Jahala #45

What a delight it was to photograph Jahala. When I look at this pic, I think of that song, Happy. I just bet she loves it. Jahala was a music teacher...that explains it. I know lots of, well, several music teachers and they all seem so cheerful and well, happy. 

Here's an interesting fact. Jahala's mother named her after my oldest sister, Jahala Ann. Where did my mother come up with that name, you ask?  The story goes that my mother was sitting in her obstetrician's office (Dr. Humphries) reading a story in a magazine. In that story was a woman named Jahala. Mother liked it and BAM the decision was made. What I don't know is how Jahala's mother heard about my sister. Nobody knows. 

As I mentioned before, it was a delight to photograph Jahala. I hope you can see her glow. What a great attitude she has. Could it be her strong faith? Probably. 

Thank you, Jahala for coming to the shoot and being in my project. 

Andrea #43 and Steve #44

Well, here they are. Andy and Steve. What a cute couple. It was fun photographing them. Andy is so gorgeous, all she has to do is stand there and just let me take the pics. Steve, on the other hand, wasn't so sure about it. I think Andy had to twist his arm, but it was okay by the time they showed up. 

I loved that they wore pastel shirts. Pink for girls and blue for boys! Did y'all plan that?

They are the third married couple that I photographed for this project. Mary and Fred, Brenda and Alan, and now, Andy and Steve. All three couples seem to be happy and still in love! I can just tell by the way they all looked at each other. 

Thanks for coming, you two! I had fun, and hope you like your pics!

Rick #42

Rick absolutely cracks me up! He has a dry wit that seeps out when you don't expect it. As you can tell, we had to shoot downstairs because of the sun. This image was taken with Rick sitting on a stool, but I also took some with him standing. As with all shots, I focus on the eyes, hold the button down half way and then move the camera down to get the full body shot.I guess moving the camera and shooting at his midsection, caused him some concern. When he questioned my actions, I just about fell off the ladder laughing.  

Then he started laughing and I got that shot! That's the one I want to put in the book, but that's his decision. 

Rick, thanks for coming and taking part in this project. I had a great time shooting you. You are such a nice guy. You always were, and you still are. 

Brent #41

Brent is and always has been such a nice guy. He is one of the few of our classmates that is still working, so I was grateful that he took time away from work to come to the shoot. 

Knowing a little about where he works, I imagine he has an extremely stressful job...just dealing with all of those people would put me in the ... you know. But I can tell you this, if he is stressed, he doesn't show it. His warm smile and calming blue eyes would put all at ease the minute they meet him. 

Brent, I'm so glad that you were able to come to the shoot. Thanks for your participation. 

Alice #40

You can't help but love Alice. Look at that beautiful smile accented by her BRIGHT RED LIPSTICK. She came raring to go! I think I could talk with her for days...so interesting. 

I tried to capture her spunk and her energy, and I think that was accomplished! Maybe she's just excited because she and her husband just bought a place at the beach. Now that's enough to make anyone smile.

Thanks for coming, Alice. Hope you had as much fun as I did!

Sheena #39

Sheena is one energetic woman! She is happy, cheerful and just so cute! Like most of our classmates who came to be photographed, she had no idea of what to expect. Sheena came in the afternoon so the sun was right.smack.dab.overhead, so we had to move downstairs. 

I just love Sheena's big brown eyes. You can just look into them and see what a lovely person she is! 

It was wonderful talking with Sheena. Again, not enough time. Thank you for taking part in the project. I hope you like your images.

David #38

David arrived on a motorcycle for his shoot at noon. The sun was still kind of hidden, so I was able to get some shots of him on the portico and in front of the building. As you probably already know, this shot was in front of the front doors. It looks like there is a little graffiti on the column behind him.  You can bet it wasn't there when we went to HHS. Can you just imaging what they would have done to us if we had done that? 

I'm so glad that David wore the blue shirt. It makes shows off his beard and eyes...well if you could see the other images that are on his CD, you would see his blue eyes! 

Thanks for taking a chance and being a part of my project, David. You were easy to work with and willing to do what I asked. See you in 2015. Oh, one more thing. Since you are on the reunion committee, do you think you could get us a little 60's soul?

Brenda #36 and Allen #37

Doing this project has made me realize that friendships never die. Old friends just seem to pick up where we left off...almost 50 years ago. I wish we had Facebook all those years, then we would have been able to keep up with everyone's life. Now we have just a few minutes to catch up. The reunions help a lot, but there is never enough time. 

To me, Brenda looks the same as she did in high school. Pretty blue eyes and sweet smile.

And I would recognize Allen anywhere. Big brown eyes and that grin that makes you wonder what's on his mind. Hummm. 

It was a joy photographing the two of them. Brenda has a great sense of humor and Allen is cool and calm. They just go together. 

Pictured below are Brenda and Allen's ninth grade pictures in the Cammack Junior High Yearbook.

This is one amazing couple! Thanks for being part of this project!

Edison #35

Edison was the first in line at the Huntington shoot last spring. You gotta hand it to him, he came without knowing what to expect and that takes guts! 

I was able to get lots of great shots of Edison. He was easy to pose...willing to try different angles to avoid the sun! 

I enjoyed spending time with Edison and getting to know him. He's a friendly guy with a welcoming smile, as you can tell by this image. Oh, and I can't forget that twinkle in his eye when he laughs! 

Thanks Edison for being a part of this project, and thanks for your patience. 

Sue Ellen #34

This image was shot in North Myrtle Beach right across the street from Sue Ellen's condo. What a perfect day! Two years ago, Sue Ellen agreed to a "practice" shoot in the same spot. She knew what to expect...sun, breeze, spectators, and kids getting in the way. 

Sue Ellen is another Simms Elementary School graduate. I can just remember those wooden floors and that scary basement. Connecting with her at the reunions and the beach brings back wonderful memories. 

I hope I captured your "sunny" attitude in this shot. Your bright smile just makes this image. Thanks for helping me out with the first shoot and agreeing to participate in the project. Let's do lunch. 

Buttons #33

Buttons (aka Arthur) and I met at the top of Kennesaw Mountain on a sunny day, last spring. This park is huge and has beautiful views of Atlanta, so there were lots of scenic areas in which to shoot. Being the good sport that he is, he was willing to try lots of poses as we moved from place to place. This image gives you some idea of the beauty of park...and having Buttons pose here just makes it better! 

One of the advantages of doing this project is that I get to spend time with our classmates. Before this shoot, all I knew about Buttons was that he was a great basketball player and went to Old Dominion. However, after talking to him I learned so much more. He has had a remarkable past...I should've taken notes. Pat Conroy mentioned him is his book, "My Losing Season." He wrote that Buttons and another player were the first blacks to play in the Armory on the Citadel campus. Who knew? There is so much more, but not enough time. Judging by that big smile, he is one happy guy! Thank you for meeting me and taking the time to catch up! 

Judy #32

Judy was my last shoot in Florida. She and her husband live only a few minutes from I 75, so getting to her house was no problem. It was a heck of a lot easier than finding Pass-A-Grille. Now that I think about it, any place on this earth would be easier to navigate than that beach town! I blame the bridge. 

When I arrived, Judy was ready and willing to get started. Her lovely backyard was just a perfect spot to shoot. The blue and green combination she wore made her blue eyes twinkle. 

I've known Judy since we were children. Although we attended different elementary schools, we both went to First United Methodist Church. When I told her that I had a picture of a Christmas pagent from the 1950's in which she was Mary, she told me that her father took that picture! 

Judy's sweet smile comes easy to her. She has a good-natured spirit who is living happily in her new home in Florida. Could this happiness be because she is living closer to her children and grandchildren?  

It was wonderful catching up after 40 or so years. Thank you for being part of my project. 

Jeri #31

Jeri...still as sweet as ever. She was one of the four Pass-A-Grill girls...last, but not least! Judging by her flawless complexion, she's not a fan of the sun, but she humored me by posing right square in it!  

Jeri has a calm presence. Couple that with a jolly chuckle and you've got one happy girl! Look at those blue eyes sparkle! Thank you Jeri for meeting me at that "cute" beach and being a part of my project. 

Connie #30

The excitement that Connie brought to the shoot was contagious. She was friendly, out-going and really, really fun to get to know. Even though she was the third to be photographed in Pass-A-Grille, she remained patient and cheerful as she waited over an hour for her turn.

When it was her turn, I discovered that she was comfortable in front of the camera and was willing to try lots of poses that we suggested. In fact, she "messaged" me afterwards and asked that I not show some of the fun poses that Jenni encouraged! I still have them just in case she changes her mind! 

During our time together I learned that she was one of the "new kids" to our class. That had to be hard to come to a new high school as a junior, knowing no one. She told me about trying out for majorette in her junior year and making it, to her surprise (her words, not mine!). She said that was a good thing and a bad thing, but that's a long story. 

I wish we could have had more time to talk, but it was Jeri's turn. Thanks for taking part in this project, Connie. Maybe at the next reunion we can catch up. I hope so.