Baltimore Sun photographer Amy Davis
Amy Davis has been a staff photographer at The Baltimore Sun since 1987. Her versatility with the camera is obvious in the wide variety of topics she has covered for The Sun. One thing is very evident as you view her work, her empathy for her subjects and her ability to portray their lives.
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- Baltimore, MD – 2010 — Rebecca Girvin leans out the second floor window of her home in the Lake-Walker neighborhood to push snow off her front porch roof. She had trouble extending the broom far enough to push the snow over the edge of the roof. This snowfall brought the total snow accumulation in Maryland for the winter of 2010 to a record-breaking 79 inches. Luckily I found this scene near my home, since my car was snowed in and I was traipsing around on foot and transmitting photos from home. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD – 2004 – Rita Paul’s house caught my eye when I was on another assignment, and I returned to visit her. Her rowhouse on North Wolfe Street was slated to be demolished for a mammoth East Baltimore revitalization project near Johns Hopkins Hospital. Rita had resided on this block for her entire life. She said, “I don’t want to move. Even though it’s in the ghetto I still love it.” I kept in touch with her after she was relocated to another street, but she moved again and sadly, I lost track of her. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD-2013- Lucas Taylor, 2, of Columbia listens to a message for Batman in a vintage phone booth at “Zap! Pow! Bam! The Superhero, 1938 – 1950,” an exhibit at The Jewish Museum of Maryland. His parents and I were amused that Lucas and the other children who tried out the old-fashioned phone had no idea what a phone booth was. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Arnold, MD – 2001 — Stella Rohde, 83, left, and her long-time friend, Laura Tucker, 75, kept each other laughing at an Expo for seniors. Rohde, acknowledging their silly hats, explained, “It’s not that we’re crazy. It’s just that we don’t give a damn!” A telephoto lens separates the women from the background by blurring the shrubs, which emphasizes their balloon hats. A long lens also helps in capturing candid moments without the subjects becoming self-conscious. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Towson, MD-2013 — Mount De Sales celebrated their 3-2 win after the second sudden death overtime, as dejected Maryvale players sit nearby. It was the IAAM Field Hockey B-Conference Championship, and the body language of all the girls tells the story that for every joyful victory there is a painful loss. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD – 2007 -Donneka Tate, left, and her sister, Danyelle Davis, right, with Danyelle’s three sons, from left, Antrel, Antar, and Antae McDowell, await the arrival of other relatives as they grieved the death of the sisters’ grandmother, who had been stabbed to death in her apartment by a homeless man she had been helping. These are very difficult situations to intrude upon with a camera, so I try to work as simply and gently as I can. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD – 2002 – After Angela and Carnell Dawson repeatedly stood up to drug dealers, their rowhouse was firebombed in retaliation, killing both parents and five of their children. The tragedy outraged the community and raised the issue of witness intimidation. I had returned to the office with photos of the immediate aftermath of the fire, and our Photo Director Bob Hamilton asked me to return a little later. There I found a neighbor, 10-year old Marilyn Johnson, who knew all the young victims. She was standing vigil because she believed that the children were still under the rubble. I tried to reassure her that her playmates had been removed, but the whole situation was very heartbreaking. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Rosedale, MD — 2011 — Bill James, 80, of Rosedale, center, celebrates after winning $95 in a “full card” game, as his wife Mary James, 76, left, and friend Thelma Sutphin, 68, of Middle River, look on, at VFW Post 6506. The VFW Post wanted to hold casino nights with card games and roulette to raise more money, if the legislature approved an expansion of gambling. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD – 2004 — Antoine James, 5, had shiny, grown-up off-white shoes to match his suit, but his feet couldn’t reach the floor. The 4th annual Pre-Kindergarten King and Queen Prom, held at Pennsylvania Avenue AME Zion Church, was organized by Harlem Park E.S. Pre-K teachers Helen Froneberger and Cynthia Lewis for their students, with help from school staff and parents. 23 elegantly-dressed Pre-K students, with “escorts” and relatives, came to the highly-anticipated event. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD – 2004 — After being crowned, “King” Hisheen Humphrees, left, yawned as he and “Queen” Shon’Tia Crawford, both 4, posed with their trophies at the Pre-Kindergarten King and Queen Prom, created to build self-esteem for inner city children. The pride of the teachers and parents, who created elegant miniature outfits and fanciful room decorations, was a touching testament to their love for these pre-schoolers, who seemed a little dazed by the experience. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Pikesville, MD – 2005 – After herding nine escaped bison onto a tennis court, the challenge continued for Baltimore County police. The last bison they were attempting to herd into a truck broke free, trampling a makeshift barrier of lawn chairs and netting, and knocking down a police officer. The nine bison had escaped from a farm in Stevenson. Newspaper work includes many repetitive events, but this was a once-in-a-lifetime “spot news” situation. It was surreal, funny and sad all at the same time, as the bison were very disoriented. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Huntington, MD – 2006 — Franklin G. Wood, Sr., 71, expressed pride in the quality of his “Maryland 22” tobacco crop, as he inspected the drying leaves in preparation for the tobacco auction. Wood’s family had been growing tobacco in Calvert County for at least six generations, but by 2006 he was one of the last tobacco farmers in the state. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Lancaster County, PA – 2003 – During an assignment to shoot the covered bridges of Lancaster County, I was struck by the muted colors of Amish laundry against a weathered gray barn in Strasburg. Even though I worked from dawn to dusk and beyond, this was one of those assignments where I thought how amazing it was to get paid doing something that was so much fun. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD – 1991 – The police department notified The Sun of the arrest of a 10-year old with a 22 caliber gun that he used to rob another child of his beanie cap. Even the hardened police were surprised by the age of this juvenile offender. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Mayberry, MD — 2008 — Kelly Baker awaits the splash of Billy Thomas, as they spent a relaxing day with friends at the pond on the grounds of the Mayberry Game Protective Association. They are from Westminster. On slow news days, the call goes out for “weather art,” and a little humor always helps. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD –1988 — Peaches Loving, age 4, pretended to be pregnant by stuffing crumpled paper under her shirt. In the late 1980’s, Baltimore had the highest rate of teen pregnancy of any major city in the United States. This image is from an extended photo essay on a young teen mother who lived near this little girl. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Washington, D.C. – 2009 — Anna Mills, who came from Brentwood, Tennessee to witness the inauguration of the first African-American president, exults with the rest of the crowd on Pennsylvania Avenue near 14th Street, after seeing President Obama wave from the presidential vehicle. Crowds packed Pennsylvania Avenue for the parade after Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president. I have covered, mostly from afar, every president since Ronald Reagan. (I worked for The Record in Hackensack back then.) Even though I only glimpsed the President behind tinted glass, this was the most historic presidential moment I have documented. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Washington, D.C. – 2005 – Washington Metropolitan police violently subdue a large group of young protesters, linked to the Anarchist movement, as the protesters attempted to storm a barricade at 7th and D Streets during the second inaugural of George W. Bush. The police are wielding PVC tubes taken from the protesters’ banner, which was destroyed at the start of the melee. The police also used pepper spray to push the protesters back from the intersection. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun Staff)
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- Baltimore, MD – 2005 — About 170 members of the National Guard’s 243rd Engineer Company left Melvin H. Cade Armory in formation, with a large sendoff from family and friends, including tearful Tara Miller, 11, of Severn, at right. She was with her family to say farewell to her step-dad, SGT Thomas Tull. They were headed to Iraq for an 18-month tour, to serve as truck drivers. Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun Staff
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- Towson, MD – 2011 — For a story on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Kitty McNeal holds her son Dan McNeal’s damaged eyeglasses, returned to her after he died in the World Trade Center. Usually the act of making photographs enables us to keep our emotions in check, even in sad circumstances, but at one point I was crying with Mrs. McNeal during the visit. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Washington, D.C. – 2001 — An officer is dwarfed by the massive destruction caused by the terrorist plane attack on the Pentagon on 9/11. A book, still open on a table stand on the third floor, is a reminder of the lives lost in the debris. I was listening to the unbelievable news of the World Trade Center attacks while heading to an Eastern shore assignment, and was on the Bay Bridge when I heard about the attack on the Pentagon. As soon as I crossed the bridge, I made the fastest U-turn I could manage, and headed to D.C. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Washington, D.C. – 2001 – FBI agents methodically combed the Pentagon grounds for evidence from the terrorist plane attack on 9/11, while firefighters battled the flames inside the massive complex. It was very difficult to gain access to this scene, and while I was darting around trying not to get caught, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD – 2000 — Wilhelmina Godwin, 91, known as Miss Willie, retired this year after about 35 years as guardian of the cupcakes and other sweets in The Woman’s Industrial Exchange consignment shop. This portrait was made as she awaited a ride home after another working day. I will always remember Miss Willie quoting poetry as sold baked goods from the consignment shop. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD – 1995 — The venerable waitresses at the Woman’s Industrial Exchange, from left, are Trish Hall, 57, Loretta Tarbert, 80, Marguerite Schertle, 94 (holding ice tea), Charlotte Zimernack, 68, Carrie Geraghty, 88, and Margaret Brogna, 84. These women knew that they represented a vanishing era. I could not keep up with Marguerite as she whizzed around the dining room serving iced tea, chicken salad and tomato aspic. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD – 1988 — Going topless may have helped, from left, Samantha Robinson, Greg Roy, Kelli Robinson, and Sherrie Stencil in Pigtown feel a little cooler as the temperature rose to 104 degrees. These hot tots, like seated caryatids wedged inside a pediment of Formstone, always seem very “Baltimore” to me. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD – 1987 — Artist Eric Staller and three students from the Maryland Institute, College of Art, appear to be extra-terrestials going home, as they cycle toward “Santa’s Place” at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. I was following the performance artists as they pedaled downtown, and was struck by the amusing connection between the building and the “Bubbleheads.” (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD – 2002 — When the “Baltimore Believe” anti-drug billboards sprang up around town, I wondered what impact, if any, they would have. Rachael Brown, with her daughter, Jaide, like almost all my subjects, had an immediate family member whose life had been destroyed by drugs. Rachael said, “…I teach my kids to love themselves. People who do drugs can’t be happy inside. If you loved yourself you wouldn’t do that to yourself.” The process of using a view camera on a tripod gave my subjects time to reflect, and open up to me about heartbreaking situations. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD – 2002 — I used a 4×5 view camera for this photo essay inspired by the “Baltimore Believe” billboards, a $2 million media campaign to combat drug abuse, aimed at changing the way people looked at themselves and their community. My portrait series examined what people who lived in the damaged neighborhoods where the billboards were placed felt about the ads, and themselves. Richard Adkins, 65, when asked what he believed in, said, “I believe in being honest.” Adkins, a retired steelworker, added, “I used to drink a lot, but I stopped all that when I had the stroke.” (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Hagerstown, MD – 1988 — Kristin Jones brings her baby Dana to the Maryland Correctional Training Center to visit Dana’s father, Michael Carter. Michael, 21, was serving a seven year sentence for an assault during a drug deal. Kristin and Michael later married. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
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- Baltimore, MD – 1988 — Church members greet Kristin Jones, 13, at a surprise baby shower. I followed Kristin, who became pregnant at age 12, for almost two years for a photo essay on teen pregnancy that ran in The Evening Sun. We were already shooting in color, but I chose to photograph the story in black and white. (Amy Davis / Baltimore Sun)
Amy writes, “When I came to Baltimore and drove around its varied neighborhoods for the first time, I thought, ‘My God! There’s a photo on every block.’ Over the past quarter century the novelty has worn off, but not the wonder. It’s the people who create the distinctive character of each community. I feel very privileged to have entered the lives of so many different people and unusual places, sometimes under heartbreaking circumstances. It is very humbling. I simply try to make photographs that feel right. If my images ring true, then I can also connect with the other folks who matter, our readers.”
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Georgette E. Grecco-Serio
Dec 06, 2017 @ 08:56:09
I have very much enjoyed seeing your photography. Living in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee now, I still have my roots and wonderful memories of Baltimore, Maryland. I worked for The Sun Papers from 1970-1978….I worked in The Circulation Department, Retail Advertising Department, and The Business Office in the lobby. I enjoyed every Department that I’ve worked and I enjoyed every single person that I’ve met. I loved hearing their stories and their careers at The Sun Papers. I’m so interested, still, in everything I can read about my Love for The Sun Papers and the folks I knew & have sadly past.
Thank you for sharing your stories & photographs with everyone. You are amazing and I hope you realize how many lives you have touched with your kindness. Thank you again!
Georgette E. Grecco-Serio
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Feb 21, 2014 @ 19:36:52
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Feb 09, 2014 @ 20:53:07
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William Wenthe
Feb 09, 2014 @ 12:05:47
Not only are these images beautiful in themselves, but they are just as compelling for the story and drama each one conveys. These are two extraordinary skills, brought wonderfully together.