Tobacco Barn

Tobacco Barn

One of Connecticut's chief industries used to be shade grown tobacco. It seemed as soon as you left the city, you could see miles and miles of tobacco fields.

Most kids started to work on tobacco as soon as they turned 14. It was the only time 14 year-olds could were legally allowed to work. Nearly all CT high school kids worked in the tobacco industry at one time or another. In the summer, they picked tobacco. Today, there is not enough demand to be profitable for farmers to continue to grow tobacco. These sheds are now few and far between.

I told my son that I thought it was tobacco drying season, which is why we went out to look for a tobacco farm. We finally found this one in Bolton near the horse farm pictured in a previous post. You can see the tobacco hanging inside the barn door.

It's strange, I grew up in tobacco growing country, now I live near Tampa where they roll cigars. It seems I can't get away from tobacco.

Old Salt

Last Friday afternoon a couple friends and I went to the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks to shoot a bit and then go to dinner. While walking around on the docks, I spotted this elderly gentleman and he reminded me of an elderly sponge boat captain.

Whether he was actually a captain or even a diver I have no idea. He graciously let Frank and I take all the photos we wanted to of him. He has an amazing look.

For those of you who don't know about the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, if you are ever in Central Florida it is a must see. It is a Greek community built entirely around the sponge industry. This is where you will find the worlds finest natural sponges. There are many Greek restaurants, bakeries and boutiques. The little mom & pop stores are all along the docks with each of them carrying sponges, loofahs, shells and just about anything else you want. There is also a museum where you can watch the divers harvest the sponge. Many of the divers still use the old ways like their fathers and grandfathers did many years ago.

Settings used for this image were at ISO 400, Aperture Priority and partial metering, F 5.6, 1/160 and 0 exposure compensation at 90mm with my 55-250mm lens.