Relics 2016: Clinton High
A photo by Rick LeCompte
Rick LeCompte is finding it difficult to stay retired. “I have to be careful with my photography,” he laughed. “I’ll work myself back into a full-time job again.”
But what do you do when you find your passion just as life is supposed to slow down? “I started reading a lot of books about painting,” said LeCompte, of his initial explorations. “After all, photography is writing with light. I tried to figure out what looked good. The main thing I was interested in is the fact that when you take a picture of something, you’re really capturing a slice of time.”
[Read this: Photographer Emile Frey was captivated by the abandoned St. Mary's Chapel.]
LeCompte mentors new members of the Louisiana Photographic Society, calling himself “Ambassador Without Portfolio” in his quest to remain at least somewhat idle.
The times arrive when LeCompte can’t help himself, though: whether it’s heading up the “Clicking the Light Fantastic” international photo contest or tabling an errand to snap a roadside wonder. It’s the latter that led LeCompte and his wife to stop at the old Clinton High, around which the community once revolved.
“I wanted to make sure that you could see the vines,” said LeCompte, “to show that time was reclaiming the building. In the end, nature always wins.”
Visit ricklecompte.viewbug.com to view more of LeCompte’s work. Details for joining our Relics series here.