Book Highlights a Century of Photojournalism

Teresa Annas - Virginian-Pilot

A book of nearly 240 photos shot for The Virginian-Pilot and its predecessor newspapers has been compiled.

The book, "A Century of Great Photography From The Virginian- Pilot," will be released just before a lecture by Brooks Johnson, curator of photography and 21st century art at the Chrysler Museum of Art.

Johnson organized a popular exhibition for the Chrysler on the same subject that ran from Oct. 20, 2006, through Jan. 7, 2007. Johnson will speak about the show as well as the new book.

"The show spanned the entire history of The Pilot since it's been publishing photos, which is about 100 years," Johnson said. Nearly 400 images were on display.

The book spans the same length of time and includes an essay by Johnson and forewords by Bruce Bradley, president of Landmark Publishing Group, and Louis L. Guy Jr., president of the Norfolk Historical Society.

"You wouldn't believe how many people told me it should be a permanent exhibition," Johnson said, which made him think a book would be welcomed by history-minded locals.

The book was published by the Norfolk Historical Society and funded by a $44,000 gift from Landmark Communications Foundation, Johnson said. Landmark Communications Inc. owns The Pilot.

Choosing from photos that were in the exhibition, Johnson selected all the images for the book with his wife, Germaine Clair, an award-winning designer who designed the book.

"I think it's fascinating to see how things have changed, and to see those moments that would be gone forever unless they were captured by a photograph."

The book includes photos of a 1937 Memorial Day parade down Granby Street and a 1945 snake dance of sailors and sweethearts through traffic on that same street following Japan's surrender in World War II.

A 1912 photo shows a motorist stopping on a Hampton Boulevard bridge to crank his car. Other pictures show the evolution of downtown Norfolk from the 1930s into the 1950s.

Among the funny shots is one from 1981, showing an Army colonel on his hands and knees to light a miniature cannon for a Veterans Day ceremony. Seven years later, a mounted police officer was caught leaning over to hand a traffic ticket to the driver of a Volkswagen bug, which is half the height of the horse.

"The Pilot has a great track record," Johnson said. "From the contemporary Pilot to what we call the historical period, there were good photos at The Pilot." The Pilot's photographers have won many awards, at the state, national and international level.

"We're very lucky here to have The Virginian-Pilot with the great photo staff that's been there. Now that The Pilot may be sold, who knows what will happen?" Johnson said.

In January, Landmark Communications announced it would put up all of its holdings, including The Pilot, for possible sale this year. "This book will help to serve as a summation of the years when it was really hitting at peak proficiency," he said.

Johnson said he appreciates that Pilot photographers are encouraged to take risks, compositionally. He gave as example a photo that ran on last Thursday's front page.

Shot by staff photographer Rich-Joseph Facun, it was a close-up of a woman's feet, in hot pink high heels. She was waiting for her husband to disembark from the carrier Harry S. Truman.

"That was a great picture," Johnson said. "Well, it spoke volumes. And beyond that, the editors gave it good play. It could have been overlooked and they could have used something more traditional and sappy, such as a big kiss or hug.

"Instead, they used this very elegant, simple photograph. It's the kind of photograph that Hiro, the great Japanese fashion photographer, would have taken."

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