Product Description

Hugh Morton has had a long and active public life as an environmentalist, developer, and promoter of tourism. His favorite role, however, is that of news photographer. Hugh Morton's North Carolina gathers hundreds of photographs from his sixty-year career, including unpublished images from his personal collection and many well-known images of the state's people and places.

The collection is divided into three sections. "Scenes" ranges from the coast to the mountains, including many of Morton's famous images of wildflowers, wildlife, and state landmarks. "People and Events" features state and national politicians, educators, business professionals, and media figures. The "Sports" section reflects Morton's passion for athletics, with a particular focus on college basketball and football. Informative captions throughout the book provide background on the people and places pictured as well as Morton's reflections on the moments he captured on film.

As this collection reveals, Hugh Morton was on the scene for some of the most important events in the history of twentieth-century North Carolina, and he always carried his camera with him. Lovers of North Carolina, both local and distant, will all benefit from this richly personal state portrait.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #276028 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-22
• Released on: 2006-09-26
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

From Publishers Weekly
A bit like the Forrest Gump of North Carolina, Morton has apparently managed to be present at almost all of the most important events in the state's history. (It's understandable, considering he's one of the region's top photojournalists.) This volume is a lush compendium of his best photographs, many published before, and many drawn from his personal collection. The fruits of Morton's 60-year career are divided into distinct sections-Scenes, People and Events, and Sports-but by far the most impressive collection is of his nature shots, which speak of a visceral appreciation for the land and of an instinct for gorgeous framing. The latter two sections have more of a prosaic, journalistic feel. But they still fascinate as historical documents, with candid shots of everyone from musician Benny Goodman to newsman David Brinkley. A more lyrical writing style might have served as better accompaniment to such a distinguished career as Morton's. In both the introduction and the captions, the prose is a bit plodding. The images speak for themselves, however, appealing to those with an abiding love for the state, and even to those beyond its borders.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"A book that puts Mr. Morton's love for [North Carolina] in sharp focus." -- The Associated Press, October 26, 2003

Review
"An astonishing array of images. . . . An aesthetic and archival portfolio, Hugh Morton: North Carolina Photographer is a look through the eyes of a talented and timeless Tar Heel at some of the best scenes of both nature and man that our state has to offer."
— Our State

Customer Reviews

Hug Morton's North Carolina
I gave this book to my Brother and Sister in law for Christmas. They are with the State Department therefore they are stationed in countries all over the world. In each country they have lived in they have a book to remember their time there. They originally hail from North Carolina, so when I saw this book I knew it was the perfect gift. I was correct! They love seeing all the places they remember, and sharing those memories with their daughter who has never been "home" to North Carolina. The photos are wonderful. The book is not an oversized coffee table book, but one you can store in a book shelf or on that coffee table. They can't stop thanking us for the book and the memories that it has brought to them.

Disappointing
I learned a valuable lesson with the purchase of this book....go to a bookstore and see the book first. We love North Carolina. I purchased the book for a family member who is from there but is currently living in California. Though there were some pictures that reminded her of her childhood, it seemed more of a retro look at North Carolina. I was disappointed that there weren't very many contemporary photos, very little of the Outer Banks. Hugh seemed stuck on Grandfather Mountain, then I found the following information on website: http://www.grandfather.com/about/history.php....................."In 1952, Hugh MacRae Morton inherited Grandfather Mountain from his grandfather Hugh MacRae. He immediately widened the road to two lanes and extended it to the summit where he built the Mile High Swinging Bridge. In 1968, Morton purchased one male and one female black bear with the intention of letting them loose into the wild. The female bear, named Mildred, refused to revert to the wild and Grandfather Mountain was required to recapture her and keep her enclosed for her own safety. At first, Mildred met the public at a roadside amphitheater four times every day. Then, in 1973, a beautiful Environmental Habitat was built for Mildred and her family." No wonder. There must be a better book I could have chosen for those that miss their home state of North Carolina.

Spectacular
Destined to become a classic, Hugh Morton has captured the true essence of North Carolina. He includes the physically beautiful and the rich endowment of people the state has been blessed with. Chronologically, it covers an extensive period of time and mixes color with black and white photography. An excellent selection for the native North Carolinian or someone who has visited and was awestruck by its beauty, from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Outer Banks.