As a new dad, photographer Tre Butler is pretty busy nowadays. The Bay area native better known as “Junior” has moved away, but being back in St. Petersburg for the big Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade gives him a chance to slow down and ground himself.
“Coming back to photograph people who are my friends and family, it brings me a sense of peace. I want to tell stories that live longer than me and these photographs I believe will do that,” he told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “We’re also seeing prominent places of the city being taken away day by day. The essence is fading and we don’t know how much longer this event will be able to go on.”
Junior loves capturing shots showcasing the joy of kids with the beads they collected throughout the day.
“It’s just a special day and every year reminds me of when I was a kid coming down to 9th street with my dad. These images allow people from all over the world to experience a piece of the culture we’ve built in St. Pete,” he added. “For that, it can never get old to me.”
He’s already looking forward to next year.
