ALL ABOUT COLOR

When I remember high school and juco dances, and believe me, I don't remember many because I chose not to go to too many, at least my freshman and sophomore years, I think of the photograph experience. On Stinson Drive at the home of photographer Richard Clark.

He was the best. Along with Louie Paveledes. I went there one time and he did a great job, but I felt like such a traitor. For some reason, Richard Clark and dances went together. He was kind, patient, timely, and friendly. He always spoke and called me by name when he saw me out and about the town. Even when he didn't have a camera.

His house would be filled with dance-goers sitting around his living room waiting their turns. The girls would be putting on the final touches in bathrooms and other parts of his house where there were mirrors. The guys were hoping they wouldn't wilt too much. Not the girls: the guys themselves who weren't too comfortable in suits and tuxs and just wanted to get it over with.

What reminded about this teen ritual in a small southern Illinois community in the '60's was the color painted photo pictured. That's the way Mr. Clark did his. I don't know if we were that long ago that color prints were extremely expensive, but everybody got the painted ones for some reason. Either that or the traditional black and white, that to me looked more realistic anyhow.

Richard Clark's last pictures he made for us were for our wedding. Mostly black and white with one color painted one. He had to go to the church for that one. I'm not sure I would have been up to making that cross town drive that evening. He did his usual great job, even taking one of my favorites of my bride and me sitting in our car with the Just Married signs.