Meet Harlan Hambright, local architectural photographer to a multitude of Realtors on St. Simons and Sea Island. In addition to photography and architecture, Harlan enjoys myriad forms of art, travel, music, writing and cooking. I first met Harlan, although I don’t think he remembers, in 2011. My husband and I were still living in North Georgia at the time and had traveled down to St. Simons to compete in the annual Shrimp and Grits Festival amateur cooking competition on Jekyll Island. Our station was right next to Harlan’s. As the two of us scrambled to keep up the pace in a challenge we’d never attempted, Harlan easily, calmly and gracefully executed his dish without the help of another soul or second set of hands. Of course, he won. Once we moved and I began my real estate career here his name resurfaced as a photographer for real estate advertisements. I have enlisted his services multiple times and time and again my sellers are thrilled with the quality of his work. Although it took several weeks and a few failed attempts to meet, we finally were able to snag a cup of coffee together so that I could present him with a few questions so that the community could come to know him better.
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
A: When I was in second grade my father came home one day from his job as a piano tuner for Rich’s and announced that he had quit his stable employment to become self-employed and pursue his own dreams. Later, in high-school I became very interested, actually obsessed, with photography. I went on to study architecture at UT. However, when I graduated there were no drafting jobs to be had. Being resourceful, I decided to temporarily combine my love of photography and architecture for a source of income. 42 years later I’m still doing it.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant on St. Simons and what do you love there?
A: “Delaney’s. Whatever Tom is offering.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked on St. Simons?
A: “Since 1990. But also for 1 year in 1974 when I had an internship with Lamar Webb.”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here on St. Simons?
A: “Irwin Berman, a retired physician who fancies himself a conceptual artist. I’ve been helping him to facilitate his artistic visions for about 20 years now.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A: “Scotland because that’s where my wife wants to go next.”
Q: What is your favorite movie or what is the first movie you remember seeing in the theater?
A: “My favorite movie was Midnight Cowboy until I saw Brazil. The first movie I saw in the theater was The Spider. My dad took me to the movies every year for my birthday.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
A: “Try to be nice to people. Rather than passing judgement on others, try to understand their position and point of view.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “I don’t have a bucket list. I’ve been tons of places, had the opportunity to see many things that most people never get to. I’d just like to keep traveling to more exotic places.”
Q: What is your favorite music or three bands you would like to see dead or alive?
A: “I like all kinds of music. I’ve served on our local symphony board. My wife is an accomplished musician and my dad was a piano tuner who introduced me to many well know musicians. I like barbershop, bluegrass, and operas. I’d like to see Stan Rogers, a Canadian musician whom I saw live one week before he was killed on Air Canada Flight 797. Also, I’d like to see Mandolin player, Chris Thile and Victor Borge.”
Q: What current or former local business make you the most nostalgic about St. Simons?
A: “Chances R, a bar where I spent my paycheck every Friday night.”
Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Where would you take them?
A: “Again, Mandolin player and NPR host, Chris Thile. I’d take him to Willie’s Weenie Wagon.”
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about St. Simons?
A: “I think how culturally sophisticated it is for such a small, out of the way location. Just a small South Georgia town kind of away from everything.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: “Same ole, Same ole. I love what I do and where I’m doing it. Why would I change?”
Q: Even for friends and family, what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “Huh. That’s tricky. I run in so many different types of circles that I’m sure what one group knows about me varies from what another group know just based on our shared interests. I guess I would say that most people don’t know that I play the Mandolin.”
Q: What three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: “Music, food, Rhonda.”
