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THE IMAGE Houston Vandergriff - Downs & Towns captured this image when he and his sisters spent 2 days at The Dive Motel in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Upcoming country music stars like Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, and Hank Williams stayed there at various times in the past 60 years. Some of the complexities of a woman, as captured by Houston, are shown in this image. Spunk, beauty, and determination, all contained within confines of multiple circles. THE MODEL Maranda is Houston's oldest sister. She has been an important influence on Houston for his entire life, but especially as he has forged the path of a creative entrepreneur. Her background in graphic design, film, and communications has been a huge influence on his photography. And, her side business selling vintage clothing from their 1970's vintage VW bus has given them infinite wardrobe options for fun photo shoots. THE PHOTOGRAPHER Advocate. Artist. Traveler. Dreamer. Houston Vandergriff is a globe-trotting travel photographer based in Knoxville, Tennessee. By the age of 25, he has traveled to all 95 counties in his home state, to 49 of the 50 United States, to 5 Canadian provinces, and 25 countries. Houston has Down syndrome and inspires others, both inside and outside of the disability community. He is a strong self-advocate who uses the universal language of the arts to push for inclusion. He is a social media influencer - using TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and X to share his story. His clients include Amazon, TikTok for Good, and multiple brands of photography-related equipment. He is a Nikon Creator and a Pioneer for JourneyAble. Houston has appeared in live events, podcasts, and broadcasts on four continents. He has been called “The Champion of Life” by one of the broadcasters from India. His photography journey has been shared in Newsweek, It’s Gone Viral, Al Jazeera, Transcontinental Times, and MSN. He and his mom have been featured speakers at NFT NYC, Nikon USA Headquarters, multiple travel conventions, and the World Down Syndrome Conference in Dubai. Houston earned his Certificate of Photography in 2019 and his Advanced Photography Certificate in 2020 after completing more than 200 hours of study through the University of Tennessee Professional Programs. He is a member of the Southern Appalachia Nature Photographers (SANP) and the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). His award-winning photography has been displayed in solo and group-curated shows, online galleries, and the Inspiration Gallery in Perth, Scotland. In 2020, at age 22, he was awarded the International Photographer in “My Perspective” photo competition in the UK. Since then, he has won multiple awards in local, regional, and national competitions. In 2023 Houston received the “Against All Odds Traveler International Award” from Nomad Mania at an award ceremony in Lviv, Ukraine. Houston's NFTs have been displayed in Venice, Rome, LA, NYC, Lisbon, and Barcelona. In 2023 Vandergriff was named one of the NFT100 by NFT NOW Media. THE LICENSE Extended Editorial: This NFT can be used to display privately, in commercial and non-commercial settings, or groups with an unlimited number of participants. The license includes unlimited use and display in virtual or physical galleries, documentaries, and essays by the NFT holder. Provides no rights to create commercial merchandise, commercial distribution, or derivative works.