Year in Pictures: 2021
A heavy downpour reverberated my mini camper van in Hammond, LA as I edited photos from my fourth day covering the impacts of Hurricane Ida. The golden hour thunderstorm signaled an early end of my day making photos — and once I filed those, I’d leave and start my trek back to South Carolina. At least that was the plan.
My phone rang. It was Jerry, an editor at Getty Images inquiring if I’d like to stay a few more days. One colleague had tested positive for Covid-19 and the other had to return home because of contact with him. I was the only photographer left on the team covering Ida.
Bianca Dorsey visits the gravesite of Ahmaud Arbery during a candlelight vigil at New Springfield Baptist Church on February 23, 2021 in Waynesboro, Georgia. Arbery, a Black man, was shot and killed near Brunswick, Georgia Feb. 23, 2020 after being chased by two white men. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
“Where do you want me aiming for?” I asked.
The goal? To see how far south I could get. Ideal destination, Grand Isle, at the bottom of the Mississippi Delta on Louisiana’s only inhabited barrier island — about thirty miles from landfall of the category 4 storm. After sending the last photos, I drove east to Mississippi to refuel, about an hour, and then back west another hour to overnight at the Pilot Travel Center near the Louis Armstrong International Airport.
I left shortly after sunrise in the morning, headed south on Rt. 90 away from New Orleans, still dark without power. I didn’t think I’d be able to make the goal. For sure, the road would be washed out, obstructed, or authorities would halt my advance. For 90 minutes I drove through the disaster area, the first half trailing behind a National Guard convoy. The landscape was ravaged.
Joshua Brown stands in his front yard on Roseewood Dr. Feb. 25, 2021 in Socastee, South Carolina. Along the intercostal waterway near Myrtle Beach, Brown’s community has flooded multiple times over the last six years. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
By the time I reached the final bridge to Grand Isle, I was in disbelief. Other than hundreds of utility lines strewn across the asphalt, the roads were clear. There were portions of the road destroyed, but they were passable. And no police roadblocks turned me around. I had arrived on the first day residents and home owners returned. They’d have two days to check on their homes and fish camps before officials wanted the town clear to begin work returning basic infrastructure.
Curfew was an hour before sunset, which I overstayed a little and headed back north to find an wireless signal. Outside of almost getting lost twice in the blackness of the powerless delta, I retraced my route from the morning. I found none until a return to the same Pilot center from the pervious overnight. Apparently, I’d be having another 90 minute drive in the morning.
A resident updates a sign in his yard along River Rd. Feb. 26, 2021 in Socastee, South Carolina. Most residents agree that new development and resulting deforestation has played a major role in the recent floods. Some also level blame on climate change made worse by human activity. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
As a photojournalist, seeing the impacts of Hurricane Ida were some of my most experiences from 2021. You’ll find some of those moments here, along with a few dozen others. See you next year.
A woman talks with a man holding a baseball bat in front of the home of Ft. Jackson Army soldier Jonathan Pentland as protesters gathered along Lakemont Drive in the Summit in Columbia, SC April 14, 2021. Pentland was charged with third-degree assault and battery after appearing in a viral video pushing and shoving a young Black man the day before. The man with the bat would later break a window and light. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
A man parks a moped disguised as a Wave Runner as protestors demonstrate along Lakemont Drive in the Summit April 14, 2021 in Columbia, South Carolina. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
Elijah Whitesidemarch participates in a protest against police killings of Duante Wright and Adam Toledo in Charleston, South Carolina Sunday, April 18, 2021. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
Maria Mullen walks down Ehringhaus St. with other demonstrators during a protest march on April 22, 2021 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The protest was sparked by the police killing of Andrew Brown Jr. on April 21. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
A woman fills gas cans at a Speedway gas station on May 12, 2021 in Benson, North Carolina. Most stations in the area along I-95 are without fuel following the Colonial Pipeline hack. The 5,500 mile long pipeline delivers a large percentage of fuel on the East Coast from Texas up to New York. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Ramez Abuhashem participates in a demonstration supporting Palestinian people. Abuhashem was worried about his mother and father, brothers and sisters, and extended family living in the Palestinian city at the border with Egypt. “I keep calling them everyday, but sometimes the electricity is out and there is no internet.” Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
Synchronous fireflies near Columbia, South Carolina May 24, 2021. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
Members of the St. James High School Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps participate in a holiday parade on May 29, 2021 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Myrtle Beach is the No. 3 top destination for road trips on Memorial Day, according to AAA Carolinas. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Linda Martell poses with an award for the 2021 CMT Music Awards in Irmo, South Carolina June 7, 2021. Born and raised in South Carolina, former Batesburg-Leesville school bus driver, and local country music legend, 86, was be honored with the CMT Equal Play Award at the 2021 CMT Music Awards. Martell was the first black woman to perform solo at the Grand Ole Opry and her 1969 single, “Color Him Father” remains the highest charting song for a Black woman on the Billboard country charts.(Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images for CMT)
Artist John Sims poses for a photo at his solo exhibition “AfroDixia: A Righteous Confiscation” at 701 in Columbia, SC June 25, 2021.
After 10 performs during Emo Night at New Brookland Tavern in West Columbia, South Carolina June 25, 2021. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
Emo Night at New Brookland Tavern in West Columbia, South Carolina June 25, 2021. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
Children chase a chicken during the Mountain Rest Hillbilly Day in Mountain Rest, South Carolina July 3, 2021. Nestled in the northwestern corner of the state in Oconee County, the Mountain Rest community brought Hillbilly Day back in 2021 after the pandemic ended a 60+ consecutive year streak. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
The Chodes perform during Punking in Tents in Timmonsville, South Carolina July 10, 2021. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
The Saluda River in Columbia, SC July 19, 2021. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
Angela Dephouse demonstrates against mask mandates outside the Berkeley County School District headquarters August 25, 2021 in Moncks Corner, SC. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
A couple uses a paddle boat to transport their dogs through a flooded neighborhood August 30, 2021 in Kiln, Mississippi. Tropical Storm Ida made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane the day before in Louisiana and brought flooding and wind damage along the Gulf Coast.
A family without power prepares for dinner in their front yard after Hurricane Ida on September 1, 2021 in Hammond, Louisiana. The storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on Aug. 29 in Louisiana and brought flooding, wind damage and power outages along the Gulf Coast. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
A man walks near a General Lee car, damaged by Hurricane Ida, at the John Schneider Studios on September 2, 2021 in Holden, Louisiana. Schneider is best known for his role as Bo Duke in "The Dukes of Hazzard" television series. Although not used in the series, the vehicle saw time in the film "Christmas Cars." Ida made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane Aug. 29 in Louisiana, bringing flooding, wind damage and power outages along the Gulf Coast. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Joe Woll, left, and his son, Wesley Woll, look through belongings at their storm damaged house after Hurricane Ida on September 3, 2021 in Grand Isle, Louisiana. Ida made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane five days before in Louisiana and brought flooding, wind damage and power outages along the Gulf Coast. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
GRAND ISLE, LA - SEPTEMBER 3: The remnants of a destroyed home are seen in the wake of Hurricane Ida on September 3, 2021 in Grand Isle, Louisiana. Ida made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane five days before in Louisiana and brought flooding, wind damage and power outages along the Gulf Coast. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Musician Chris Powell in his home studio in West Columbia, South Carolina Sept. 16, 2021. Powell project, Stern & Stardboard released a new record “Modern Pieces.”
Pamela Godwin participates in a protest at the statehouse September 17, 2021 in Columbia, SC. Godwin believes that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent, Donald Trump won in a landslide and blames Barack Obama and Susan Rice. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
Supporters of former US President Donald Trump pass time at a rally on September 25, 2021 in Perry, Georgia. Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker, Georgia Secretary of State candidate Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA), and Georgia Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidate State Sen. Burt Jones (R-GA) also appeared as guests at the rally. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) holds a sign that reads Impeach Biden at a rally featuring former US President Donald Trump on September 25, 2021 in Perry, Georgia. Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker, Georgia Secretary of State candidate Rep. Jody Hice (R-GA), and Georgia Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidate State Sen. Burt Jones (R-GA) also appeared as guests at the rally. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Graveyard Fields looking toward Black Balsam Knob and Tennet Mountain Oct. 2, 2021. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
Skaters watch another competitor during the Pumpkin Pump King at Owen’s Field in Columbia, South Carolina Oct. 30, 2021. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
Halloween night in the Elmwood neighborhood in Columbia, South Carolina Oct. 31, 2021. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
A container ship at the Wando Welch Terminal in South Carolina Oct. 24, 2021. Photo by Sean Rayford for The New York Times - The Supply-Chain Crisis Is Creating a Rare Opportunity for Truck Drivers
Truckers drive away from the Garden City Port Terminal on November 12, 2021 in Garden City, Georgia. The port recently completed the Mason Mega Rail Station which doubles the Port of Savannahs rail lift capacity to one million containers per year. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer celebrates a defensive stop with Zacch Pickens (6) during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Florida on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Sheilah Dixon marches down Main St. during a protest against Covid-19 safety mandates in Columbia, SC Nov. 13, 2021. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
South Carolina guard Destanni Henderson (3) and her teammates react to her 3-pointer during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Clemson on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina won 76-45. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
South Carolina defensive end Aaron Sterling (15), R.J. Roderick (10) and Kingsley Enagbare (1) celebrate a recovered punt during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
Jamie Cooper Jr., left, with his mother Dana Roberts and sister, Johneya Beckham, react as they listen to guilty verdicts for the defendants in the trial of the killers of Ahmaud Arbery on November 24, 2021 in Brunswick, Georgia. Greg McMichael, his son Travis McMichael, and a neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan were found guilty in the February, 2020 fatal shooting of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Young dancers warm up for the Lexington Christmas Parade in Lexington, South Carolina December 5, 2021. Photo by Sean Rayford for Soda Citizen
Sean has been photographing SC since 1997 when he joined the Gamecock Newspaper at the University of South Carolina. He came to school to study computer science — but those classes sucked. After receiving a degree in Media Arts, Sean worked as an assistant manager at a record store and began freelancing with the local daily newspaper. After a few years and multiple gun-point hold-ups, Sean found a job tending bar at a small live music venue, balancing the service industry with freelance photography for over a decade. He lost his job after telling his boss off at the bar one night and took on photography full time in 2015. Since then, Sean has become a regular contributor to Getty Images, The Associated Press, The New York Times and many others. You can see more of his work at www.seanrayford.com.