Bit Dean

 I am going through some of my old people pictures and sorting them out. I have created hundreds of images of people I have come across in my years of photography.  I am basically a landscape photographer but I always enjoy the challenge of photographing people I meet in my travels. I am amazed with the friendly bond that is created with the individuals I come in contact with. Most of them are true characters with an independent quality about them. My people pictures are some of the most rewarding images I can make. It is a bit awkward to approach a complete stranger and ask to photograph them. Honestly I can't think of a time that I have been turned down with my request. I usually strike up a conversation and get to know them a little bit before asking to take their picture.  I usually get their address and send them a completed photograph few weeks later. Many of the people I have photographed over the years have certainly pasted on and I hope some of the pictures are still around with a family member. 

 I love traveling the back roads because I come across unique individuals.  Such was the case in northern Florida in the clamming town of Eastpoint.  This area was an active community of clam fisherman until recently. Florida had to shut down the clam fishing in this area because of the reduced fresh water flow of the Apalachicola River entering the Gulf of Mexico. For clams to survive they need a balance of fresh water mixed with salt water, The source water of this river originates in the Georgia Mountains and flows down through Georgia into the state of Florida,  With the growth of the Atlanta Georgia area much of the water is being used and diverted to the metro area. This has caused the clams population to diminish in the Eastpoint area. Over fishing has also contributed to this shortage of clams and the state has set new regulations with hopes of bring back the health of the clam population.  As we travel more, consume more, with an ever increasing population we can expect that nature cannot keep up with our demands. Hopefully the clamming industry can return someday to supply the area with good fishing jobs and restaurants with plenty of tasty calms for the demands of the of the market.  This guy was a peanut vendor nexts to the docks that the clammers would come in after a long day of fishing.