STORY. YOU’RE ONLY GOING TO SEE IT RIGHT HERE. FIRST ON FIVE. PICTURES ARE OFTEN TAKEN TO PRESERVE A HAPPY MEMORY, LIKE YOUR WEDDING DAY OR CHILD’S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, BUT A LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER IS CAPTURING OKLAHOMA FAMILIES DURING THEIR GREATEST MOMENTS OF GRIEF. THE REASON WHY I GOT INTO IT IS, UM. BY ACCIDENT, IT WAS REALLY BABY NOAH THAT INSPIRED ME. KELLY BROWN WAS LOOKING TO GET INTO BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY WHEN A FAMILY REACHED OUT AND ASKED HER TO SHOOT THE BIRTH OF THEIR SON. AFTER A LONG BATTLE WITH INFERTILITY. I WAS SO HAPPY FOR HER WHEN SHE GOT PREGNANT AND THEN, UM, I ENDED UP NOT HEARING FROM HER AGAIN. THE OKLAHOMA FAMILY FOUND OUT THEIR SON, NOAH, WOULD BE STILLBORN, AND HER FRIEND REACHED OUT TO ME AND SAID, WOULD I BE INTERESTED IN IN DOING THE BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY? ANYWAYS? AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS THAT I’VE EVER BEEN A PART OF. I WAS ONE OF THE VERY FEW PEOPLE THAT GOT TO MEET HIM, AND I SAW HOW IMPACTFUL HAVING PHOTOS OF ONE OF THEIR ONLY DAYS THAT THEY HAD WITH HIM. SINCE THEN, KELLY HAS BOOKED BEREAVEMENT SESSIONS, GIVING OKLAHOMA FAMILIES A PIECE OF FOREVER LIKE REBECCA, A MOTHER AND ARMY VETERAN FIGHTING STAGE FOUR LYMPHOMA. SHE WANTED TO REALLY KIND OF FREEZE IN TIME AS MUCH AS SHE COULD. WHILE SHE FELT GOOD. I THINK THE BEAUTY IN IT IS THAT YOU’RE ABLE TO GIVE SOMETHING TANGIBLE. THEY CAN LEAVE MATERIAL THINGS BEHIND, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN’T LEAVE YOUR SMILE BEHIND. YOU CAN’T LEAVE LIKE THE WRINKLES IN YOUR EYES WHEN YOU LAUGH. KELLY HAS INSPIRED OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS TO DO THE SAME. NOW SHE HOPES MORE FAMILIES STOP TO CAPTURE THE NOW. I THINK ALL FAMILIES SHOULD. I MEAN, JUST TAKE THE PICTURES LIKE YOU DON’T KNOW WHO NEEDS THEM WHEN WHEN YOU’RE GONE. YOU NEVE

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Local photographer offers help to families coping with tragedy

Although pictures are often taken to preserve happy memories like a wedding day or a child’s first day of school, a local photographer is offering her services to help families in their greatest moments of grief.

Updated: 5:22 PM CDT Jul 11, 2024

Although pictures are often taken to preserve happy memories like a wedding day or a child’s first day of school, a local photographer is offering her services to help families in their greatest moments of grief.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.“The reason I got into it was by accident, really,” said Kelly Brown, with Rose Colored Lens Photography. “It was really baby Noah that inspired me”Brown said she was looking into birth photography when a family reached out and asked her to shoot the birth of their son after a long battle with infertility.“I was so happy for her when she got pregnant and then I ended up not hearing from her again,” Brown said.>> Download the KOCO 5 AppThe Oklahoma family found out their son Noah would be stillborn.“Then her friend reached out to me … and asked if I would be interested in doing the birth photography anyways,” Brown said. “That was one of the most difficult things that I’ve ever been a part of. I was one of the very few people that got to meet him and I saw how impactful having photos of one of the only days they had with him.”Since then, Brown has booked bereavement sessions, giving Oklahoma families a piece of forever.One such session involved a woman named Rebecca, a mother and Army veteran fighting stage 4 lymphoma.“She really wanted to freeze in time as much as she could while she felt good,” Brown said. “They can leave material things behind, but you can’t leave your smile behind. You can’t leave the wrinkles in your eyes when you laugh”Brown said she’s inspired other photographers to do the same and now she hopes more families top to capture the now.“I think all families, just take the pictures. You don’t know who needs them when you’re gone. You never know,” Brown said.Top HeadlinesTeen brothers dead after suspected drowning at popular swimming area16-year-old arrested, victim identified after deadly shooting at OKC motelAt least 1 person injured after head-on crash in Edmond, officials sayAir fryers seeing markdowns ahead of Amazon Prime DayPopular liquor store chain fighting ABLE to open up shop in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY —

Although pictures are often taken to preserve happy memories like a wedding day or a child’s first day of school, a local photographer is offering her services to help families in their greatest moments of grief.

Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.

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“The reason I got into it was by accident, really,” said Kelly Brown, with Rose Colored Lens Photography. “It was really baby Noah that inspired me”

Brown said she was looking into birth photography when a family reached out and asked her to shoot the birth of their son after a long battle with infertility.

“I was so happy for her when she got pregnant and then I ended up not hearing from her again,” Brown said.

>> Download the KOCO 5 App

The Oklahoma family found out their son Noah would be stillborn.

“Then her friend reached out to me … and asked if I would be interested in doing the birth photography anyways,” Brown said. “That was one of the most difficult things that I’ve ever been a part of. I was one of the very few people that got to meet him and I saw how impactful having photos of one of the only days they had with him.”

Since then, Brown has booked bereavement sessions, giving Oklahoma families a piece of forever.

One such session involved a woman named Rebecca, a mother and Army veteran fighting stage 4 lymphoma.

“She really wanted to freeze in time as much as she could while she felt good,” Brown said. “They can leave material things behind, but you can’t leave your smile behind. You can’t leave the wrinkles in your eyes when you laugh”

Brown said she’s inspired other photographers to do the same and now she hopes more families top to capture the now.

“I think all families, just take the pictures. You don’t know who needs them when you’re gone. You never know,” Brown said.

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Thomas Hoepker, the acclaimed German photographer, has passed away at the age of 88. Magnum Photos, the well-known worldwide photography collective that began publishing his images in 1964, acknowledged his passing. There was no given cause of death.

Hoepker worked across continents and decades. His powerful photos of important historical events and individuals won him praise. Muhammad Ali, the Berlin Wall, and a contentious image of bystanders in Brooklyn who appeared unaffected by the 9/11 events were some of his most well-known subjects.

Hoepker was born on June 10, 1936, in Munich, Germany. He started photographing pictures at the age of 14. On his birthday, his grandfather gave him a plate camera. Later on, he attended Göttingen to study history, art, and archaeology. He sold his photos to help pay for his education. But he quit school before he could graduate in order to work as a photojournalist.

In 1960, Hoepker began his career with the journal Münchner Illustrierte. “I didn’t study photography – I just did it. The academic world was not my world,” he said. He later worked for the magazine Kristall and joined Stern in 1964. That same year, Magnum Photos began distributing his archive photographs.

He traveled around Europe, Asia, South America, and the US on tasks. Hoepker relocated to New York City with his first wife, Eva Windmöller, in 1976. From 1978 to 1981, he was American Geo’s director of photography; from 1987 to 1989, he was Stern’s art director in Hamburg. Hoepker and Christine Kruchen, his second wife, remained residents of New York.

Probably the photo that made Hoepker most famous was shot on September 11, 2001. The image appears to depict youthful New Yorkers relaxing in the East Village while the Twin Towers are burning in the distance. It was not until 2006 that he released the image. The picture provoked discussion and controversy. The New York Times critic and writer Frank Rich called it a sobering parable of America’s reaction to the disaster. One of the people in the picture, Walter Sipser, challenged this assertion, saying that he and his girlfriend were at the moment shocked and incredulous.

Hoepker defended his photograph. He described it as evidence of the ambiguous and confusing horror of that day. “I think the image has touched many people exactly because it remains fuzzy and ambiguous in all its sun-drenched sharpness,” he wrote in Slate in 2006. “On that day five years ago, sheer horror came to New York, bright and colorful like a Hitchcock movie. And the only cloud in that blue sky was the sinister first smoke signal of a new era.” Hoepker once stated, “I am not an artist. I am an image maker.”

Hoepker’s contributions to photography extended beyond his iconic images. He was a longtime associate of Magnum Photos and served as its president from 2003 to 2006. He continued to produce documentary films with his wife, Christine Kruchen, even after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Their journey across America was chronicled in the 2022 film “Dear Memories: A Journey with Magnum Photographer Thomas Hoepker.” He published his final book, “The Way It Was,” that same year.

The Selma Dallas County Historic Preservation Society (SDCHPS) will welcome historical author and photographer Jackson Knight on Tuesday, Aug. 6. 

Knight is the author of “Churches of the Black Belt,” a series that includes Dallas, Wilcox, and Monroe counties and he is working on publishing books for Lowndes and Perry counties. He also authored “Rambling the Black Belt.” 

“His decision to start such an ambitious project was prompted by attempting to photograph the remaining fire towers in the state of Alabama,” said a press release from SDCHPS. “While most are no longer serviceable his love for fire towers was prompted by his grandfather who was a tower man. Thus one love has prompted other projects.”

Knight will deliver a presentation on his books at SDCHPS at 5:30 p.m. On the following day he will visit the Orrville Farmers Market at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

For more information, contact Cindy Yeager at c.yeager1@yahoo.com

PORT EWEN, N.Y. — It’s been more than 30 years since Jeffrey Lewis of Esopus underwent a life-or-death operation in which half his brain was removed. Now, 36 years old, Lewis is doing well, showcasing his photographs of eagles throughout July at the town’s public library in Port Ewen.

Jeffrey lost the right side of his brain in a surgery treating Rasmussen’s encephalitis, a rare disease that eats away brain tissue. As a result, he lost the use of his right arm and suffered significant vision loss.

While Jeffrey is doing well, his mother, Lynda, said it hasn’t been all smiles. “Last March, he had a major, life-threatening crisis,” she said. “He had blood clots in his legs that traveled to both of his lungs.”

“He’s now going to be on blood thinners for the rest of his life,” she added.

During his medical emergency, Jeffrey could not go out on his almost daily walks, which inspired much of his photography. His dad took him out for rides in the car in the meantime.

Despite recent medical struggles, Jeffrey is back outside, taking photos around Esopus. “I bounced back bigger and better than ever,” he said.

Jeffrey spends much of his time in nature around the town, taking photos of everything from clouds to birds, to chipmunks. He said many of his photos come from his walks in the Black Creek Preserve.

While Jeffrey photographs a range of subjects, his work on display at the Town of Esopus Library, 128 Canal St., focuses on eagles. All of the photos of the birds were taken in the town. The series, titled “Eagles in Esopus,” is on display for the entire month of July.

Jeffrey said his favorite part about being in nature is not knowing what he’s going to see. “Every day is different,” he said. “I tell my parents all the time: I take the same walk and a lot of the same pictures, but every season is different.”

Lynda said she was impressed that Jeffrey was able to capture photos of younger eagles, which she said are more skittish. “I swear some of the eagles know him,” she said.

In addition to eagles being on-theme for July, Lynda said this month marks an important milestone in Jeffrey’s journey. “The 21st of July is 32 years since had his radical brain surgery,” she said. “He’s been 32 years with half of a brain and no seizures.”

Jeffrey credits local Esopus photographer Rob Hite with encouraging him to pursue the craft. “We thought it was a fun hobby,” Lynda said. “But Rob really saw his vision; that he was not only taking pictures but because they were just raw, unedited, that he definitely had a little talent going.”

“I was an art major,” she laughed.

Jeffrey said he enjoyed showing the raw, natural beauty of the area, without editing or filters. “Whatever I take is what I take, and I take pride in that,” he said. “I don’t like to add things, I don’t like to take away things.”

According to Lynda, Jeffrey’s work has gained some popularity. He makes calendars every year, showcasing his top 12 photos. “He makes 100 calendars every year, and usually he’s sold out by the second week in December,” she said. “He’s got work hanging in people’s houses.”

While Jeffrey’s work has been on display in the library since the beginning of July, an open reception will be held on Friday, July 12. The reception will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m., with light refreshments, and Jeffrey will be on-site to greet guests and talk about his photos. Jeffrey’s brother is flying in from South Carolina for the occasion, along with his fiancée and daughter.

“We are expecting a large turnout,” Lynda said. “He’s got great community support.”

“He’s had amazing support from the time he was in school, community, church,” she added. “Everybody knows Jeffrey Lewis.”

Thomas Hoepker, the renowned German photographer, has died at the age of 88.

He was known for his pictures of Muhammad Ali, the Berlin Wall, and a controversial image of onlookers in Brooklyn seemingly unbothered by the smoke of the Twin Towers on 9/11 in the distance. His death was confirmed by Magnum Photos, the international photography collective that began publishing his photos in 1964 and which he joined in 1989. No cause of death was given.

A longtime associate of the prestigious group, even serving as president from 2003 to 2006, Hoepker began his career as a photojournalist and developed a reputation as a premier documentary photographer.

His work took him from Europe to Asia, South America and the United States, where he developed a close friendship and collaboration with Ali. But he is perhaps most famous for an image from 11 September 2001, of young New Yorkers seemingly lounging next to the East Village as the Twin Towers burn behind them.

The photograph, which Hoepker did not publish until 2006, became both an iconic and controversial image from the tragedy. The critic and columnist Frank Rich wrote about it in the New York Times, calling it a troubling allegory of America’s failure to learn anything from the tragedy. “The young people in Mr Hoepker’s photo aren’t necessarily callous,” he wrote. “They’re just American.”

Rich’s view of the photo was disputed; Walter Sipser, one of the men in the photo, later said he and his girlfriend were in fact “in a profound state of shock and disbelief“ and that Hoepker misrepresented their feelings and behavior.

Hoepker himself defended the photo as evidence of ambiguous, confusing horror on that day. “I think the image has touched many people exactly because it remains fuzzy and ambiguous in all its sun-drenched sharpness,” he wrote in Slate in 2006. “On that day five years ago, sheer horror came to New York, bright and colorful like a Hitchcock movie. And the only cloud in that blue sky was the sinister first smoke signal of a new era.”

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Born in Munich, Germany, on 10 June 1936, Hoepker first began taking photographs at the age of 14, after his grandfather gave him a plate camera for his birthday. Hoepker studied art, history and archaeology in Göttengen, partly funded by his photographs, but left before graduation to work as a photojournalist for Münchner Illustrierte magazine in 1960. “I didn’t study photography – I just did it. The academic world was not my world,” he said.

He went on to work for the magazine Kristall and joined Stern in 1964. That same year, Magnum began distributing his archive photographs.

Hoepker and his first wife, Eva Windmöller, lived in East Berlin as Stern’s first accredited correspondents. They moved to New York City in 1976, where Hoepker then spent the bulk of his time. He also served as the director of photography for American Geo from 1978 to 1981, as well as the art director for Stern in Hamburg from 1987 to 1989.

Hoepker continued to reside in New York with his second wife, Christine Kruchen, producing documentary films. The 2022 film Dear Memories: A Journey with Magnum Photographer Thomas Hoepker, chronicled his and Kruchen’s roadtrip across America after his diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease. He published his final book, The Way It Was, that same year.

“I am not an artist,” he said. “I am an image maker.”

May Pang spent 18 months in the 1970s as former Beatle John Lennon’s lover and confidante — and now she’s bringing iconic photographs from that time to a Fells Point gallery.

“The Lost Weekend — the Photography of May Pang” will be on view at the Winkel Gallery, 1715 Aliceanna Street for one weekend only, Friday, July 26 through Sunday, July 28. The exhibit is free, and the photographs in the show are available for purchase.

Pang was romantically involved with Lennon from late 1973 to 1985 while he was estranged from his wife, Yoko Ono. At the time, she was the couple’s 23-year-old assistant, and a decade younger than Lennon.

He frequently referred to his 18-months with Pang as his “lost weekend” and the song, “Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox) was written about her, according to an exhibit news release.

Some of the images that will be on view include one of the last known snapshots of Lennon and Paul McCartney together, as well as the only photo of Lennon signing the contract that dissolved the Beatles’ legal partnership.

Pang’s pictures have been touring galleries nationwide, an exhibit intended to coincide with the release of the fall, 2023 documentary “The Lost Weekend: A Love Story.”

She is scheduled to attend every day of the exhibit, according to a news release, and will mingle with visitors to the Winkel gallery.

Who knows?

Maybe Pang will drop an anecdote about her time with Lennon, or about other members of musical royalty she knew: former ex-Beatles McCartney and Ringo Starr, and rock legends David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Harry Nilsson and Keith Moon.

Exhibit hours are 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 26; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 27 and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 28. For details, call 443-575-6520 or visit justinwinkel.com.

Emily Roedl. Submitted.

Waterlines, a photography exhibit by local artist Emily Roedl, will be on display at Drömhus July 13 through Oct. 31. An opening reception will be held July 13, 5-7 pm.

The exhibit celebrates the beauty and mystery of water, with the photographer skillfully capturing its reflected surface in various ways.

Part of the collection is composed of black-and-white photos that explore linear waterscapes. These images feature reeds and horizon lines, composed to highlight the interplay between the soft stillness of the water’s surface and the hard lines intersecting it. 

Some of Roedl’s latest work dives beneath the waterline. Through her lens, viewers get a glimpse of the textures, patterns, and stories submerged beneath the water’s surface.

Drömhus is located at 611 Jefferson St. in Sturgeon Bay.