Some days I get the best jobs.
A few days ago I got to meet Gloria "Glow" Bullard. The New York Times had sent me to her home in Winnsboro, SC because she happened to be in a kinda famous photo of a kiss in Times Square when the war ended.
Nope, it's not the photo that your thinking of, but it's the same kiss. This photo was taken by a Navy photographer named Victor Jorgensen and it's similar to the famous one--just shot from the side.
What's cool about the photo is that way in the background, underneath the W in the Walgreens sign you can see a little face. A smiling totally beeming face. That face belongs to Mrs. Bullard.
She was headed home from nursing school, still in her nursing uniform when she stopped to watch what was going on in Times Square.
If you get a chance to meet Mrs. Bullard, she will tell you as she did me that she thinks she is about as interesting as a "bedpost" but really she has some of the best stories to tell. She talks about that day and all the bells ringing and the noise and everyone in the street. She, like the nurse in the photo, was grabbed and kissed by tons of boys in uniform--"we had these half sleeves on our uniforms with little cufflinks. Ours sleeves were so torn from all the kissing!!!". She remembers it all like it was yesterday.
If you'd like the read the whole story, check out http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/13/from-photos-periphery-an-eyewitness-to-a-timeless-kiss
Another favorite she told me that day was going to a concert with her mom to see Frank Sinatra. "He was just beautiful,"she said, "all the girls were screaming. But I wasn't feeling too well." Her mom told her that if she got sick to go right ahead and throw up in her hat--they weren't leaving! She didn't get sick, but after the concert her mom took her to the doctors. Turned out she had to have her appendix out!!! She has dozens more stories, I just know it. Can't wait to hear more.
Here are a few pictures, that's Mrs. Bullard with her nursing cap she had framed and a picture of her when she graduated from nursing school next to Victor Jorgensen's photo--look closely and you can see her way in the background.
If you find yourself in Columbia and looking for something to do, might I suggest the a visit to the State Museum.
They have a great exhibit, which runs till January called South Carolina Silver: Varieties in Society from 1750-1935. It's many of the pieces from the Charleston Silver Lady, Dawn Evers-Corley's collection. Dawn is a nationally reconginized expert on everything silver. Her knowledge is quite amazing.
What I love about her is that to her, each piece tells a story. That is what she wants everyone to know, getting to know each piece beyond just hallmarks and makers. That each piece tells a story about family and place and that is the most important thing to know.
Not only does the museum have the collection to visit, but Dawn also has lectures scheduled and you can even book a private tour and bring a piece of silver for her to appraise. Check out the website at www.museum.state.sc.us/events/silver.aspx or email at publicprograms@scmuseums.org. You won't be disappointed. Below are a few pictures from her most recent lecture.
A few weeks ago I had the chance to photograph an amazing horse, Finale.
Finale is owned by Jill's mother and she wanted to do something for her mom and she thought what a better gift than photographs of something she really loved. Even Jill's mother's dog jumped into the action and after a little cajoling--so did Jill. That way, I thought, her mother would have pictures of everything she loved!
If your looking for a unique gift for someone you love, a photography session is a great gift. Call (803) 528-6464 or email for rates and to check out the current discounts.
I do love a festival.
One of my favorites is the Lexington Peach Festival held on the Fourth of July weekend in Gilbert, S.C.
You can get peach ice cream, peach fizzes, peach tea--well you get the idea.
Live music, with dancing encouraged, rides for the kids and those brave parents, lots of arts and crafts and a car and tractor show and of course, a parade. It's a great way to spend the day.
If you'd like to learn more about some of the great South Carolina festivals and parades check out www.discoversouthcarolina.com.
It's summertime and that means festivals and parades.
The Hampton Watermelon festival is all about the watermelon. Really, everyone and everything is covered in watermelons. From umbrellas, to keep the sun at bay, to signs, to a classic watermelon eatting contest, the watermelon is king!
To learn more about this festival and others in South Carolina, go to www.discoversouthcarolina.com.
Not a bad way to spend the day floating on the river with folks who know the ins and outs.
Check out the RiverRats, www.riverratscanoerentals.com, for some great fun.
Used with permission of South Carolina Living.
It's hot.
I know it's summertime and this is South Carolina, but it's really hot!
Looking for a great place to get away? Within driving distance. The kind of place that once you unpack you don't need to worry about anything.
You've got to check out Island Vista Resort, www.islandvista.com, in Myrtle Beach. This place has it all. Two pools, hottubs, a lazy river, a spa, huge rooms and suites and a terrific restaurant and the nicest owner/operators, the Chapmans. All of this nestled right on the beach.
Wish I was there right now!!
I recently had the chance to photograph a lovely up and coming actress in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.
Kelly was looking to update her acting headshots because she was just cast as the lead actress in the Charleston Theater Footlight Players upcoming Mark Twain play "Is He Dead Yet".
I know she's going to do great!!!
If your interested in acting or model headshots, email me at annemcquary@heybabysmile.com.
If your looking for a special place for that bridal luncheon, intimate reception venue you would be wise to check out the Blue Marlin's Vista Room smack in the middle of Columbia's Vista.
Recently they hosted a sustainable seafood dinner, one of many, check their website and sign up for their email alerts to the next one. The Blue Marlin is proud to be part of the Sustainable Seafood Iniative which means that they serve fish that are caught or farmed with consideration for the long-term viability of individual marine species and for the oceans' ecologicial balance as a whole. Pretty cool!
Here are a few pictures from the evening.
I photographed a story for the Wall Street Journal. It ran in Wednesday's (05/19) paper and was about stay at home dads who are going back to work.
Here are some photos of Morgan and his beautiful son Eli at home in Columbia and at his work as a producer at WOLO television station downtown.
School is almost over and who isn't looking forward to that trip to the beach, pool or park. Here's an idea if your looking for something different and fun, bring along a photographer.
Your family is relaxed and happy, it's a great time for pictures.
Give a shout to talk about lifestyle family and kid sessions.
Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was in Columbia the other day helping to campaign for Nikki Haley, who is a Republican gubernatorial candiate.
The event was at the Statehouse and according to the Associated Press and The State, about a 1,000 people turned out to hear both women speak.
A few protestors showed up.
Here are a few images from the event.
I found out recently I know very little about Sumter, S.C.
I knew about the amazing Shaw Air base and that the city was nicknamed "The Gamecock City" and that I need to go around it to get to the beach.
That was it. I'm not proud.
So when I got the call to photograph food at Hamptons Restaurant I was surprised to learn about this fine dining restaurant with amazing and delicious food.
They have a great space at 4 W. Hampton Street right downtown.
I introduced you to the chef in the last post, Laurence Gottlieb so now I'd like to introduce his food.
And for those of you looking for a place to have that perfect wedding or rehearsal dinner check out Hamptons at www.hamptonsfoods.net.
Did I mention they have a bakery!
Enjoy.
I love Top Chef, the television show. I love making pictures of chefs and of course their food!
In the last few weeks I've had the opportunity to photograph Chef Brian Dukes and Chef de Cuisine, Adams Hayne at The Blue Marlin Restaurant in Columbia, smack dab in the middle of the Vista. They are the first photos you see and Chef Laurence Gottlieb at Hamptons on the corner of Main St and Hampton Avenue in Sumter. Yes, that is a real chicken that Chef Laurence is holding. All of these chefs are true artists. I highly recommend a visit to both restaurants if you love great food.
If you are searching for great catering for your wedding, rehearsal dinner or just having a great event and need some great food, you should check out Carolina Cuisine, www.carolinacuisinesc.com.
I got a chance to sample some of their food at the Bollywood /PAALS fundraiser at the Windermere Country Club. The event was to raise money for PAALS (Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services) who train and provide dogs for individuals with varying disabilities. Carolina Cuisine stepped up with some great Indian inspired dishes that tasted as great as they looked.
On occasion I do some work for the Charleston Silver Lady, www.charlestonsilverlady.com, Dawn Evers Corley. She is the expert on everything silver and her knowledge of antiques is amazing. Whenever I get to shoot some of her latest collections it's like being asked to photograph museum pieces, except they are not under glass or behind ropes and I can hold them. It's quite a treat.
Some of the latest things she had asked me to shoot where wedding antiques. In the large photo you'll see pieces that might have been given as a gift to the bride. From a silver fruit basket, to ornate silver flatware and in the upper right of the image a silver basket that held the wedding bouquet, wrapped of course in cypress grass. All of these items date in the 1800's and some even before. But what I found truly beautiful was the tiny silver vial in the shape of an ear of corn. This was tied to the wedding bouquet and the bride would catch the tears from her wedding day in it.
If your looking for that unique gift for that special bride, something that can be passed down through the generations, check out the Charleston Silver lady. She has a shop in Lexington, S.C. open by appointment only. It's a beautiful trip into the past.
I'm lucky to have some really great friends.
One of them is Stan, who refuses to tell me what he shoots on the golf course and I think it might be in the 70's, who had some extra Masters practice round golf passes that he wasn't going to be able to use. So he called me up to see if I might like to have them. YES!, I shouted into the phone and I think Stan's hearing might have finally returned this week, but I was very excited.
Even if you don't like golf, and I actually do-but am a terrible player, the Augusta National Golf Club course is beautiful. For golfers it is holy ground. The grass is perfect, the trees are perfect, it is in a word, perfect.
On practice days, the days before the tournament, you can bring in cameras and ask for autographs. So I brought my cameras but was only allowed to bring in one, the other, Augusta said, was too big. I was sad, but happy to have at least one allowed in and me and my husband Dale headed out to the course.
Here are some pictures of the course, including Australian golfer John Senden putting, former Master's champions, Bernhard Langer and Ben Crenshaw, who was laughing about the pencils having erasers. Lunch is very inexpensive at Augusta and everything has the Masters's logo on it. The last photo is of 18 year-old Byeong-Hun An of Korea signing autographs. He is a high school senior. This is his first Masters's appearance and he is the youngest winner of the U.S. Amateur championship, beating out Clemson's Ben Martin--who is also at this year's Masters. Hope you enjoy.
It's not often that I get to wake up to about five or siz inches of snow on the ground. It's highly unusual here. So after we moved some limbs out of the yard, the snow was pretty heavy, and headed down the street I stumbled upon Yankess. I know what your thinking, well THAT'S not unusual. It is!! A group of Yankees' and their three cannons were parked at the end of my street re-enacting the firing on the State House by Gen. Sherman.
So hope you enjoy some Yankees and cannons and a few snow pictures from my neighborhood.
If you have a chance today, pick up the New York Times or check out their website, nytimes.com and go to the Style section, to read about Jenny Sanford, the First Lady of South Carolina and the soon to be former wife of Gov. Mark Sanford.
I had the opportunity to photograph Mrs. Sanford at the Governor's Mansion in Columbia while she was being interviewed by Jan Hoffman of the New York Times. The interview was a chance to talk about Mrs. Sanford's memoir, "Staying True" which was released this week.
I've been lucky enough to photograph Mrs. Sanford a few times and I must say she is a pretty cool woman. She is tall and very well put together and she has a great sense of humor. I loved when she showed us the kitchen and talked about how difficult it was to try to do something as simple as make cookies in a kitchen that has ovens that look like something NASA might have on the Space Shuttle.
I know Mrs. Sanford has an appearance scheduled on ABC's Good Morning America and The View on Monday along with chatting with Larry King on CNN. On Friday she will be at The Barnes and Noble on Forest Drive for a book signing which begins at 7pm. Take a look or drop in and see her on Friday and tell her thanks for being true and giving us all a great example of how to handle a rotten situation with style, humor and grace.
Jaclyn is one of the smartest sixteen year-olds that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. She has a great sense of humor and a terrific spirit.
She wanted to do some Senior photos that reflected more of her personality. So we headed down to Garden City to take advantage of some great light and funky spots.
