In the hands of a true artist, a tool can make a masterpiece. Such is the case for a camera in the hands of Larry Wells. Following over 12 years in the occupation of bounty hunter and additional time spent as a bouncer, Wells found himself doing odd jobs here and there before a very dear friend of his handed him a Pentax DSLR camera. That was in February 2013. The gift came with the words, “Here you go. Give this a try.” Wells was soon out walking the local parks and public settings, taking pictures. These were the very basic beginning of Images by Outlaw, through which Wells has created a portfolio that could bring a tear to your eye with its beauty.
Featured Photographer
Images by Outlaw Captures Nature and Gave Life Back to its Photographer
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Photo: Facebook/Images By Outlaw
To hear him explain it, his first day of shooting with the “real camera” stirred a passion within him, creating a connection in his soul. The process spoke to him, telling him this is what he should have been doing all along. That connection is clear through his work, and the images he captures show that the proof is in the pudding. “I have always been a lover of the outdoors and wildlife, spending much of my time as a child hunting and fishing on our land in Centerville, Texas. I spent lots of time there as a child and growing into a young adult,” Wells explained in an email interview. “I can remember sitting in an open field once, just enjoying the sounds of nature, when a red fox came trotting by and stopped for a few brief moments, about three feet away from me, as if to say, ‘Hello. How are you?’” His experiences render a finished product on film that defies belief. If it weren’t captured in his photography, you’d have a hard time thinking someone was so profoundly lucky to have experienced any of the circumstances he’s been able to get an image of!
Photo: Facebook/Images by Outlaw
“I’ve always had a way with animals, whether they are wild or domesticated, for as long as I can remember,” he explained. His photography speaks to viewers with the same simple statement, yet profoundly move all those who see it. “What I hope to give to those who follow me is a break from the ‘progress’ of the real world, and to offer that to those who may be disabled, elderly, and or just unable to get out and experience all that nature has to offer,” he noted. “I want to be able to make them feel as if they are right there with me as I am shooting.” His photography skills appear to do that in spades.
“The gratitude and humbleness I experience from my audience is like winning the lottery for me,” Wells said. “I have made some bad choices in life—some more than once—and for years I found my escape in the bottom of a bottle. I kind of gave up on myself and was ready to settle; this was just the way it was going to be. I was given my soul back when that camera got placed in my hand. That little box gave me a whole new purpose and motivation.” Wells start in photography was small, like many before him. He started getting some very kind feedback on his work over time, which led to impromptu phone calls for shoots for friends and such, following which he quickly realized his true passion was in the woods. He followed it, producing some amazing nature and animal photography that captures its true splendor.
Photo: Facebook/Images by Outlaw
But, as is often the case, all of this potential didn’t come without challenges. In September 2015, while Wells was en route by motorcycle to do a photo shoot for a friend’s birthday, he was hit almost head-on by a driver with no insurance and no license. His photography gear was lost in the collision and never recovered. Following the resulting surgery, doctors told Wells he would be bedridden for at least a year-and-a-half. While he was laid up in the hospital, he explained that his thoughts drifted back toward, “…this is it.” But thankfully, with the help of family and friends, he rebounded. Not only that, but an image of his was published online by the National Geographic “Your Shot” community that March! With his newfound inspiration and motivation, he invested in some new gear, and by July 2016 he was ready to get back behind the camera.
Photo: Facebook/Images by Outlaw
His recovery was a slow process, but after suffering a few occasional falls, he still felt determined to “keep on keepin’ on.” In July 2017, he had a second photo published in the National Geographic “Your Shot” community. He explains, “I knew I was doing exactly what I think the good Lord called me to do.” Images by Outlaw continues to produce a quality that could only be captured by being in close proximity to the animals, birds, and insects Wells photographs. In terms of meshing his subject matter with his process, he hopes to one day own a large piece of land to start a wildlife photography ranch/preserve. That’s a far cry from the person who described himself as having given up. Without that passion, he might not have made it through his subsequent hurdles, and for his fans, that’s a welcomed breath of fresh air. Images by Outlaw captures the essence of what we all hope to one day experience—freedom of life, in free form. At the same time, it gave that very same experience to its owner, professional photographer Larry Wells.
