Eric Dusenbery Photography

10/20/2026

Eric Burkes at his general store in Florida. Photographed with 4 x 5 large format film camera. Negatives processed in traditional wet darkroom.

From law enforcement to historian to preservationist. "I was born and raised on this piece of property. They used to grow sugarcane in the front yard here. They had kettles here for making cane syrup. The goal is to keep everything just like it was in 1920s and 30s. During cane season, we’re going to try to cook a batch of cane syrup every Saturday. Like a detective, you’re uncovering things and putting together the clues. That’s what interests me. I wrote one history book on this place — a short version. I don’t think history should be hoarded. What good is it gets lost and forgotten? The best way to save it is to put it out there so everyone has it. Put it in the book and everyone has it. "

10/19/2026

Tying the history into the community and art and keeping traditions alive.
Fieldwork session with Thomas Deshane for the documentary project, "The Long Way Home: A Documentary Exploration of People, Place, and Belonging in Contemporary America."

Follow the journey and read the story here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-221171861

10/13/2026

Loading up for a one-day roadtrip through rural communities and small towns to make environmental portraits of people using a large format film camera and recording brief stories that reveal the character of the places they live and work.

10/06/2026

Environmental portrait made with 4 x 5 large format film camera + contact print for the documentary project: The Long Way Home: A Documentary Exploration of People, Place, and Belonging in Contemporary America.
Follow the journey:
https://ericdusenbery.substack.com/p/field-notes-d16

09/28/2026

I was in Pittsburgh last weekend as part of the PA Humanities Cultural Exchange Fellowship gathering. They provided an awesome tour including The Andy Warhol Museum, the Cassie Blast Furnaces, the August Wilson home, as well as an opportunity for me to explore some of the architecture of Pittsburgh. So many photographs but here are just a few.

09/28/2026

Milkweed plant along the trail to the Wall of Names at the Flight 93 National Memorial. Texture and pattern.

09/27/2026

Yesterday, we visited the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. A very solemn experience.

09/22/2026

Large format film photography of individuals in rural areas connects deeply with core themes like humanities, culture, sense of place and community identity. Sometimes, it also includes photographing the photographer.
Follow the journey of the documentary project, "The Long Way Home: A Documentary Exploration of People, Place, and Belonging in Contemporary America"
https://www.dusenberyphoto.com/projects

09/16/2026

I’m honored to be selected as an inaugural PA Cultural Exchange Fellowship recipient by PA Humanities.

I’m joining an outstanding group of people working in art, culture, and community-building, and I’m especially pleased to see my friend and colleague, artist Andrew Smith, among them.

The 18-month, statewide fellowship is supported by Spring Point Partners, The Heinz Endowments, Pennsylvania state legislators, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

What I began in York County, Pennsylvania, will now expand across the state and I look forward to seeing where this next chapter takes the work.

Selected from 350 applicants, fellows will receive $10,000 and participate in a statewide exchange designed to strengthen Pennsylvania’s humanities and creative network

09/08/2026

Environmental portrait made with 4 x 5 large format film camera + contact print for the documentary project: The Long Way Home: A Documentary Exploration of People, Place, and Belonging in Contemporary America.
“That’s What Farmers Do”
Follow the journey:
https://ericdusenbery.substack.com/p/field-notes-466