A Most Memorable Photo Session....

In 1988 I received an assignment from the now-defunct magazine GMAC Quest to fly to Chicago to photograph the author, oral historian, radio broadcaster, documentary film narrator, book reviewer, actor, and legendary Chicago personality, Studs Terkel... I was told I'd have about 15 minutes to photograph Studs at radio station WFMT where he conducts his daily interview program and has his office.

Perhaps not by coincidence I chose to take along a radical Jewish magazine, Tikkun, to read on the flight over. After checking in with a station secretary I was directed to Studs' office where I set up my lighting to await my 15 minute shoot. --Eventually Studs came in dressed in the perpetual "uniform" for which he is known: red-checked shirt, red sweater, and navy blazer. --What ensued was one of the most interesting conversations of my life.

Studs immediately noticed the reading material sticking from my camera bag and, having just read the issue himself, began a lively exchange about an article in the magazine by Alexander Cockburn, who he had recently hosted on his radio program. --From there the conversation rolled on while the photo session warmed up.-- I recall discussing everything from baseball, to leftist Black auto workers in Detroit, to China, to great places to eat and drink in Chi-town. --Fifteen minutes were long past up, but Studs took me over to the studio to do some shots at a microphone while we further discussed his writing, acting, and political views, and my photography, travels, and political views.

It was easy to see why Studs has been so successful with his oral histories. --He's the interviewer's interviewer and a man as genuinely nice as anyone could ever want to meet. --I certainly would tell him anything he wanted to know. --Two hours after the photo session began, I left feeling like an old friend carrying gift copies of two of his books,The Good War andWorking. --In one he signed: "To Dennis -- a delight letting you shoot me. And I still survived. -- Studs".