Veteran finds healing through the camera’s eye

Charleston VAMC patient and Air Force Veteran Ed Waldrop, an accomplished photographer based South Carolina’s Lowcountry, will soon be able to add another award to his growing list of accolades. This summer, Waldrop’s photo of a blue crab captured on the South Carolina shore placed third nationally in the color photography category of the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival.

This October, 120 of the country’s best artists and performers will gather in Jackson, Mississippi, to showcase their artistic, creative writing, dance, drama and musical talents at the 2016 festival. These performers and artists will represent the winners among thousands of Veterans from VA medical centers across the country who entered the year-long, national fine arts talent competition.

The National Veterans Creative Arts Festival began as a way to recognize the progress and recovery made through rehabilitation therapy offered at VA, and raises the visibility of the creative achievements of our nation’s Veterans. Known as the “City with Soul,” Jackson is the perfect setting to host Veterans to exhibit the talents and gifts that, in many cases, helped them cope with disease and disabilities, as well as the lasting effects of combat and service.

Waldrop was inspired to enter this year’s competition during a visit with VA recreational therapist Cindy Ingels to learn more about Charleston VA’s tai chi program. Ingels was familiar with Waldrop’s talent as a photographer, and asked him if he had considered entering this year’s competition.

This wasn’t Waldrop’s first introduction to the festival. Waldrop worked as a VA chaplain after his years in service. While in Colorado, he was offered the opportunity to serve as a volunteer at the 2005 National Veterans Creative Arts Festival. When Ingels mentioned the competition to him, Waldrop saw that he could be involved in the festival in a whole new way.

“At first, I didn’t think this competition was for me,” Waldrop says. “But Ms. Ingels was so encouraging. She said, ‘No, you’re a Veteran too.’ She understood that being able to present something that means so much to me could really be helpful.”

Waldrop is excited about his win, but mostly grateful that to have found a new audience among fellow Veterans.

“It is a real stamp of approval for my work,” he says.

An old hobby becomes a new passion

Waldrop first became interested in photography in 1978 while interning as a videographer at WCIV News in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Though his focus was in videography, Waldrop became a skilled photographer as he learned the basics of composition and lighting. However, it wasn’t until much later that he learned to love and appreciate the creative process of photography.