Over 50 years ago, sisters Gail Jones and Jacqueline Hayes had their picture taken by official Black Panther Party photographer Stephen Shames. The sisters don’t recall much about that cold December day in 1970. But Hayes does remember Shames positioning her, Jones, their brother Frederick Hayes, and their two friends, sisters Frances and Eva Phenix, for the photo. “We were down in Dudley [Square ]… on some corner,” Hayes said. “I think we had to sign something because we were all underage.”

Now, that photo is on a wall at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. The sisters had no idea the photo had been printed, let alone installed as a part of “Comrade Sisters,” an exhibition of Shames’ photographs highlighting women of the Black Panther Party, on view through June 24.

“We were young,” Jones said as she looked at the photograph on the MFA’s wall for the first time. They were teenagers at the time, volunteering for the Boston chapter of the Black Panther Party. “[My siblings] used to get up in the morning and go to help feed people at the free breakfast program in Jamaica Plain … we used to be down [in] Dudley, selling newspapers.”

Identifying the photo

The journey to identify the photo started before I even met Gail Jones. I first saw the image a week prior while touring “Comrade Sisters” with curator Karen Haas. For years, Shames captured photos of Black Panther Party members across the country — the exhibit highlights women in the Party. When I saw the picture on the gallery wall, it struck me, partially because it was taken in Boston but more so because all five teenagers in it were unnamed. The photo was just titled “Women of the Black Panther Party.” I asked Haas if there was any information on them but there wasn’t. “If anyone recognizes anyone, I’ll be thrilled,” Haas said.

“Many [of the pictures] never saw the light of day or were printed as photographs,” Haas explained. “These are modern prints made from negatives from the 1960s and early 70s.”  Meaning the people in the photo may have no idea the photo itself existed.

Originally, I’d planned to just write a review of the exhibit. But I knew that I had to try to find the people in the photo. So, I did what any good reporter would do — I posted a picture I’d taken of the photo on Facebook. Family and community members quickly responded and identified three of the teenagers as siblings Gail Jones, Jacqueline Hayes and Frederick Hayes.

Before the post on Facebook, Jones and Hayes had never seen the actual photograph. They had no way of knowing that it was up on a museum wall over 50 years after it was taken. “I’m in total shock,” Jones said. “I don’t think I own a picture of me at that age.”

Boston’s Black Panther Party

Jones, Hayes and their brother started volunteering for the party at a time when Boston was becoming increasingly more segregated. Predominantly white neighborhoods became more and more Black over the first half of the 20th century. Dilapidated apartments were sold or rented to Black families and white flight in areas like Roxbury and Dorchester ensued. Businesses and organizations left, leaving the growing Black population without access to important resources.

The original chapter of the Black Panther Party was founded in California in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. The Boston chapter opened in 1968 to meet the needs of Black communities in the city. Jacqueline Hayes found herself interacting with the party a few years later when she was a 15-year-old student at Jamaica Plain High School. The Panthers had a new office in Roxbury and members of the party were handing out newspapers. “One of the ladies … said, ‘There’s this cute guy … We need to go hear what he has to say because he looks so good,’” Hayes recalled.

In typical teenage fashion, she went down to see who her friend was talking about. They met the young man and ended up staying and listening to what he had to say. “He was talking all about the Party and then that led to ‘Well, we got an office up the street. You can come and you can volunteer,'” Hayes recalled. “So it started out like that. And once we got in, we were in.”

Jones joined her siblings after a friend died of an overdose. It had a profound impact on her. “That was a very tough time in my life,” Jones said. “I started running with my brother and sister … And when they started going to the Black Panther Party, it was something that gave me hope again … It helped to build me back up from that devastation.”

The siblings did a variety of things as volunteers. Jones handed out Black Panther Party newspapers at what is now called Nubian Square. Hayes and Frederick worked at the local free breakfast program that operated out of Jamaica Plain. “And then within like a week or two weeks, we were running the program. I mean my brother had the keys. We were in charge,” Hayes said. “We were in a big gymnasium or community room and I remember my brother, he would go in there and he had a sound system. He had that music pumping.”

Women like Jones and Hayes were involved in much of the community care work the Panthers provided. Over 65% of the Black Panther Party’s membership was comprised of women. Though they were volunteers and not official members, the siblings found value in the work they did. They also attended political education classes. “We learned so much,” Hayes said. “We’d go to school and say ‘How come you didn’t tell us this? You just said that we were slaves.’”

After the party

After a few years of volunteering, the siblings stopped. Leadership within the party grew tumultuous and members across the country were being arrested or harassed by police. “Things got hot,” Hayes explained. The Boston Black Panther Party shuttered its doors in 1972. At the time, branch offices of the party were ordered to close and members asked to go to Oakland to support Bobby Seale and Elaine Brown’s electoral campaigns.

Though they stopped volunteering for the party, the siblings never forgot the things they learned or experienced. Jones went on to work for the MBTA as a drug and alcohol coordinator and was an associate minister at a local church. Hayes moved down to Florida in 2015 and helped lead a campaign to restore and preserve the Whispering Souls African American Cemetery, where two of the siblings’ grandparents are buried. She is also the president of the board for the nonprofit of the same name. Hayes says that Frederick, who passed away in 2016, was well-known in Boston for the work he did in the community. “He was the one that was always in the news,” she said.

Eva Phenix, another woman in the photograph, is living with dementia. Jones visited her and showed her the picture. “She said, ‘That’s us Gail!’ And I said, ‘I know,’” Jones shared. “I was so happy to show her the picture because she recognized everyone. So that was another happy moment. It was awesome.”

No longer unnamed

There’s no changing the title of the photo, but the MFA has updated the label with the names of those in the image. “I’m just incredibly excited that this story is getting told,” curator Karen Haas said. “I never imagined we’d actually be able to put names with the faces that we’ve all been looking at these last few weeks.”

For Jones and Hayes, seeing the photo has been a full-circle moment of sorts. “I’m glad that I can look back and see the work that we did at such a young age,” said Jones. “We made a difference and that’s good. I’m sure we made our mother proud.”

And it all started with a simple Facebook post. “That picture has just brought up so many memories,” said Hayes. “I’m so glad you did that post.”

So am I.

In a light-hearted moment during spring training, New York Yankees outfielder and five-time All-Star, Aaron Judge, decided to explore his photography skills, capturing the attention of baseball fans and sparking a wave of reactions online. This incident not only showcased Judge’s off-field talents but also added a playful chapter to the Yankees’ spring training narrative.

From Home Runs to Shutter Speeds

During a relaxed day at spring training, Aaron Judge was seen wielding a camera in the dugout, a sight that quickly caught the attention of fans and spectators. A video of Judge’s photography attempt was captured, leading to widespread curiosity about the quality of his shots. The Yankees, perhaps wanting to reassure fans that Judge’s talents firmly remain on the baseball field, released a notably blurry image of three umpires standing on the field. While it remains unclear whether this photo was genuinely taken by Judge or part of a playful jest by the team, the episode provided a humorous glimpse into the team dynamics and Judge’s willingness to engage in lighthearted activities off the field.

Fan Reactions and Speculations

The Yankees’ post, showcasing the blurry image, received mixed reactions from fans. While some appreciated the humor behind the post, others were genuinely curious to see if Judge had captured any high-quality images. This playful interaction between the team and its supporters underscores the importance of maintaining a connection with the fanbase, even through offbeat and fun content. The incident also led to speculation about whether Judge might release more of his photography work in the future, reminiscent of other MLB players like Randy Johnson and Ken Griffey Jr., who have pursued photography professionally.

A Glimpse into Athletes’ Off-Field Interests

Aaron Judge’s foray into photography, whether serious or in jest, highlights the multifaceted interests of athletes beyond their sporting careers. It serves as a reminder that players have diverse hobbies and talents that fans rarely get to see. This incident, while minor in the grand scheme of things, adds depth to Judge’s public persona and offers fans a more rounded view of their favorite athletes. It also prompts a broader conversation about the importance of supporting athletes’ endeavors outside of their professional commitments, recognizing them as individuals with varied interests and talents.

As spring training continues, fans will undoubtedly be on the lookout for more lighthearted moments and glimpses into the personalities of their favorite players. While Aaron Judge’s primary focus will remain on leading the Yankees to success on the baseball field, his brief venture into photography has certainly provided fans with an entertaining story to follow.

Aaron Judge, a renowned five-time All-Star for the New York Yankees, recently made headlines not for his prowess on the field, but for his attempt at photography during a spring training game. The Yankees’ subsequent post of a notably blurry image, allegedly taken by Judge, has fueled both speculation and amusement across the fanbase. This quirky incident not only showcases Judge’s burgeoning interest in photography but also aligns him with a growing list of MLB players, including Hall of Famers Randy Johnson and Ken Griffey Jr., who have explored photography alongside their sports careers.

From Bat to Camera: Aaron Judge’s New Swing

During a recent spring training session, Judge was caught on video swapping his baseball bat for a camera, aiming to capture the game from a different perspective. The curiosity and excitement among fans were palpable, leading many to eagerly anticipate the outcome of Judge’s photographic endeavor. The Yankees played along, releasing an extremely blurry photograph of three umpires on the field, leaving fans in stitches and wondering whether this was Judge’s actual work or a playful jab by the team.

A Trend Among Titans: MLB Players Behind the Lens

The incident sheds light on a lesser-known trend of MLB players taking up photography. Notably, Hall of Famers Randy Johnson and Ken Griffey Jr. have been known to photograph professional sporting events, suggesting a creative outlet beyond the diamond. Judge’s foray into photography, whether serious or in jest, adds a new chapter to this narrative, highlighting the multifaceted talents and interests of these athletes.

Fan Reaction and Future Prospects

The reaction from the Yankees’ fanbase ranged from amusement to admiration, with many appreciating the team’s humor and Judge’s willingness to engage in new activities. While it remains unclear if the blurry image was indeed Judge’s handiwork, the episode has undoubtedly added an interesting layer to his persona. Fans now eagerly await any future releases of Judge’s photography, hopeful for clearer snapshots but equally entertained by the possibility of more lighthearted content from the Yankees’ camp.

The playful incident involving Aaron Judge’s photography attempt has not only provided fans with a good laugh but also reminded us of the importance of hobbies and personal interests in providing a well-rounded life, even for professional athletes. As the lines between sports, art, and entertainment continue to blur, we may see more athletes like Judge sharing their off-field talents, enriching the sports world with their diverse pursuits.

Last night the Melbourne advertising community descended upon Truce HQ for a party to celebrate the occasion and a showcase work. 

Five visionary photographers will head up the roster:

Alex Drewniak 

Astrid Salomon

Benny Capp

Jess Brohier

Nick Dale 

– each exceptional, offering their own diverse sensibilities. 

The event was sponsored by Bodriggy Brewery Company and Gonzo Vino, alongside the Yakiboyz who kept the Hibachis fired up all night long.

“We’re making a Truce between motion and stills,” says Executive Producer Elise Trenorden. “With more and more agencies and clients requiring a stills solution in isolation or as part of a campaign, it felt like a natural progression for us to increase our offering as a production company. We’ve been following these remarkably talented human beings for some time and we’re excited they’ve jumped at the chance to work with us”.

The launch of Truce’s photography collective marks a significant milestone for the company, further solidifying its commitment to fostering creativity.

The global Photography Services market is witnessing unprecedented growth, with projections showing a leap to $68,890 million by 2028, marking a significant increase from $50,760 million in 2021, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% during 2022-2028. This surge is largely attributed to the adoption of sophisticated photography equipment and technological advancements that empower photographers to tackle challenges related to weather and lighting, thereby enhancing the quality of their services.

Technological Advancements Reshape the Industry

Among the notable developments, the rise of DSLR cameras, drone cameras, and specialized lenses has been pivotal in overcoming traditional photography challenges. These advancements not only improve the quality of photography but also open up new avenues for photographers to explore and innovate. For instance, the increased use of drone cameras has revolutionized landscape and architectural photography, providing unique perspectives that were previously difficult to capture.

Market Expansion and Freelancer Opportunities

Despite historical undervaluation and market oversaturation, the demand for photography and videography jobs has seen a significant uptick in 2023. Freelancers in the United States are now able to charge up to $300 per hour for photography services. This reflects a broader shift towards visually engaging content in the digital age, with brands increasingly incorporating video into their marketing strategies. The rise of freelance photography as the highest paying segment highlights the evolving landscape of the industry.

International Hotspots for Photography Careers

Identifying the highest paying countries for photographers involves analyzing both demand and compensation. France, for instance, stands out for its rich arts and culture scene, offering ample opportunities for photographers to thrive. Similarly, New Zealand’s stunning landscapes and Norway’s unique natural beauty make them attractive destinations for photographers seeking high-paying roles. These countries, among others in the top 15 list, provide not just competitive salaries but also diverse environments that fuel creativity and professional growth.

In conclusion, the global photography market’s growth trajectory is a testament to the industry’s resilience and adaptability in the face of technological advancements and changing market dynamics. As the demand for visually captivating content continues to rise, photographers now have more opportunities than ever to pursue rewarding careers, both financially and creatively, across the globe. This evolution, underscored by the identified top 15 highest paying countries, marks a promising future for professionals in the field.