“When we leave this plane of existence, what do we leave behind? Do I make things of enough importance that future generations get to see what life was like during these times, through my eyes?…”
No one has documented the happenings of the Columbia area more than Sean Rayford. Rayford is a photojournalist and documentary photographer. His unmistakable images of his immersion into major national events have been seen by hundreds of millions of people worldwide who viewed the covers of the largest newspapers, print and online editions, around the world. And yet, it seems to those who don’t know him personally, a lot of his free time is spent documenting the range of day-to-day activities in Columbia and the surrounding area.
On Saturday, April 27th, Rayford is releasing a new photo zine titled For the Record. The zine documents the last three months of the local club New Brookland Tavern, through Rayford’s lens, as it prepared to close after decades of live music at its West Columbia location. “When I learned about the building’s sale in West Columbia, I immediately began this project, knowing the days at the location in West Columbia might be limited. I had been procrastinating a personal photo project about NBT for about a year and I understand the role of photography and the passage of time,” says Rayford.
The more you look at Rayford’s photography the more you understand his burned-in ability to capture the most interesting moment between two mundane seconds of time. This imagery exists on his Soda Citizen Instagram page, and through photo books independently released by him. Part of this is that his point of view is in his DNA, the other part may be his dozen years or so spent behind the bar at the original New Brookland Tavern, watching the night unfold in front of him. Rayford explains “I went to my first show there (New Brookland Tavern) in the fall of 1998 when my suite mate’s band played. I think I was hired by my college radio co-host, Jonathan Dunagin, who was a booking agent at NBT. It’s where I’ve spent most of my adult Thanksgiving holidays.”
Rayford has published compilations of his photography before, but a zine is a different approach for him and closer to his heart. “I look at zines as physical/analog publications that embrace a D.I.Y. mentality. It’s indie publishing without boundaries. They can be what you want them to be,” he explains. “I have more resources, knowledge, skills - but much higher expectations than when I tackled my previous self-publishing efforts. I’d always been on much smaller budgets — without viewing the project as a personal long-term investment in myself as a creator.”
The final show at the West Columbia of location of New Brookland Tavern was December 29th, 2023, and the first show at its new Five Points location was the next day. Rayford documented both.
“I’ve also obviously been a contributor to the smallest and biggest newspapers and magazines in the world. There’s something about challenging yourself, sharing, and delivering creative work. It’s fulfilling - and there is a grasp at immortality going on here,” he continues.
“When we leave this plane of existence, what do we leave behind? Do I make things of enough importance that future generations get to see what life was like during these times, through my eyes? What an immense privilege on multiple levels.”
The release party for For the Record will take place at the New Brookland Tavern in Five Points this Saturday, April 27th. Copies of For the Record will be available for purchase.
Editor’s note: Rayford has previously been featured and been hired on assignment for Jasper Magazine.
-Wade Sellers
For the Record
60 pages / Color / 4.9 inches x 6.7 inches