As much a state of mind as an actual place, Pine Island is Old Florida at its best and where I call home. This fair sized island along Southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast has always been about fishing. Long before Columbus found Florida, the Calusa Indians were fishing these waters. They subsisted on not just fish but shellfish like conchs, crabs, clams, lobsters, and oysters. The tradition continued as Florida was settled by Europeans in the early 1700’s. The waters surrounding Pine Island teamed with life and the Islanders took advantage. Over time the fisheries declined as more commercial fishermen made their living harvesting the area’s seafood. Finally, in 1995, the state banned gill net fishing and the way of life of Pine Island’s commercial fishermen changed forever. Today, recreational and sport fishing and some commercial fishing for mullet, shrimp, clams and crabs continue Pine Island’s fishing tradition.
One of the few remaining island Fish Houses is pictured above, as it might have looked as a vintage post card. Below, a lone fisherman’s boot (aka Pine Island Reeboks) sits on the dock there.
catbirdinamerica
10 Feb 2014I love your vintage postcard look, Ron. Did you do that with some kind of photo-editing program? Do you mind me asking which? I LOVE it! 🙂
fotograffer
10 Feb 2014I used Lightroom to “age” the photo and Photoshop for the text. I’m sure there are other ways to accomplish the same thing. I do some graphic work for others also so if I can possibly help, let me know.
catbirdinamerica
13 Feb 2014Thanks, Ron. I love the look. 🙂
Tina Schell
10 Feb 2014Great post processing on this one Ron and love the book!
fotograffer
14 Feb 2014Thank you Tina.
Pinetree Photo Nature Discovery
11 Feb 2014Fun postcard – so reflective of the Pine Island I hope never completely disappears. Also enjoy what you can do with black and white – the boot is another great example.
fotograffer
14 Feb 2014That’s why we live here, right. 🙂 Thanks Carol, I do enjoy B&W.
lynnsarda
11 Feb 2014I remember that shoot, that boot.
fotograffer
14 Feb 2014I thought you would.
Lauran
17 Aug 2015Would this be at the end of Palm?If so ,it was our familys until the early 2000s.
fotograffer
16 Oct 2017Yes, at the end of Palm.
devaulphotography
19 Oct 2017Ron, I like the effect! The old boot, is great!
fotograffer
29 Oct 2017Thanks. 🙂