THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 6, 1994 TAG: 9411050094
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
SOURCE: Ron Speer
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Sometimes, when you're lucky enough to work around talented people, you tend to take them for granted.
You begin to think of the exceptional as average, when you see it regularly. Then an outsider comes along, spots your colleague's work and is awed by the talent, the power, the productivity.
And suddenly you realize how fortunate you are.
That happened to me last week, when the editor of The Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star called the paper's entire news staff of about 150 to Norfolk. The highlight of the gathering was the presentation G1RLS06 Wilson of a coveted ``Building Block'' to our own Carolina photographer: Drew C. Wilson.
Only five of the awards have been given by the editor, Cole Campbell. In praising Drew Wilson's work, Campbell said, ``He is one of those people who day in and day out make the paper worth reading.''
North Carolina readers know that, of course. For years, Drew's pictures have brightened the covers of The Carolina Coast, and put life into the North Carolina section front every morning.
His pictures grace many a home in northeast North Carolina, including mine, which boasts a huge enlargement of Drew's aerial photo of Roanoke Island.
Tourists from throughout the eastern half of the nation call often asking for a copy of one of Drew's photographs.
Magazines reprint his work. A new exhibit at the aquarium on Roanoke Island features Drew's recent photo of a playful porpoise, a picture that was sent across the nation over Associated Press wires to our nation's newspapers.
His pictures tell the tale of life on the Outer Banks and other parts of the northeast, with a heavy emphasis on the water.
Drew it was who came up with the idea of a feature story on Omie Tillett, the boat captain who leads watermen in prayer every morning as they head out to sea. Drew was there when a dredgerammed through the Bonner Bridge. He was there when Hurricane Emily slammed across Hatteras Island, and he's on hand whenever a northeaster claims another house on the beach.
He's climbed every lighthouse around. He's canoed across snake-infested swamps for rare and beautiful photos of places most of us never see.
And he's taken pictures of every big shot who ever touched foot on the Outer Banks.
But he spends most of his time taking photographs of ordinary people, made famous only because Drew took their picture.
President of the Outer Banks History Center Associates, Drew believes in making honest pictures of life as it really is. And he feels neighbors deserve the same time and effort as the most celebrated of people.
On the way to Norfolk to pick up his award, for example, Drew went to Elizabeth City to make a picture of a young man invited to the Special Olypics, traveled across town to shoot photos of two teachers who are developing a new alternative school, then stopped along the road to shoot a beautiful photo of a bountiful crop of golden sunflowers.
At 31, Drew has been shooting pictures for more than two decades. His colleagues are delighted that the paper honored him.
Drew probably would have been more pleased by the unsophisticated tribute paid to him the day after he picked up his trophy. A woman on Hatteras Island, opening a display of lures and hooks and other fishing baits, shouted with delight Thursday when she was told Drew was going to be there to take pictures.
``Drew Wilson's coming to our show! That's wonderful. He's such a great photographer! We're so honored.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Wilson
by CNB