Hurricane Gustav Evacuees
When evacuees from Hurricane Katrina were brought to Camp Gruber three years ago, a former colleague and I discussed a way we could take a little bit different angle on the news. We never got the chance to spend time on it, but when Oklahoma City received evacuees from Hurricane Gustav, I decided to give it a try. The idea was to photograph people holding the one item that they couldn’t bear to leave behind. I bought a tarp to use as a background and used two off camera strobes to light the subjects. Because the media wasn’t allowed inside the building, except on guided tours, I set up in the media area and passed out flyers and talked to anybody who would listen about my portrait project. I photographed people holding the item and recorded them talking about it. If you get the chance, take a look at the slideshow.
http://downloads.newsok.com/flash_video/theoklahoman/slideshows/SpecialItemSlides/
I thought all day about what I would take with me in the same situation. I heard some interesting answers; cell phones, pictures, a stereo, a comb, a bible. I heard alot of frustration too. One guy told me that the next time a hurricane threatens New Orleans and south Louisiana, he’s going to take his chances and stay home, no matter how bad things get. If the evacuation is mandatory, he said, he just won’t answer the door.
-John Clanton
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Neat.