THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 29, 1995 TAG: 9501260572
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY MARY ELLEN RIDDLE, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 129 lines
The photographer was visible through the blowing grasses.
Turning left then right then left again, he watched the windsurfers speeding across the sound.
The water covered his rubber boots. Winds were howling about 30 mph. Few were out in this cold wind except two fully insulated, young windsurfers and photographer Drew C. Wilson with The Virginian-Pilot and The Carolina Coast.
Hatless, gloveless, with camera in hand, he waited for the right shot. Occasionally glancing back to the car, 32-year-old Wilson showed his concern for an awaiting companion.
``I could stand here and watch the waves for hours. I wish I could shoot windsurfing on Monday, surfing on Tuesday, hang gliding Wednesday, etc., etc. But it can't be done that way. The business is news,'' he said.
Wilson has been covering the news on the Outer Banks and in eastern North Carolina for more than a decade. Other papers have attempted to lure the award-winning photojournalist, but he loves the Outer Banks.
His pictures have been published in magazines and newspapers nationwide and internationally in Life, Das Magazin - Europe's largest - and AARP-American Association of Retired Persons - the largest magazine in the world. The phone rings continually with requests for his photographs.
``I was floored when the National Geographic called me the other day for a photo of mine. I've been waiting for them to call me since I was 14 years old. I learned how to take pictures through the National Geographic - early on to try and figure out the photo and later to try and emulate them,'' he said.
As a child, Wilson also pored over New Yorker magazine cartoons. ``I ended up knowing every punch line of those, but what I got from those cartoons was composition,'' he said. The cartoons also showed him how to make a point quickly.
His first news photograph was published in The Daily Press of Newport News, Va., when Wilson was in high school.
Wilson's career as a photojournalist has been praised for preserving life on film for our children and their children's children, and for providing others a glimpse of the beauty of the Outer Banks.
He's donated hundreds of his photographs to the Outer Banks History Center.
As president of the Outer Banks History Center Association, Wilson has been coordinating an exhibit that opens Feb. 8 featuring four centuries of Outer Banks cartography.
Opening Feb. 5 will be a show of Wilson's work in the west wing of Glenn and Pat Eure's Ghost Fleet Gallery in Nags Head. Sixteen Carolina Coast covers shot by Wilson will be on display, framed and for sale with profits going to the Outer Banks Cancer Support Group.
``I'm really proud his work is being gathered as a reminder of what he's done over the years to better know the place where we live. Nobody's ever done it better and I think Aycock Brown would be very proud of what he has done,'' said North Carolina editor and general manager Ronald L. Speer.
The covers, among the photographer's favorites picked from more than 500 published over the years, depict a wide variety of subjects including surfing big waves, sandboarding, birds, and a picture of Hatteras teachers cleaning up after Hurricane Emily.
While Wilson's photographs are artfully composed, he says, ``I am not an art photographer. I am not a commercial photographer. When I take a picture for the newspaper, I'm taking them for mass consumption and I shoot them with the intention of getting a message across to the most people. I do not go out on a limb compositionally strictly for my own taste. I protect the issue of truth,'' he said.
Wilson recently received the ``Building Block Award'' given occasionally by The Virginian-Pilot. It is one of the highest the company bestows, indicating that the recipient is the foundation of the company.
``I had tears in my eyes,'' says Wilson on receiving a standing ovation from more than 150 members of The Virginian-Pilot newsroom. Wilson was overwhelmed, but a comment from a local subscriber is equally treasured.
``I have been able to continually better my work only from the input of viewers of the pictures. People remind me every day that there are aspects of pictures that the photographer never saw,'' he said.
Wilson has made many bonds over the years while taking photos. Hanging on the wall of his home is a poster size print of Juanita Russell, who lives down Pantego way. She's holding a big bunch of tulips. Wilson photographed and befriended her nearly 10 years ago. It is the only picture he's ever enlarged.
``This represents for me a case where friendship can come from an encounter and remain over years and years,'' he said.
Wilson is working aggressively toward putting together a book of photographs of Outer Banks life taken over the last ten years. There will be a special section on the infrastructure of the Outer Banks, ``the people who drive ambulances, climb the high wires, go off to sea and rescue boats, the watermen,'' Wilson said. ``There will be a chapter on the natives and the newcomers. There are a lot of people who live here today and their lives are plenty interesting in themselves.
``I passionately love this place that I've come to. The road to this little bureau office has been paved with the advice and assistance of hundreds of mentors and supporters without whose input I could not have arrived here.''
As he stands in his waders with the wind whipping his face, Wilson smiles, oblivious to the cold. He waits to shake the hands of the windsurfers. And just as a strong west wind quickly moves the sound waters, love for the Outer Banks and its people courses through his veins. That's Drew Wilson, plain and simple. ILLUSTRATION: Color staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
The gray fox was photographed for The Carolina Coast in 1990.
Photo by MARY ELLEN RIDDLE
Photographer Drew C. Wilson says he ``was floored'' when the
National Geographic called recently to request one of his photos.
SOMETHING SPECIAL
This year's Frank Stick Memorial Art Show will have a special
feature. In the west wing will hang the work of
Virginian-Pilot/Ledger-Star and Carolina Coast photojournalist Drew
Wilson. Sixteen Carolina Coast cover photographs produced by Wilson
will be hung for the first time.
Viewers will have the opportunity to take a trip back in time, as
the cover art stimulates memories of events gone by.
Wilson, a consummate artist, has chosen a wide variety of
subjects to share, including color photos of swans and Canada geese,
powerful windsurfing shots, a native net mender, and a diverse range
of newsworthy subjects.
The opening and closing of the show coincides with the Frank
Stick event. All works are for sale with profits going to the Outer
Banks Cancer Support Group. ``I can't think of a better place to
give it to at this time,'' said Wilson.
by CNB