Photography in Ashe County, North Carolina

Ashe County is a photographer’s treasure trove full of southern Appalachian gems sparkling in the northwest corner of North Carolina. Within these pages you will discover 388 photographs brought to you by 76 professional and amateur photographers who were inspired to capture all that is Ashe County. These thoughtful, creative, inquisitive, talented photographers have sought out every nook and cranny of Ashe County to bring you their pictoral insight. They have left no boulder unturned in their quest to chronicle the historical life, times, people, places and things in this magnificent blue ridge paradise.

Kim Hadley is a photography enthusiast and McFarland employee, living in Creston, North Carolina.
Doug Munroe is a painter, an earnest stacker of stone, former president of the Florence Thomas Art School and a retired nurseryman living in the Clifton Community of Ashe County. He partners with his daughter and son-in-law in a commercial maple syrup business and manages a couple of trout ponds.

Kim Hadley and Doug Munroe
Format: softcover (8.5 x 11)
Pages: 311
Bibliographic Info: 388 photos, glossary, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8938-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5356-3
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments  vi

Preface  1

Introduction  3

The History of Photography in Ashe County  7

Photographers and Their Images of Ashe  35

Mike Acquesta 35

Scott Ballard 38

Kevin Balling 42

Anne Barry 46

Laura Barth 48

Robin Bauguess 51

Joan Bell 55

Judy Benda 58

Peter Benda 60

Chris Bennett 63

Joe Ray Blevins 66

Alan Briggs 70

Douglas Butler 73

Keith Andrew Calhoun 77

Donna Campbell 81

Julian Charles 85

Josh Church 89

Kelly Clampitt 92

Bernard W. Clouse 96

Patrick Considine 99

Justin Driscoll 102

Beth Eastridge 105

Maggie Flanigan 109

Pete Fullam 112

Phyllis Gilley 115

Shane Greene 118

Karen A. Gross 122

Kim Hadley 123

Michelle Joy Handler 128

Tom Hansell 133

Elaine Hash 136

Blythe Dudley Hilliard 138

Seth Hilliard 142

Sheila S. Hogan 146

James Jones 149

Ron Joyner 152

Greg A. Kiser 157

Jon Kral 161

Ed Lane 165

Natalie Lewis 168

Bonita Loggins 170

Kathy Mansfield 173

Christine McCarty 176

Brooke McMeans 180

Chadwick Miller 182

D. Rex Miller 184

Pat Kincheloe Morrison 188

Ken Mundy 190

Rocky Parriott 194

Scot Pope 196

Rebecca Price 201

Lucas Pruitt 205

Sheila T. Reed 208

Kevin Reeves 212

Betty Rembert 215

George Rembert II 219

Tom Risser 223

Nicole Robinson 227

Gary Rolband 232

Annkatrin Rose 236

Beth Roten 239

Jennifer Stansberry Russell 243

Martin Seelig 247

Ron Seiverth 251

Dennis R. Severt 253

Brenda Smith 257

Jerry Smith 260

Candy Stuart 265

Ginger Goss Wagner 267

Carolyn Weckstrom 270

Joshua White 273

Jay Wild 277

Mark Stephen Willingham 280

Skye Hiatt Worley 283

Janice Worth 286

Kristin Wyatt 290

Appendix I: Glossary of Terms  295

Appendix II: Historical Image Resources for Ashe County  297

Bibliography  299

Index:  301

• “What a treasure! Kim and Doug have set the standard for a regional treatise on photographers and their images. If you’re a photographer of any kind, this book will be rewarding even if you don’t have a connection to Ashe County. I enjoyed learning about the featured photographers and seeing how they approach photography, and I particularly liked the thorough treatment on the history of photography. Plus, the featured images have me wanting to spend some time in Ashe County with my own camera.”—Kevin Adams, a professional photographer and author of 12 North Carolina books

• “Ashe County is unlike any other mountain county in North Carolina—from its endangered plants and wildlife, to the incomparable New River, to the folk traditions expressed through paintings, music, foodways, and crafts. This essential book captures both the history and the precious present moment, still unsullied in most places and essential to preserve for coming generations. Thanks to Kim Hadley and Doug Munroe for seeing what must be saved and savored.”—Georgann Eubanks, author of Saving the Wild South and The Fabulous Ordinary: Sensory Adventures in the Wild South

• “This book takes the reader on a journey that features the contemporary photographer’s individual perspective in both text and imagery as well as a look back in time in Northwestern, NC with historical photography. Another thoughtfully curated collection by Doug Munroe and Kim Hadley of Ashe County artists that you can pick up and read from any point in the book.”—Joni Ray, executive director, Ashe County Arts Council