Lifestyle

Photographer Larry Pena is Proof Dreams Come True in the Hill Country

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Sometimes, when you’re lucky, the stars align and even more incredible things fall into place. One summer day in 2015, Larry heard a song that struck a chord in him. After hearing “That Girl In Texas” for the very first time, he asked to hear it again. After the second listen, he exclaimed, “…George Strait did it again. That’s a hit!” When told that, in fact, it was Jon Wolfe and not George Strait who was the voice behind the song, Pena promptly responded, “Who the heck is Jon Wolfe?” He went straight home and quickly educated himself. “That’s all I listened to…for the next few months,” laughs Larry. As luck would have it, Wolfe was scheduled to perform that fall in Helotes Texas. On a whim, Larry sent a message to Jon on his Facebook page, asking if he might have a chance to photograph the concert. He never received a response. Two weeks before the show, he decided to re-word his original message and try again. Much to his surprise, he got a response! Arrangements were made, and Pena was able to snap photos of the concert. His ability to capture singular shots (such as the one above) caught the eye of Jon’s manager Lex Lipsitz, who reached out to Pena. They immediately hit it off, and Lex set it up for Larry to photograph several local shows. He made such an impression on not only Lex but Jon himself, that he continues to shoot the band throughout the Hill Country and on many cross country tour dates as well.

Breaking Ground

Texas Hill Country photographer Larry Pena's album photo for Texas Country artist Jon Wolfe's new album "Any Night in Texas"

Photo: Larry Pena

Earlier this year, Pena found himself in the running against a couple of Nashville photographers for the album cover shot of Wolfe’s latest album, “Any Night In Texas”. For the shoot, he and Jon returned to the exact spot where Wolfe’s video for (ironically) “That Girl In Texas” was filmed. When Jon called to tell him they had to scrap the shoot, he was speechless. Then, after a few seconds of silence, Jon just laughed and said, “Larry, I’m joking! You got the job!” Says Pena, “I was stunned. I never thought a Facebook message would lead to this.” His snapshots were not only used for the album cover and liner notes but are used in promotional posts and concert passes as well! Not too shabby for a guy who had never shot a concert before that fateful night at John T. Floore Country Store

Future Plans

Texas Hill Country photographer Larry Pena's engagement pictures in front of mountain
Photo: Larry Pena/J Design Studios