By Brenda Monty
The Roanoke Beacon

Bertie County was love at first sight for this architectural photographer.

"My first encounter with Bertie came when I crossed the Cashie River on the Sans Souci ferry," said Doward Jones, Jr., well-known photographer and journalist. "...I became enchanted with the opportunities of landscape and architectural images that seem to flow endlessly across the landscape.

Jones has captured a view of a slowly fading part of Bertie County over the last 35 years in a recent 28-page publication, "Following Francis—A Photographic Journey Through Bertie County."

Jones is 'following' in the artistic footsteps of renowned regional landscape painter Francis Speight, the man whose works inspired Jones' latest photographic compilation.

"I found a kinship with the painter," said Jones. "I often return to Shipyard Landing for my own inspiration of pictorial documentation."

Vernacular architecture and nature are among Jones' favorite subjects to photograph.

"They instill a place a time revealed by structure and light," he said, offering a glimpse into his imagination.

Traveling from the farmlands to the tributaries that grace the region, Jones' goal has been to preserve images before they are forever lost by time and change. Many of the subjects in Jones' latest book have already vanished, making his recordings all the more a keepsake.

The oldest photo in the Bertie County collection was taken in 1973. Jones said he was inspired to organize his archive of the unique region after Harry Thompson, Bertie County native and historian, opened a world linking to the past at Hope plantation historic site in Bertie.

After seeing Jones' historic images of Bertie County, Thompson said his photos were reminiscent of another native son, Francis Speight. Speight's vision of the area was much as Jones' has been, which gave Jones an immediate feeling of kinship to the painter.

Speight retired in Bertie County following a career of teaching at the Philadelphia School of Art and East Carolina University.

After the publication of Maurice York's book, "The Privilege to Paint," Jones was inspired to follow in Speight's footsteps of publishing his photos of Bertie County's heritage.

"Francis Speight's greatest goal in life was to preserve our architecture and rural landscape in his paintings," Jones explained. "Through the camera, I have followed Francis' footsteps, recording history for those who follow."

The book contains images of country stores, an abandoned church, Hoggard homestead and a school house, in addition to photos of nature like that on Hoggard's Mill Pond and the Cashie, Cashoke and Roanoke rivers.

Jones began recording history in pictures since he got his first camera for Christmas when he was 10 years old. He's come a long way since that Kodak Brownie Hawkeye and working on school newspapers and annuals.

Jones' pursuit of engineering at North Carolina State University was diverted more toward art when he attended the Art Institute of Atlanta in Georgia. There he formed a compatible marriage of his fascination with architecture and his artistic sense in industrial photography.

In addition to landscapes and architecture, his photographs also reflect the human spirit of the region by means of portraits.

The Jones family was associated with community newspapers from North to South, Florida and Alabama to New York City, before purchasing The Roanoke Beacon in Plymouth in 1961.

"Newspapers have always given me a graphic vision that has influenced my work," he said.

Jones and his wife Arden and son Phillip live in Roper on a small farm where they are able to soak in nature and "the gifts instilled by the grace of God."

He continues to be a part of The Beacon family with his weekly column "On Water Street." Jones also stays active in the community promoting the region's natural assets to tourists as well as locals. When he's not running his business, Beacon Printing, he offers photography classes to small groups.

His talent is on display at his studio in downtown Plymouth—Roanoke River Basin Gallery, where he sells numerous reproductions of his heritage photographs.

Although Jones' photos have been displayed an numerous art shows and published in newspapers and magazines for many hears, his book "Following Francis" is Jones' first effort in self publication by Addie Mae Publishing, named in memory of his grandmother.

In addition to Bertie County heritage, Jones plans to broaden his theme with the publication of a book of his photos of the Northeast region of North Carolina some time in the future.

Jones plans to promote his new book through the region with presentations on the subject of architectural/heritage photography. "Following Francis—A Photographic Journey Through Bertie County" can be purchased at Bertie County Arts Council and Hope Plantation Gift Shop in Bertie County, and Port O'Plymouth Museum and Roanoke River Basin Gallery in Plymouth.

For more information on Jones' photographs or his new book, call 252-793-4777 or email him at: d.jonesjr@mchsi.com.