DeLand-based photographer documents disappearing Florida lifestyles

PHOTO COURTESY OF CINDERIC DOCUMENTARIES INC. He listens DeLand resident Eric Dusenbery is a photographer and a story listener, whose photography skills enable him to use many types of equipment. His favorite way to use photography as his artistic medium is taking photos with his 4 x 5 view camera, and he develops the film in his darkroom. Dusenbery says, The darkroom is where the magic happens. His listening skills enable him to let folks tell about their life and times growing up in Florida. Then he uses a delicate touch to hone what he has heard into compelling stories, like the ones in his book Florida Soup: Putting History on the Table.

New book: Florida Soup

By Marge Clauser BEACON CONTRIBUTOR

posted Apr 16, 2014 - 6:43:14am

On front porches, in gardens and barns, Floridians told their stories to Eric Dusenbery. It is not clichd to say these folks are the salt of the earth and the sea. Dusenbery has a love affair with Florida, and that shines through as you read the stories in his book Florida Soup: Putting History on the Table.

For more than 20 years, Dusenbery had a successful commercial/editorial photography business in Winter Park. He provided clients with images and stories for a variety of media productions, his photography appeared in numerous publications, and he was the recipient of several national awards.

As Dusenbery traveled across Florida for his business, he found that some ways of life were disappearing. Vanishing traditions had no outlet for expressing the significance and dignity of individuals from many different cultural groups and livelihoods. The desire to document Floridas rich heritage was the impetus for a career change.

Dusenbery wanted to use his photographic skills differently. He said, I was getting a bit tired of working commercially, and I know this sounds crazy, but it was like a job. This wasnt why I chose photography as a career. I was always passionate about photography and the experience of photography. I was losing that.

Read the whole story, including Dusenbery's experience with cattle wrangling, in the April 16-22 Extra! edition of The Beacon, which is part of the April 17-20 Weekend edition.

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DeLand-based photographer documents disappearing Florida lifestyles