Many believe that a picture is worth a thousand words. The beauty and memories recorded in photography archive the happiest moments experienced by mankind. In New Orleans, a city known for its uniqueness in music and culture, there exists a photographer who has dedicated his time to snapping more than twenty years of intriguing and meaningful photos. The Heat Magazine wanted to cover the man who coined the name “Da Ghetto Olan Mills.” 
Sthaddeus “Polo” Terrell, a native of New Orleans from the Uptown area, began photography years ago. Here’s what he had to share with The Heat Magazine concerning his career and work, which has been featured in the “Where They At Nola” exhibit, that was housed at the Ogden Museum in New Orleans. The collection highlighted twenty years of rap and bounce music created by Big Easy artists.
The Heat Magazine: How did you get into photography?
Polo The Picture Man: Lil Ham, my godbrother, I had to do his album cover. I noticed how everybody hung out Uptown at the neighborhood bars where rap first took off. I met this dude at Flirts: Button Man. He told me he made $6,000 taking pictures one night. I said, “I’m in the wrong business then.” At first, I was running with the rappers. I went home and started sketching up some stuff. I tried to get my friends into it. They didn’t want to get involved so I went alone. I told my grandfather what I wanted to do and he helped me make my stands and everything I needed. I watched other photographers and I started putting my equipment up at Big Man’s. At first, I was still used to going out and partying. I did not set up. I kept it in my trunk , but on one Saturday December 16th in 1990, I finally set up on the neutral ground and I’m still at it.
Polo The Picture Man: Well, I was aware of photography because I took photography classes at the Boys Club when I was young. I took classes in high school also. In High School, I was on the yearbook staff. The Polaroid shots weren’t that hard to do, but I got into it even more when I started using the 35mm. I bought a Canon camera and took classes at the Fine Arts Studio on Magazine. They offered free classes at UNO too.
The Heat Magazine: Who inpires you?
Polo The Picture Man: I have done more rest in pictures and coming home from jail parties than graduations.
The Heat Magazine: How did you get the name, Da Ghetto Olan Mills?
Polo The Picture Man: I call myself Da Ghetto Olan Mills because I work in the ‘hood’ and take pictures. It started from me clowning with Wild Wayne. My cousin Sam who drove tow trucks called me “picture man”.
The Heat Magazine: What separates you from other photographers?
Polo The Picture Man: My backdrops separate me. My first backdrop was a raider jacket then a polo and the 8 ball jacket. I had several backdrops. Whatever song was hot, I made a backdrop.
