Sunlight and Skylights

Juneteenth remembrance from a 1980s Sunday afternoon

Her friends and family called her “Vee,” but to me she was Veronica. I first met her when she was a law enforcement agent - no I wasn’t in trouble, I was photographing her.

Photographed by the author at his 501 North College studio in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mid-1980s on Kodak Tri-X film.

During the mid-1980s, Veronica Best was living a double life as she quickly became one of the Southeast’s top models. Her smile could fill a room before she ever said a word. The image below is from a beautiful Sunday afternoon, just the two of us and sunlight streaming through the skylights. Sadly, Veronica transitioned far too soon.

On this Juneteenth, I celebrate the strength, beauty, and enduring spirit of Black Americans - a legacy that shows up in art, in elegance, and in every room I’ve had the privilege of sharing with someone like Veronica.