South Carolina was declared a State of Emergency this week as a huge snow storm came through. Last night, the SC National Guard rolled into town to help transport hospital workers to and from work. It was surreal to see Humvees and soldiers in downtown Greenville. And, as I started to think about it, it was the first time I had photographed National Guard units deployed locally. I have photographed the Guard many times, but usually as they leave or return from the war. These are a few of my favorites.
The other day I got a phone call that there was an emergency photo shoot – Zombies! Yes. The Link photographer couldn’t make one of his photo shoots and I was asked to fill in. I drove up to one of the older cemeteries in Greenville and waited. I was a little hesitant as the zombies, who will be participating in a charity ZombieWalk, walked through the front gate. During the quick shoot, we did plenty of scary poses and individual poses. But, just before we left the location we decided to try one last pose. Happy zombies. This photo just makes me laugh. Enjoy!
Mary Mujahid, right, who was evacuated to Greenville from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, sits with her granddaughter Granda Welch, left, and Granda’s daughter Terri Lynn Hicks at Mary’s new home in Greenville on Thursday, August 26, 2010.
I was sent to shoot the amazing story of this family on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Both grandmother and granddaughter survived and eventually made it out of the hurricane-ravaged New Orleans, but they had very different experiences. Even five years later, emotions of gratitude and anger were running high.
I was sent to Columbia to photograph South Carolina republican candidate for governor, Nikki Haley, on the night she accepted the republican nomination. That night it was one picture of current Governor Mark Sanford and his ex-wife, Jenny, greeting each other with a quick kiss that caused quite a buzz. The Greenville News ran the photograph (as well as other local papers), but The News chose not to release it to television.
On Tuesday, I followed 82 World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., as they participated in the Upstate Honor Flight. My favorite photograph, which ran on the front page of The Greenville News, is of Fred Rector. In the photograph, he places his hand over his heart while standing at the the WWII Memorial.
Mr. Rector told me the story of how he was captured and interrogated by the Germans. I just stood quietly, in shock, and listened. At this point his guardian, the volunteer in charge of looking out for his well-being throughout the trip, noticed my very German name. I explained that, yes, my grandparents had come over from Germany, but that they were Jewish. They had been forced to flee their homes. Mr. Rector paused and reached out his hand. I walked alongside his wheelchair – the two of us hand in hand – back to our bus.