from before day one.”

Smith said his wife “takes a lot of pride in her work.”

“She spends countless hours on her craft,” he said. “It’s important to her, and she can deliver a quality product. She doesn’t take any shortcuts.”

Many of Shea Smith’s shoots are destination weddings, and she has done recurring portrait sessions for several families of Colts players.

“It’s really fun to get to watch their families grow,” Shea Smith said. “To be a part of that is really, really special.”

The Smith family is growing, too, as the couple is expecting their first child in January 2024. Shea Smith knows parenthood, like her husband’s career, will likely place limits on her photography business – for a time. But someday, she expects to devote more time and energy to Ninety Three Creative.

“When he’s retired (from the NFL), I’m excited to see how my business changes,” Shea Smith said. “I’ve had to put a little bit on the backburner for life, and that’s something that I would choose to do every single day. I wouldn’t do this any other way, but I’m excited to see what it looks like post-football.”

Learn more about Shea Smith’s photography work at CreativeNinetyThree.com and CourtneySStudios.com.

‘Exactly what I needed’

The Indianapolis Colts are recognizing National Women’s Small Business Month throughout October by highlighting local female entrepreneurs with close ties to the team.

Isabella Therien launched Zionsville-based I.T. Home Improvement after relocating to Central Indiana in 2021 with her boyfriend, Colts offensive lineman Will Fries. The finance major and basketball player at Loyola University Maryland started the company after spending a year working at a wealth management firm on the east coast – and realizing it wasn’t a good fit.

“I realized it was just not what I wanted to do with the rest of my life,” said Therien, 24. “I just knew in my heart that I needed to find something with a little bit more flexibility, something that makes me happy at the end of the day. That’s what led me to I.T. Home Improvement.”

I.T. Home Improvement has completed commercial and residential projects, Therien said, but going forward she plans to focus her efforts on home remodeling. Therien said she and her business partner, general contractor Emerzon Perez, aim to offer a “one-stop shop” for clients in north Indianapolis and surrounding areas.

In addition to finding the work fulfilling, Therien enjoys being able to set her own schedule.

“I love going to (Fries’) games. That’s something I look forward to every Sunday,” she said. “I don’t have any family (in Indiana), so I get to go home sometimes if I’m a little bit homesick and Will is on the road. I think it’s exactly what I needed.”

Learn more at therienizzy.wixsite.com/website.

In our picturesque city of North Bend, Washington, with Mt. Si standing tall in the background, celebrated mountain photographer and adventurer Scott Rinckenberger has introduced his latest endeavor: The Scott Rinckenberger Gallery.

Opening its doors on July 15th, this new space aims to serve as a cultural nexus in the mountain town, offering a rotating display of Rinckenberger’s inspiring works.

Granite Volume 1, the inaugural collection, presented a visual journey through the granite landscapes of Washington and California. From the grandeur of the iconic peaks to the intricate beauty of climbing routes, this collection pays homage to the stone that has withstood the tests of time and erosion. It resonates as a tribute and “a love letter to granite.”

Sharing his thoughts on this monumental step, Scott remarked, “Building a space that introduces the local community, tourists, and fine art collectors alike to the beauty of the mountains is the fulfillment of a dream.” 

He envisions the gallery as more than just a showcase of his artistry. It’s a hub where the community can converge, learn, and collaborate. “Beyond presenting my work to a broader audience, I truly hope that the gallery will act as a gathering space for local community-building where we can teach, learn and give back to one another.”

Rinckenberger’s photographic journey transcends this gallery. His unique approach to capturing wild places has garnered international attention and accolades. Notable collaborations with renowned brands, such as Apple, REI, and Patagonia, stand as testaments to his prowess in the field.

However, for Scott, photography is not just about capturing breathtaking vistas; it’s a medium to emphasize the importance of preserving these pristine landscapes. He’s an ardent supporter of environmental sustainability, pledging 1% of his annual gross revenue to environmental causes through the 1% For The Planet network. He has committed to donating from his business to environmental non-profits and consistently reviews his business practices to find ways to decrease the carbon footprint of his endeavors, choosing human power over fossil fuels in as many instances as possible. 

The gallery’s current exhibit, “Harvest Color,” paints the ephemeral beauty of the Pacific Northwest’s autumn. From the serene Snoqualmie Valley with its misty mornings to the golden hues of alpine meadows, the collection is a heartfelt reminder of the fleeting nature of beauty. It’s an invitation to soak in the present, to marvel at nature’s wonders, and to be grateful for the moments we’re granted.

Rinckenberger’s ties to Washington are deeply personal. Says Scott, “I grew up in the woods on a gravel road between Woodinville and Duvall, so I’ve got the mossy forests of the Snoqualmie Valley in my bones. After spending my college and early career in Seattle, as soon as my son Cedar was born, I knew it was time to return to my roots. My family and I were fortunate to find a wonderful home in the trees in Fall City about eight years ago, and I’ve been working from an office in downtown North Bend. Since coming back to the area, we’ve enjoyed a deep connection with the outdoor community and all the amazing access to nature here in the Snoqualmie Valley.”

Scott and his wife Lucia and children Cedar (8) and Mica (5) are right at home in the forests and mountains and enjoy foraging for berries and mushrooms, mountain biking, rock climbing and skiing the wildest runs on the mountain.

Tracing his trajectory in photography, Rinckenberger’s journey began during his days as a professional skier. The experiences, coupled with the guidance of famed photographer Chase Jarvis, molded him into the artist he is today. His athletic background and photographic expertise enable him to capture nature in its rawest forms, producing works that resonate with authenticity.

Says Rinckenberger, “The fusion of my athletic background and photography experience has allowed me to create work that feels deeply immersive and shows fluency and comfort in extreme environments. To this day, I approach my mountain endeavors with the commitment of a professional athlete and have continued to execute difficult objectives, such as being first to summit and ski the five volcanoes of Washington in five days.”

Scott has enjoyed a wonderful office and studio space in the Sunset Garage building since 2016. It’s been a perfect setting for enjoying mountain views and putting in long hours editing, printing, framing, and shipping his artwork. While his commercial advertising photography and fine art print sales have been robust all the while, it’s always been his dream to create a gallery space where his work can be shared in a setting that is carefully crafted to encourage a deeper connection to the art, serves as a gathering place for the community, and inspires viewers to connect with nature in a meaningful and sustainable way.

For years, he kept a close eye on the commercial real estate market in downtown North Bend.

Says Scott, “When the Healing Garden space became available, I knew it was the perfect fit for my gallery, and I am grateful that the building owner, David Cook and his wife Lisa shared my vision and invited me in.”

The artwork will be rotated roughly quarterly to be in rhythm with the seasons. The work will be built around seasonal themes, specific locations, particular elements of nature, and other surprises they have on deck to keep things fresh.

The gallery, located at 106 W North Bend Way, welcomes visitors Thurs-Sat 12-6, Sun 12-5. Scott, along with his dedicated staff, Jane Mauser and Nicole Tastad, ensure a personal touch to every visitor’s experience.

With this gallery, North Bend gains more than just an art space. It receives a beacon of community spirit, environmental consciousness, and a testament to the timeless beauty of nature.