The Black and White Photography class at Polk State College is far more than its name suggests. This foundational film course is a gateway to mastering the art and science of photography, offering students hands-on experience with 35-mm cameras, film processing and darkroom techniques that are unique in Polk County. Under the guidance of Professor Sarah Brewington, students like Candace Knoebel, Michael Comings, and Ean Pennypacker are discovering the timeless craft of film p

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF My name is James Huffstutler. I am a hobbyist photographer living in Winter Haven, Florida, with my wife and kids. My father was in the Air Force growing up, but we settled in Winter Haven around 2003. I graduated from Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School in 2011 and Florida Southern College in 2014. WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN PHOTOGRAPHY? I have been interested in photography since I was a young child. I remember spending hours poring over old fami

Did you know I have heterochromatic eyes? My left eye is a stunning blue, and my right eye is a beautiful brown. My most favorite, best, drool-worthy thing to eat is freeze-dried chicken treats. I also love living the lake life and boating on the Winter Haven Chain to our favorite places like Tanners, Harborside, and the Twisted Prop!! I just love the wind in my fur as we zoom around the lakes. My Mom is named Amanda, and she’s the most fun and best human in my life. She alwa

We teamed up with the very talented James Huffstutler at the Central Florida Photo Club and invited our amazing readers to snap and share their best shots with the theme “People and Places of Polk County”— and wow, did you deliver. From February 28 to April 27, we received over 180 stunning submissions! Choosing which ones to feature in the magazine was no easy task (seriously, can we get more pages next time?!). If we could, we’d show off every single photo—because they were

“The Earth is what we all have in common.” – Wendell Berry Have you ever wandered the boardwalk at Alligator Alley in Circle B Bar Reserve or admired the overhead canopy reflected on the still blackwater during a hike through the Peace River Hammock? If so, you have benefited from the Polk County Environmental Lands Program. On November 8, 1994, Polk County citizens voted in favor of levying a tax on themselves to fund a local environmental lands program. “The purpose of the

Black Skimmer by Adam Strang Bass A Florida Wildman in spirit (and Instagram handle), Adam Strang Bass captures timeless shots of old Florida in the name of preservation. His images are striking. Photographs that are in and of themselves an argument for protecting our wild state. Bass has a knack for capturing moments seldom seen or at least seldom appreciated by modern man – the speckled golden gaze of an alligator contrasted by it’s dark scaled armor, a black and white shot