Tragedy In The South
On February 5 and 6 tornadoes ripped through the south killing more than 50 people. One of them visited rural Lawrence County, Alabama damaging and destroying property from the Bankhead forest in Lawrence County right up to the Decatur city limit in Morgan County. The storm killed three. The deadly tornado dropped from the sky at 3 a.m. and by 3:06 a.m. it had done its most deadly work fatally injuring three members of one family on County Rd. 183. Their house was completely destroyed and I mean completely with nothing left but the concrete front porch.
I stood in the middle of the wreckage a few hours later making pictures of shattered homes and shattered lives and it was there that I ran across James Devaney. He is an elderly gentleman and he had just picked up a purse from a debris field. I shot a few frames with a long lens then went up to get his name. As Mr. Devaney told me his story I realized that the stuff he was picking up were memories of his daughter, son-in-law and grandson who were the victims of the deadly storm. My heart was broken for him and for his loss. As we stood there, I offered to pray with him. We prayed for a moment or two and then we both wiped our tears. I had to continue shooting and Mr. Devaney had to keep on picking up the broken pieces.
Covering tragedy is very difficult. You are literally walking into the middle of someone’s personal disaster and you have to remember your humanity first and foremost. The pictures will come. Be a person of compassion and the stories will come. I don’t have time to write all the stories I heard. But I will share one of them. Telitha Shelton and her family were trying to outrun the storm to get to her dad’s house to get to his storm shelter. The tornado caught them right out on the road in front of the home where the people would be killed. She said the Lord just reached down from heaven and held their SUV on the road and not one thing happened to them. Her husband opened the door of the SUV as soon as the storm passed and heard the cries of the family amid the rubble of their destroyed home. Her husband pulled an appliance off of the man and sat down in the middle of that driving rain in the pitch dark night and held the man and his wife in their final moments of their lives.
Maybe I came along at just the right moment to to bring some comfort to Mr. Devaney in the middle of his loss. Oh yes, I made pictures but I think that just maybe I was in that place at that exact moment to comfort a man in his loss more than I was there to make pictures. The fact that I got some shots I was really pleased with was so very secondary to the other that it is beyond words. Maybe I will write some more about the technical stuff but not right now. If you would like to see all the work done by Decatur Daily photojournalists you can view the slide show here.
Photos copyright The Decatur Daily. The opinions expressed in this blog are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.
Thanks for this post. Even as a pastor, it is far too easy to become numb to tragedies like this one when all you see are numbers and places you don’t know. Thanks for reminding me that real people are involved when things like this happen.
http://www.thestar.com/
Can’t comprehend what it must be like to experience or cover tragedy. But, I figured that, in case you hadn’t known, your image was featured in the ‘Today in Pictures’ section of the Toronto Star, #3
Also New York Times lede, USAT lede — front pages everywhere. Thanks for the backstory, too. Many photogs concentrate on the images to the exclusion of everything else that is important about the news gathering process. Your post will make many people think.
-DH
Is february now part of tornado season? Inconvenient truth, indeed.
Your passionate story will make me look at taking pictures from a different perspective from now on. Thanks for being there for all of us!
I came here from the strobist blog. I grew up in Tuscaloosa, so I have a healthy fear of tornadoes and the destruction they can bring. These are wonderful pictures, horrible stories. Kudos for you demonstrating your sympathy over the push to get the shots. Like you said, the pictures come.
Congratulations on your outstanding photographs, but more importantly congratulations for having your priorities in order and for representing the profession of photojournalism as a compassionate, caring, and intelligent individual who cared for the subjects in front of his camera more than he cared about making a name for himself or winning a contest. Photojournalism benefits every time someone like you makes the extra effort to tell the backstory, like you did here in your blog, because young photojournalists looking at your images today will wonder, “How did he make that picture?” How you made that picture has only a little bit to do with your camera, lens selection, composition and choice of moment; what it really comes down to is the relationship that you decided to make with your subject from the very beginning, which allowed everything else that unfolded before your camera to happen, and for you to have the understanding and awareness to watch for it. Instead of taking something away from them, you gave - and for giving, you received. It’s an example that should be discussed in every beginning photojournalism class. And this is intended as a compliment: reading your blog today, you remind me of the photojournalist David LaBelle. Keep up the great work.
As a former newspaper photographer in Los Angeles, I stand in awe of the photos, the above story, and of you photojournalists who continue to shoot. I had to quit. Tragedies like this just hit me too hard. One afternoon while shooting an entire family that was wiped out by a drunk driver it became obvious to me that I, would become numb to the human condition if I continued. So I just walked away. You who continue to shoot in the field have my admiration and respect. /Dan
I am originally from Huntsville, Alabama and my heart goes out to the families who have lost so much in this tragedy. I take my hat off to you that can continue to photograph the stories that need to be told, even if they are heartbreaking to see and do.
Yes indeed, a tornado in February. I live in central Arkansas, just miles south of the devastation. It is strange to think that February 5th was a beautiful 75 degree day that turned into so terrible a night.
I did not truly become aware of the tragedy of the hurricanes until I picked up my New York Times this morning and failed to catch my breath upon reading the cutline. Thank you for respectfully showing the truth of tragedy through Mr. Devaney, and for showing him you care. I have posted this in our student newsroom and will remember the lesson. Document with respect and offer humanity in return.
amazing how the lord placed you there at that time. the sacrifice and blessings of obedience…
I live just up the road from you in Spring Hill, TN.
Thanks so much for writing about all this. It’s certainly an encouragement to me both as I think about photography and I’m just in awe of the divine intervention in allowing you to be there… not just for your job but because you were really needed there.
Keep on…
My wife and I lived in Decatur for about 6 months after we got married in 1997. Being from NC neither one of us had experienced “severe” thunderstorms until we had been in Decatur for about 3 months. A line of tornado producing thunderstorms moved in. Then the sirens went of near our house. Scared the crap out of both of us as we huddled in our bathroom with a mattress pulled over us. The tornado hit a few miles away. I now love the Appalachian Mountains and the wind break they give us here in Central NC.
Enough of my near miss story. Your compassion, my friend, will be rewarded in the end.
I love your write up and pictures! I saw your site off Dave/Strobist’s link … absolutely beautiful
Great work man, its always interesting how photographers deal with these situations. Some can be completely cold hearted. Your post really moved me.
I have to say that the first shot is really very good, particularly the path leading up through the trees which were torn apart by the tornado.
Very moving post, Thanks
-Rob
“Be a person of compassion and the stories will come.”
Sounds like a sentance to remember.
hi….. i’ve been following your RSS for sometime, and wanted to say that as an aspiring photojournalist(i’m a student still) your writing offfers me a lot of insight into situations i probably will face in my career.
i have never been at the site of a tragedy in official capacity, but your words “Be a person of compassion and the stories will come.” will now hold a place in my memory.
my condolences as well to all those who lost their loved ones or homes in the disasters.
I grew up in Eastlake, near Birmingham. This hits home. Thanks for sharing your personal experience & faith. >
This is a terrible thing that happened! I am glad you were there to give comfort to those in need of a little prayer. Sending my thoughts and prayers from Minnesota.
Great work on the photos!
Great photo, and a touching story! I read your blog for some time now and despite the tragedy I’m glad to hear your pictures being published in papers around U.S. and elsewhere. I would also like to note that I share the same opinion on photojournalism ethics and the fact I’m hearing these news from other people (i.e. comments and David Hobby’s post at Strobist), as much as you might be proud of the fact, tells a lot of your right attitude.
Loved reading that you offered to pray with Mr. Devaney. Love that humanity is first for you. He and the others will never be able to shake this storm off. It’s always there, in their minds, phantom winds howling, phantom breezes. When the wind blows on even a fair day, they’ll look up and wonder if it’s safe or at least remember.
It’s been 3-1/2 years since we were in the eye of Hurricane Ivan and I still hear him and see him in the every day.
Thank-you for your compassion. It shines brightly through your wonderful photo that tugs at our compassion. I’ve always wondered how photographers could shoot picutes of tragedy and war. I see from your story that they are not heartless and I realize that what you see through a viewfinder must be emotions intensified 100X more. Most of all thank-you for taking the time to pray with him. What a gift of hope to a hurting man.
i hope all be alraight
A man of quality most often is not found in the images he makes, but in the faith that he exhibits. May the Lord bless you for your eye in seeing what is not seen and your heart for feeling what cannot be displayed no matter how hard we try. Your photos are awesome, but probably not as awesome as the time were two men stood praying for comfort when all seemed lost. Thank you as a brother in photography and in God for standing in the gap.
that was absoloutly rubbish
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For those of you who do not know Gary Cosby Jr. personally this is par for the course. I can’t help but ask myself how many times during my career as a photojournalist did I have the opportunity to offer prayer to someone in need but simply pressed the shutter instead.
“Be a person of compassion and the stories will come.”
You can replace the word “stories” with whatever good thing you want…and the quote still carries as much weight.
Even though it is a bittersweet honor….I congratulate you Coz on such widespread recognition of an excellent photo.
my god! it’s terribly.
Sending my thoughts and prayers from Russia.
Thanks for this post and exciting photos.
Thank you.
Thank you for this story..it really is hard to imagine what these tornadoes did even with these pictures! I pray for those who lost their family and friends…that is the hardest part of this tragedy for those that survive. It should make us realize that indeed every single day is a gift…make the most of it and do good things.
Sending God’s blessings and our aloha and prayers from Hawaii.
http://familyforest.wordpress.com
thanks for the story.
I know the feeling of witnessing tragedies, being from a country that has suffered through an 8-year long destructive war, and many earthquakes and other natural disasters. it’s truly heart breaking and makes one appreciate the power of policy making and engineering in making a safer place.
For those of you outside the south, anytime is tornado season here. There is a period that is worse than normal, but they can strike any time the weather comes together right. Especially in the Decatur/Huntsville area of north Alabama, where the flat lands with occasional high ridges seem to create a “tornado alley”.
I am originally from Decatur… I now live in NW Louisiana, but my mom and dad live across from Cedar Ridge Golf Course and this is the first time I have ever heard fear in their voices. The sirens woke them. They just had fencing damage, insulation in trees, etc… Thank you for your story.
I’m blessed to live in Ghana. A country where we never experience tornadoes and tsunamis but I still see human suffering everyday. Thanks for reminding me that the reason why God allows me to see these sufferings is so I offer a shoulder, a prayer, a word… and not just click insensitively away. God bless you.
Gary,
Thanks for sharing. We photographers always have stories behind the photographs, but never have I seen one as compelling as this one.
My Granddad is James Devaney. His daughter was my aunt. I went to the funerals today and it was a terrible sight and a real tragedy. I sincerely doubt the author of this comforted my Papaw. Nothing can console a person at a time like this. He wasn’t supposed to bury his daughter and grandson. Only time will heal this and his faith in the Lord.
Joel,
For what it is worth, I agree with you. My dad was a pastor and I have seen him help people through many difficult times and I once asked him what you say to someone who has just lost a loved one. He told me there is really nothing you can say but you can love them. There is probably little comfort in any words but I do share your grandfather’s faith in the Lord and I do share your conviction that his faith will see him through this very difficult time.
My family and I have experienced the most devastating few days of our lives.It still seems like a terrible nightmare you can’t wake up from. My family has always been close. The reporters and photojournalists that covered this past week were doing their job. For what Gary Cosby did by praying with my father, just a little while after we left the hospital was exactley what he needed at that time. I am grateful for the compassion. I will admit I saw reporters and photographers as something like ambulance chasers,trying to take advantage of people in bad situations. Mr. Cosby’s attitude and compassion, and Catherine Godbey showing hers in doing the interviews to try and get the true spirit of Beckie, Greg, and Gereck out there has changed the way I look at reporters and photographers. Thank you Mr. Cosbey and Catherine Godbey.I have been completely humbled by the compassion from so many.It has really helped restore my faith in the goodness of peoples hearts.It’s going to take me a long time just to go past getting by day to day.But the prayers and compassion of people during this time has helped. I had people say that they really didn’t know what to say, its not the words you use sometimes, its just being there that helps.A hug, a touch or a prayer all send the message we’ll here with you to share your pain. For these friends and neighbors and total strangers, I say the same thing, I don’t know what to say but thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I would like to reproduce your picture (with your permission and with your photo credit of course) for my blog. I would like to use it to comment on an aspect that I found personally shocking in this tragedy: the precarity of housing. It lools like these houses are made of cardboards, no foundation, no bricks, to resist, if only a little, the destructive force of tornadoes. Would you like to comment on this, from what you experienced?
Looks like the work got around. Of course I guess that can be both a bonus and a downside in photojournalism. Doing mostly freelance, stuff I submit to the paper can be republished - at least online - in several other Gannett papers in FL. Being as I am barely getting paid a sufficient amount for each photo - this kinda dampers things. And by all accounts my freelance work for the particular community paper I shoot for is no prize winning work.
It must feel nice though to have such good work being distributed in this way. As a staffer you get paid for your services not individual photos so having the republished is only a good thing. Many kudos.
ashley scott bio
Man i just love your blog, keep the cool posts comin..
[...] I am deeply honored. For any NPPA members who are dropping by to view the post you can see Tragedy In The South here. There are a few other posts that are related to the tornado coverage. You can view The Power [...]