THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 28, 1996 TAG: 9607280100
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH SIMPSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: 98 lines
Known as much for capturing the spirit of Hampton Roads in photographs as he was for his willingness to help others, Virginian-Pilot photographer Christopher B. Reddick died Saturday of a heart attack.
Reddick, 30, a staff photographer since 1990, was remembered by friends and family as someone who tried to bring new faces to the pages of the newspaper in his professional life and who helped relatives, friends and aspiring photographers in his personal life.
``Chris was passionate about photojournalism; his photos capture the humanity not only of his subjects but of Chris himself,'' said Cole C. Campbell, editor of The Virginian-Pilot. ``He had a sly sense of humor and a welcoming personal style. We will miss his spirit and his friendship.''
Reddick's photographs speak to his ability to catch moments that touched the hearts of a community: The photograph of a mother holding her child at a Baptist church revival. The one of Norfolk State University students carrying pictures of Martin Luther King during a march. And the striking photo of children peeking through the windows of a public housing complex at the aftermath of a murder scene.
``He was very sensitive,'' said fellow photographer Beth Bergman. ``He looked big and tough, but he had a soft touch.''
He was a photographer determined to get the shot he needed. In 1989, he was arrested while photographing the Greekfest riots in Virginia Beach and detained for five hours before being released to produce stunning photographs of the fray between rioters and police officers.
``He was always willing to step in and help out,'' said W.N. Abourjilie, photography department manager at The Virginian-Pilot. ``He was an excellent photographer, with his main strength being sports. He was also very conscious of minority neighborhoods and always looked for ways to bring them forward in the newspaper.''
He was a frequent winner of sports, news and feature photography awards at the Virginia Press Association contest and Echoes of Excellence, a contest sponsored by the Hampton Roads Black Media Professionals.
Reddick also stood out for his willingness to help in the community. He did volunteer work with minority youth at the Hunton YMCA. And in 1994, he participated in a project called ``Open Shutters,'' in which African Americans in predominantly black neighborhoods were given cameras to photograph their communities. He taught residents the basics of photography and how to capture the images that would best show the essence of the places they lived.
``He was very concerned about the way minorities were portrayed in the media,'' said close friend and co-worker Angelita Plemmer. ``He wanted to be sure they were depicted accurately and fairly.''
Beyond his work as a photographer, Reddick also will be remembered as being a gentle teddy bear with a big heart. ``He'd give you his last dollar,'' Plemmer said. ``He took care of me like a big brother.''
Reddick's family said his need to help others was part of his basic nature. ``He was the baby brother in our family, but he always acted like the big brother because he was always looking after everyone else,'' said his sister, Marie Manning, who lives in Toledo. ``He was the caretaker.''
If a sister needed a new air conditioner, Reddick would send her one. If a brother needed some help financially, Reddick sent money. ``He was good at that kind of thing,'' Manning said. Reddick is survived by Manning, another sister, Renee Sampson, and a brother, Rolland Reddick Jr., all of Toledo.
Manning said Reddick had a history of heart problems that went back about eight years.
Reddick was a native of Toledo and graduated from The Ohio State University in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in photography. He was an intern in the Landmark Minority Internship Program, during which time he worked for The Virginian-Pilot, the Roanoke Times & World-News, and the News & Record of Greensboro. He came to The Virginian-Pilot as a staff photographer after working for the Times & World-News. Reddick was a resident of Point Of View Arch in Portsmouth.
``He was a great person to be around,'' Abourjilie said. ``He was happy-go-lucky; he seldom let things get to him. He will be missed.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Christopher B. Reddick: 1965-1996
Photos by Christopher Reddick
Chris ``had a soft touch,'' a fellow photographer said, and it
showed in his work.
Chris captured moments that touched the heart of our community.
Chris depicted a quiet moment among Cecelia Warren and her children
Sydney, left, and Justin during the 190th anniversary celebration of
First Baptist Church in Norfolk last fall.
In 1989, Chris was arrested while photo-graphing the Greekfest riots
in Virginia Beach and detained for five hours. After his release,
Chris produced a stunning series of photographs of the fray between
rioters and police officers.
Children peer at the aftermath of a murder. Chris said he hoped this
photo would make people think about the affects of violence on
children.
One of Chris' favorite photos was this one, of then-Columbus Clipper
Darryl Strawberry - now a New York Yankee - signing autographs when
in town to play the Tides.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB