It has been way too long! I am terribly sorry for my negligence. Life gets in the way sometimes, although it's no excuse.
Love,
Lauren
Whew! Now that's over with I am ready to reveal a new series. They are eerie, otherworldly, full of mystery and intrigue. I shot these with an antique Kodak Brownie camera my dad gave me. I was pleasantly surprised to find out the camera still works and the negatives came out. The inside of the camera needs a good cleaning, but I'm happy with the end result for now. The pictures below are from the first roll I took and I look forward to shooting more. Hopefully some day I will be able to develop and the negatives myself and make prints in a darkroom (how I miss the having the access to a darkroom!)
The Chimney Remains
Here lies evidence of the once thriving plantation era on Cumberland Island. Throughout most of the 1800's, a planter named of Robert Stafford had a huge presence on the island. Stafford grew sea island cotton and other exports. By 1850, Stafford was recorded to have 348 slaves, leaving him to be one of the largest slaveholders in the south. All that remains are about 20 freestanding chimneys. They are a nice surprise to discover, because since they stand on private land they are not publicized to the national park visitors. Luckily, they happen to be on the road we take to the beach. If you're interested in more of this history, this is a great site about archaeological investigations of the area.
Stafford Beach Road
This is the road I take to the beach. On either side of this road are open fields, where plantation crops use to grow.
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Air Strip
This open field has had many uses. First to grow cotton, then a 9-hole golf course in the gilded age of the Carnegie's, and now it now serves as the private air strip for the island. JFK Jr., used to fly in and out of this field on his trips to Cumberland.
Gator Pond
Our beloved pond in front of Serendipity.
