Father captures photographs in memory of daughter

For photographer George Elliott, traveling across the country snapping photographs is not just a hobby or a job. It’s an act of remembrance.  

In 1995, his daughter Amelia passed away at age 17 when a car carrying her and three other camp counselors was involved in an accident.

With every click of the camera button, Elliott can hear his daughter telling him to capture all the beauty life has to offer.

“There is so much that she didn’t get to see,” Elliott said. “I take a lot of my photos for her because it’s such a beautiful world out there.”

After their daughter’s passing, Elliott and his wife struggled with their grief for several years but were ultimately determined that good would prevail. In 1997, they founded the Amelia Center at Children’s Hospital, which offers grief counseling for families dealing with the loss of a child and for young adults grieving the death of a loved one.

Elliott’s transition into photography began later in life. He was a BellSouth public relations executive for 30 years and then served as the executive director of the Nonprofit Resource Center of Alabama, which oversaw more than 700 nonprofits. He said newspaper photographers sparked his interest in the field.

“Newspaper photographers taught me about composition,” Elliott said. “I now carry a camera with me wherever I go.”

Since retiring in 1998, Elliott has traveled across the country taking pictures in places such as Alaska, Ohio, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. From capturing a storm over the Grand Canyon to a bird resting on a tree limb, to depicting the face of an angel in a sea of clouds, Elliott has honed his ability to notice the small pieces that form life’s mosaic. 

“You have to be patient,” Elliott said. “Most importantly, you’ve got to develop an eye for these pictures.”

Despite the many places he has traveled and all the scenes he has captured, Elliott’s heart lies on the beach and in small coastal towns. His home away from home is St. Joe Beach, Fla., where he spends many days of the year fishing and photographing beach scenes.

“I just love everything to do with the coast,” Elliott said. “Vibrant colors are a mainstay in my photographs.”

Elliott participates in six to 12 art shows a year, a social aspect of the photography business that he sees as vital. He enjoys meeting new people and talking about the significance behind each snapshot.

 “To me, it’s about being in the right place at the right time,” Elliott said. “It’s not about being technical.”

A smile spreads across Elliott’s face as he sits in the living room of his Vestavia home shuffling through each of his named photographs. His most popular shot, titled “Gossip Session,” depicts four colorful chairs on the edge of a beach. His personal favorite is one he took of a barn in Pennsylvania. Titled “America, America,” he said the timeless feel resonates with him.

Elliott’s advice for aspiring photographers is simply to recognize that the best pictures happen from living in the moment and not overthinking technique. It’s a way of living his life that he will always dedicate to his daughter.

“Photography is a series of stories,” Elliott said. “I like to tell people these stories.”

For more on Elliott, visit georgebelliottphotography.com. For more about the Amelia Center, visit ameliacenter.org.