August, 1944. L to R:
1) Jim Robinson, trombone;
2) Bunk Johnson, trumpet;
3) Baby Dodds, drums;
4) Lawrence Marrero, banjo;
5) George Lewis, clarinet;
6) Slow Drag Pavageau, bass. Taken at 827 St Philip Street(Geo Lewis's home), New Orleans.
William Russell was not a photographer. The subject didn't interest him as a study. Photographs were required in what Bill was doing. So he either had someone take them or Bill took them himself. He'd buy a camera and film and take a roll of pictures.
If they worked...fine...if they didn't, he'd lose that camera and buy another. Every size negative known to man is in Bill's collection. He'd point, shoot, and trust in God to expose the film. Bill Russell took a lot of pictures of old buildings, RR tracks, etc that meant things, real or imagined, to himself alone. He likely owned 40 to 50 cameras.
The reason that I'm going in to all of this is the photo above. When Bill sent me the negative it was gunked up on both sides from being stored in plastic. I had to clean it. Didn't know how. Said a prayer and used lintless paper and lighter fluid. It worked, but I had visions of the emulsion dropping off into my hands. Anyway, when all of that was over...what I held in my hand...was the most flawless, perfectly exposed negative I have ever seen, bar none. God was humping this day. The detail is awesome and only half of the area of the negative is shown above. GCW
