"I am in love with Myrtle."

And she's in love with him.  Jack was born in Greenville, South Carolina to fine parents and just like many teenagers, he ran away.  Being a good son, though, he got his parents' permission.

 

Hitchhiking along with two friends - at the age of thirteen, they made it about halfway to the beach and, exhausted and hungry, they swept a filling station for a moon pie and a soda and spent the night under a church.  One of those two friends was future governor Carroll Campbell.  

 

Waking up early the next day they found a ride and made it all the way! Within hours of being here, they found themselves exploring the sights and the sounds around the Pavilion Amusement area and Jack happend across the smell of photo chemicals.  

 

Seeing that they were hiring, he asked for the job.   To his surprise, they responded, "When can you start?"   Thinking for a moment - and hungry from the journey, Jack said, "Well, if I could get a hamburger and a milk-shake, I'll start right now!"

 

That was the beginning of a long love affair between Jack and Myrtle that exists to this very day.  Jack's love of 'capturing the moment' has amassed a photographic collection of the area - and it's citizens, that is simply amazing!  

 

Humble, yet humorous, his life is about far more than just photography.  He has many titles.  Father.  Grandfather.  Friend.  Even 'Mr. Myrtle Beach'.  A true entrepreneur, he has maintained a studio or gallery in Myrtle Beach for more years than he wishes to count. Still very young at heart, it was only earlier today when asked if he had a minute for an important business decision, he replied, "Oh, can I get back with you. I am in the park and the light is perfect and the color of the falling leaves is just luminous."

 

That's why we love Jack.  He sees God's creation in a way that not just every eye does and he slows down for a few minutes... pulls out his camera... peers through the viewfinder and then, 'click', captures the moment for all of us.

 

Apprecitative for all of the accolades that have been showered on him over the years, he's still just 'Jack'.  Always happy to speak to a group about the history of a given place or time.  Excited about the next event that is happening in town and wanting to snap a few photos of the indivduals attending.   Captivated by the world around him and not wanting the perfect sunset, cloud or wave to miss the chance to 'smile' for his camera.

 

To purchase a signed copy of 'Memories of Myrtle Beach' or 'Shoeless Joe', arrange for a time to meet Jack at the gallery by calling one of the numbers at the bottom of this page or on the Contact page of this website.

 

To see his many photos, have him speak at an event or just to shoot the breeze and get to know he and his gal 'Myrtle' better, give him a call or stop by the gallery today!