People of the Pines

People of the Pines by Birdsall, Bob. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780937548639.

Nature photographer Bob Birdsall celebrates the people and traditions of the Pine Barrens of New Jersey in this handsome coffee-table book. Picking up where John McPhee’s The Pine Barrens left off, Birdsall’s perceptive lens and an engaging text illumine more than two dozen individuals and their ways of life—many of which are fast vanishing. From “Piney” hunter-gatherers who still live off the land, to hardworking baymen and farmers, to volunteers and public servants, artisans and entrepreneurs, scientists, conservationists, and educators, these men and women typify the bold and creative spirit of the region. With roots in the pines going back 200 years or more, many are deeply committed to preserving tradition, while others are relative newcomers who came to visit and stayed to fight for the future of a wilderness at risk. What the “People of the Pines” share in common—as evidenced by Bob Birdsall’s intimate and inspiring portraits—is a boundless passion for this unique and storied land.