Hank O’Neal: Population Not Many

In 1973, Hank O’Neal made his first trip to Maine to visit renowned photographer Berenice Abbott. After he took a photograph of her with a Polaroid SX-70 she offered to teach him her craft, but only if he got a “real camera.” He returned the following year with one. She gave him a 30-minute lesson and the advice, “Don’t take photographs willy-nilly.”  

Until Abbott’s death in 1991, O’Neal made frequent trips to visit her and refine his skills as a photographer. While his friend and mentor preferred black and white photography, O’Neal tried to convince her of the virtues of color film as they captured the desolate scenes of inland Maine. O’Neal made his last trip there in 1998 with Abbott’s closest friends to celebrate what would have been her 100th birthday. He has not been back since.