The Hidden Beauty of a Florida Fairground: How Anthony Blasko Turned a Strawberry Festival Into Art
Welcome to this edition of [book spotlight]. Today, we uncover the layers of 'Florida Strawberries,' by Anthony Blasko (published by STANLEY/BARKER). We'd love to read your comments below about these insights and ideas behind the artist's work.
Strawberries, fairground rides, golden light: the perfect storm for art.
Anthony Blasko didn’t plan to turn a small Florida festival into a long-term project. But after visiting the Plant City Strawberry Festival, he built a body of work that shows something honest and powerful about small-town America. The images are simple but full of life: faces in soft sunlight, rides glowing at sunset, quiet moments between the noise.
A simple fairground became the place where Blasko found his voice.
At first, he was just passing through, focused on another project. Then the light, the people, and the feeling of the place made him stop and look closer. Over time, he found a way to capture the mix of chaos, beauty, and nostalgia that makes this festival special. What started as chance became a personal project about community, memory, and how photography can turn the ordinary into something lasting.
The Book
Florida Strawberries is a photobook by Anthony Blasko that captures the atmosphere of the Plant City Strawberry Festival in Florida. Blasko’s images focus on the people, fairground rides, and moments that give this small-town event its unique spirit. Shot on film during multiple visits, the work highlights the beauty of simple scenes and the warm light of late afternoon. The book offers a vivid and nostalgic portrait of community life, inviting readers to step into a world of color, energy, and tradition. (STANLEY/BARKER, Amazon)
Genesis of the project: What initially drew you to the Plant City Strawberry Festival in Florida back in 2013, and at what point did you decide to develop these visits into a comprehensive photographic project?
I stumbled upon the Strawberry festival in 2013. I was in Florida working on another project focused on the South. I didn’t think much about the festival at first. I was there mid-day shooting with my Leica M7. I didn’t end up using any of the images from that trip, but the following year I happened to be near the festival again. I spent a few hours shooting before sunset with my Pentax 67. The combination of those two things changed how I looked at the festival. After getting the film back, I decided to go back and spend 10-12 days shooting, focused on the afternoon and sunset.
Capturing the festival’s atmosphere: Your photographs beautifully encapsulate the essence of the festival, from the vibrant rides to candid moments of attendees. How do you approach immersing yourself in such environments to authentically capture their spirit?
Mainly, I move around a lot. It's an in-the-moment sort of situation. Moving through the crowd and all around the festival grounds, looking out for interesting faces, moments, or objects. I love being in environments where there are images every direction.
Lighting and timing choices: You’ve mentioned shooting primarily during the last two hours of daylight to utilise the golden hour’s warm tones. How does this specific timing influence the mood and aesthetic of your images?
When looking at the film, I just felt everything shot during the day was too harsh. Hard, deep shadows change the way a face appears, which can be interesting, but I didn’t feel like it was right for this project. There is just something special about the way film renders that light. It’s just so beautiful.
Subject selection and interaction: Your portraits range from candid captures to more posed compositions. How do you decide whom to photograph, and what is your process for engaging with subjects in such dynamic settings?
Hopefully, by the time someone realizes I'm there, I’ve already snapped a few frames. I prefer to go unnoticed. I don't overthink who I decide to photograph; they just need to spark some interest. You also know how something will read on film, so I end up shooting things I’m not completely in love with in the moment. And sometimes those images turn out quite nice.
Technical considerations: Could you share details about the equipment and techniques you employed for this series, and how they contributed to achieving your desired visual outcomes?
When I first visited the festival, I was shooting with 35mm, and the images just didn’t have much impact. When I started using the Pentax 67, I felt it let me isolate people and objects in a crowd. I was really able to focus on individuals and let the noise of the environment add context without being distracting.
Exploring themes of nostalgia and Americana: The images evoke a sense of timeless Americana and nostalgia. Was this an intentional theme you aimed to convey, and how did you work to achieve this atmosphere in your photographs?
That’s something I think about all the time, but I’m not sure it’s possible to take a picture that is truly timeless, especially at any type of event. That being said, I do try to avoid branding or anything associated with a time period.
Evolution of the project over time: Having attended the festival over multiple years, how did your perspective and approach evolve with each visit? Were there any significant changes or developments in your methodology?
After my initial visit, I focused on the late afternoon. Other than that, I had a good idea of what I wanted to capture when I went back.
Challenges in documentary photography: What were some of the primary challenges you faced while documenting the festival, and how did you overcome them to maintain the authenticity and integrity of your work?
The hardest thing to deal with while shooting this kind of work is people on their phones. It was less of an issue as people were occupied with friends, food, and rides. But in general, with shooting on the streets, everybody is on their phone. A close second is people noticing the camera and either becoming upset or posing for the camera. I can usually get a few pictures before they notice, but there’s nothing I can do about phones.
Advice for emerging photographers: For photographers interested in capturing community events or festivals, what insights or lessons from your experience with Florida Strawberries would you share to guide their endeavours?
My only advice is to keep shooting. People ask all the time what they should do, and that’s really the only answer. Find things that interest you and keep shooting.
To discover more about this intriguing body of work and how you can acquire your own copy, you can find and purchase the book here. (STANLEY/BARKER, Amazon)
More photography books?
We'd love to read your comments below, sharing your thoughts and insights on the artist's work. Looking forward to welcoming you back for our next [book spotlight]. See you then!
