The Gulf

This work explores the entire length of the U.S. Gulf Coast and the way its varied history, economics, environment and culture intertwine to reveal a simultaneous reverence and abuse of its natural resources.

As I photographed along the southern edge of the Gulf Coast states most affected by the oil spill during the BP oil spill of 2010, I saw the contradictions in the economic, environmental and social landscape of the area as it coped with the negative impact of events created by an industry on which it depends. Traveling across state lines, I saw the land and people change along with the concentration of the major industries in the region. Whether it was fishing, energy, agriculture or tourism, I discovered each place has a specialized industry and a character driven by a dependency and exploitation of the land and sea. At the height of the disaster, millions of people who made their living from the ocean and live along the coast were impacted when the U.S. government declared a “No Fishing Zone,” closing thousands of square miles of open ocean as well as coastlines in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and my home state of Florida.

In the Summer of 2014, I returned to the area, this time slowly traveling the entire US Gulf Coast from Naples, Florida to the southern point of Texas covering more than 5000 miles. These latest photographs further explore the nuances of the region and also include the broad use of land, animals and natural resources as they pertain to industry and recreation. It was my intent to find and photograph the most prevalent emblems perpetuated throughout the region. The traditions, attitudes and livelihoods that are passed down through multiple generations are wound tightly into the fabric of the place and are often visible within the landscape.