John J. Happel

Political Activist, Chief Wana Dubie.  Unincorporated Dent County.  

When Debra Bailey gave birth to her son Nick, people used to tell her that God was punishing her for something she had done.  Debra lost one child and almost her own during birth before having Nick.  She says that “God gave her Nick.”  Her son has down syndrome—a condition that a few decades ago was referred to medically with a straight face as “mongolism.”  Unfortunately, in the past, there has been a stigma attached to physical and mental disabilities like Down Syndrome.  But Debra is thankful for her son everyday of her life.  At a church in Sedalia, Missouri where Debra lives, over 200 volunteers got together on February 12, 2016 to show their love and appreciation for over 100 guests from the community who grew up with special needs.  The “Night to Shine” was part of worldwide event that took place across 48 states and eight countries to create a memorable prom experience for people with special needs.  Guests were greeted to a red carpet entrance and paired with escorts to enjoy a night of games, music, dinner and dancing.  Every guest was pinned with a traditional corsage or boutonniere and later crowned as king and queen.    

Lil Tay and his friends look down at the freshly filled grave where his cousin “Swagg Huncho” a.k.a. James Johnson Jr. was laid to rest two months before.  Swagg was shot in the head multiple times by an unknown assailant in downtown St. Louis on December 16th bringing his life to an end at age 18.  His death was one of 188 homicides that took place in St. Louis in 2015.  Violence is something that Lil Tay and his friends have been forced to grow up with.  Swagg is not the first family member or friend they have lost to violence over the course of their young lives.  They say that envy is what gets you killed in the streets where they live.  

a.k.a. Lil Tay a.k.a. Head Huncho

a.k.a. Lil Tay a.k.a. Head Huncho

a.k.a. Lil Tay a.k.a. Head Huncho

a.k.a. Head Huncho

It’s great to have my work recognized here.  At the time, the semester felt very unfulfilling, but looking back I remember the times that I had to really think about a solution to the situation I was in and make a photograph.  It’s nice to see some beautiful results that came out of it.   

The Floor Lords Crew @floorlordscrew have been around Boston for over thirty years.  They are one of the oldest b-boy and b-girl dance crews in the world.  On December 27, 2015 I had the opportunity to meet with old friends in Boston and photograph a b-boy/b-girl battle between some of the best dancers in New England.  The event was a kind of send-off party for long time Floor Lord Lino Leanski Delgado who was moving to Hawaii.  Boston’s Ed OG came out to support the event and share some of his new music and my personal friend Dougie Rodrigues—head chef at Liquid Arts House—helped to organize.   

This year I am the Teaching Assistant for Rita Reed’s Advanced Techniques in Photojournalism at MU—a course that primary teaches lighting.  I’ve spent a lot of time teaching in the studio this semester, but I haven’t had much of a chance to use it for my own photography.  It was a pleasure to make this portrait of @Bryce_Banks2 to help tell his story.  The story line is familiar: a young man overcoming adversity through sports.  But each individual’s story comes with its own nuances.  As a photographer, I have the privilege of knowing something about the people behind the story through my interactions with them; however extended or brief.  For that, I am thankful.

When I meet people like this on assignments, the experience sticks with me for a long time afterwards.  I feel helpless that I can’t do much more than give that person my presence and ear.  I pray that my time and company is at least worth something to people like John Tucker.  I silently root for him to accomplish his dream of publishing his artwork.     

It’s been a while since my last blog post.  Be prepared for a wave of updates as my third semester at Mizzou comes to a close.  This is a picture that was taken on the University of Missouri campus, November 4, 2015—five days before UM President Tim Wolfe stepped down from office.  It was a gathering of students, faculty and supporters of Concerned Student 1950, the student group who protested the University’s handling of racial prejudice on campus.  Their movement would go on to inspire similar protests and counter-protests at other colleges campuses nationwide.       

Simon Malian graduated as part of the 2015 Harvard masters class on May 28th.  I had the pleasure of photographing his graduation ceremony as well as these portraits for his business profile.        

George Dunlap, 76, attended Memorial Day services in his home town of Scituate, Massachusetts on August 25, 2015.  Mr. Dunlap is a veteran of the United States Army Airborne Division and the Vietnam War.  Every year members of the local American Legion read aloud the names of those service members from Scituate who died or went missing in combat.  As a bid of respect and thanks, each is paid tribute with a moment of silence and a single toll from Lawson bell tower.  

I remember as a kid cutting through this property on my way home from elementary school, never knowing exactly what it was. As a young teenager, friends and I explored every inch that we could. In high school, it became a drinking spot that offered us some reasonable protection from the cops. I just arrived back in town after finishing my first year of graduate school and I learned that it will soon be torn down for development. For me—and I'm sure for others—there is a certain nostalgia for this place. There is history here for myself and friends, but also history of its own. After WWI it was used as a testing facility for military ordinance and was once a garrison for 142 soldiers. For such a small town, Scituate has some unique monuments and places that never sparked my curiousity when I was young because I always thought they were typical of any small town. That is certainly not the case. Despite its decrepitude and loss of use, it will be sad to see this place destroyed to make way for condos.