The "I Love Enterprise" Gallery and Contest

To celebrate the opening of my "I Love Enterprise" Gallery, I'm conducting my first giveaway.  You could win an 8x12 print of "Centennial Boll Weevil." 

Why did I create an "I Love Enterprise" gallery? Well, simply put, I adore my hometown and I find immense joy in capturing its essence through my photography. Living here has fostered a deep love for this place within me. In January of 2019, we were fortunate to witness a remarkable lunar eclipse, coinciding with the start of the Boll Weevil Monument's 100th anniversary. Seizing this unique opportunity, I decided to merge these two significant events into a single image, captured on the same unforgettable night, as a heartfelt homage to the centennial celebration of the Boll Weevil Monument. My intention was to commemorate this momentous occasion, paying tribute to the enduring spirit of Enterprise.

For those who are unfamiliar with Enterprise, the statue holds a special significance as it is dedicated to the remarkable insect that played a pivotal role in transforming the region's agricultural landscape. At that time, the devastating impact of the boll weevil on the cotton harvests forced growers to seek alternative crops, leading them to embrace the cultivation of peanuts. This unexpected shift turned out to be a stroke of brilliance, as peanuts proved to be a more lucrative and sustainable choice, ultimately becoming the backbone of the area's thriving agricultural economy. It's worth noting that the Boll Weevil statue holds a truly unique distinction, as it stands as the only monument in the world dedicated to an insect.

In order to win, you must enter your valid email below. While I'm sure this contest is of special interest to those from Enterprise and the Wiregrass,  anyone who lives in the continental United States may enter. No purchase necessary.  The contest closes 9 June, and I will contact the winner by 12 June 2023. If this giveaway goes well, there will be more to follow. 

In the meantime, please checkout my "I Love Enterprise" Gallery for other images of my hometown! 

Rules: You must live in the continental United States to win.  

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Autographed paperback copy of "Abandoned Wiregrass"

$24.99

Get "Abandoned Wiregrass: The Deepest South’s Lost and Forgotten Places" signed by the author!

Welcome to the Wiregrass, a place where abandoned doesn't always mean vacant, and vacant doesn't always mean empty. Nestled between Florida's sugar-white beaches and the agriculturally rich Black Belt, there exists a land of endless peanut fields and high cotton. This is the deepest of the Deep South, Dixie's last stand before accents and culture take on a decidedly Northern flavor along the Gulf Coast and Florida Peninsula. Narrow asphalt ribbons wind through this region's pine forests, passing through small farming communities that are fighting for survival in the global economy.

The lingering aftershocks of the 2008 economic crisis and 2018's Hurricane Michael still reverberate here. These pressures, along with an aging and declining population, have created a region where abandoned buildings are commonplace. These forgotten structures speak of dreams lost; from crumbling sharecropper shacks, to desolate main streets, to modern homes where the owners simply moved on. Take a journey with award-winning author and photographer Brian Braden as he chronicles the slow-motion apocalypse of abandoned homes and businesses of the Wiregrass and also discovers a place of hope and transition, where citizens fight to revitalize their hometowns and preserve a rich cultural heritage.

Allow 1-2 weeks for delivery.

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If you enjoyed this blog, please like the post and leave a comment or if you're feeling brave, share it on social media. This platform is my entire advertising budget and is how I share the word on my books. Also visit my Facebook, my author page and check out my photography book from America Through Time, "Abandoned Wiregrass: The Deepest South's Lost and Forgotten Places." ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

If you would like a personalized autographed copy of "Abandoned Wiregrass" just follow the link.