I met Diana at Home Run Video, a movie rental store, my first year as a graduate student, 2007. This is one of the first photos I took of her, which sat undeveloped on an underwater disposable camera until 2019. I shopped at the thrift store for her outfit because I made a video of her treading water, and didn’t want her to ruin her own things in the chlorine. The video wasn’t meant as a metaphor, but I suppose we have both mostly been treading water. Diana refused to wear the leopard high heels in the pool, not wanting to damage them. She wore a different, gold pair I bought her, the gold peeled from the shoes almost instantly. I liked the way they looked in the video, which can be seen on my Vimeo.

Diana is from a small town and conservative family. Music was her ticket out. She's traveled in the U.S. and Europe, and survived 27 years in New York before moving to Savannah.

Diana recalls her vision for the painting of this room.

One of the earliest pictures I made of Diana, at her piano with Leo, on a rented Hasselblad.

Diana gets ready for her birthday party with the help of a friend.

After years as a lounge singer in New York, Dianna moved to Savannah, Georgia. The sale of her small apartment enabled her to own a historic house for her expansive wardrobe and antique collection.

Diana is sharp as a tack, and often recalls details of people’s lives that even they have forgotten they have told her.

While Diana loves to be photographed, she also has very strong opinions about how her photo should be taken. This photo is the result of years of trust. Shortly after I took this photo (and posted it), a male film maker who was making a documentary about Diana, copied this scene. She believed he was going to help her get famous (and maybe that he was interested in her romantically). The film was shown at a film festival, and cannot be seen elsewhere. She has asked me how she can put it on youtube without being sued several times in the years since. The filmmaker does not return her calls.

Diana before her shift. She still plays five nights a week.

Diana after a trip to the bank.

Pearl helps Diana glue her eyelash back on. 

Diana in a antique store testing out the pianos, downtown Savannah

The morning after Diana's birthday party 2016

Diana and Leo, morning coffee, 2017

Diana is a blast to be with, people are drawn to her, myself included. We now have thirteen years of friendship and I consider her family.

Diana at Tybee Island