08/21/2026
Twenty-nine years ago, I made this photograph. I can hardly believe I’m seeing it again.
When I was a young college student at UNC-Chapel Hill, Scott Sharpe spoke to our photojournalism class. He suggested I spend the night at the homeless shelter so I could get closer to the family I was photographing. It was brilliant advice. I did.
Years later, I was lucky enough to work with Scott at The News & Observer before joining the Chicago Tribune. Now his wonderful project of reconnecting with stories and photographs from the archives has brought me back to this moment.
I knew instantly this photograph was mine because she touched her face.
Anyone who has been my student or heard me talk about photography at conferences around the world knows I watch the hands. A hand to the face. Hands on hips. Those small, unguarded gestures can tell you everything.
I didn’t know 29 years ago how much those moments would come to define the way I see.
If I could go back and tell that young photographer one thing, it would be: Trust your eye. You will always be a storyteller.
Thank you, Scott. You are one of my photography treasures. Scott Sharpe
We tracked down a first-year student from an old photo of a UNC move-in nearly 30 years ago. It represented a full circle moment.
