Barry Gooch © Do Not Use Without Written ConsentBarry Gooch was born and raised in Port Royal, near Beaufort. He grew up surfing, fishing, lifeguarding, and snapping photos Low Country landscapes and wildlife. Barry’s photographs have been featured in the “South Carolina Wildlife” magazine, both the South Carolina and Georgia DNR websites, and numerous wildlife books and preservation websites. Barry currently splits his time between Lake Wateree and Beaufort, South Carolina.
Barry Gooch © Do Not Use Without Written ConsentEmployed as a Senior Research Analyst at Westvaco Research for most of his career, Barry went to work for SCDNR after a corporate merger. He also served as a volunteer firefighter/EMT in Berkeley County for about 15 years. He was on the Board of Directors for the Pimlico Fire District, the Arbitration Board for the Berkeley County Water & Sewer Authority, and the Board of Directors for the Confederate Heritage Trust.
Barry as a Boy © Do Not Use Without Written ConsentIn addition to photography, Barry dabbles in digital arts. He laughs and says, “I enjoy attempting to turn photographs into digital paintings. I suspect that somewhere in my psyche there exists a frustrated artist who failed to get out.”
GOOD TO KNOW YOU!
ME IN MY OWN WORDS: Conscientious, obstinate (at times), opinionated (to a fault), passionate, can be sensitive, but can be gruff too, usually empathetic and intuitive, but also analytical and pragmatic. I suspect a good way to define me is I am a Rubik’s cube of idiosyncrasies. 😊
SOMETHING I BELIEVE: I believe America is the best example of government the world has yet produce, but I believe there are forces at work that want to destroy our system.
WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE: At this stage of my life, I would like to travel to areas that are not on the tourist map.
PLACES I’D MOST LOVE TO TRAVEL: Indonesia (many areas); the Balkans; New Zealand; Guilin Mountains in China.
PERSON I’D MOST LIKE TO HAVE KNOWN: Jesus Christ.
IF I WON THE LOTTERY, I’D: Pay off the mortgages of my family members and see that they are financially secure; establish a trust for my children and grandsons; help any friends who need financial assistance; buy a medium-format Hasselblad digital camera, travel.
THINGS I LOVE: Serenity, flowers, a beautiful smile, black water swamps, the smell of pluff mud, an outboard that cranks, and my wife Kathy!
Barry Gooch of Port Royal, 2013 © Do Not Use Without Written ConsentSANDLAPPER SURVEY …
FAVORITE SPOT(S) IN SC: One used to be Fripp Island, but it’s been ruined by “progress” – this is true with most of the coast. Bull and Capers Islands, the Cherokee Foothills Parkway, the Black and Lynches Rivers.
FAVORITE SC PLANT: Palmetto tree.
FAVORITE SOUTHERN FOOD: Fried shrimp, cornbread, fried chicken (homemade), blue crabs, butter beans, and greens.
A SOUTH CAROLINA SMELL I LOVE: Once I was traveling up the Intracoastal waterway just south of the Santee delta. Suddenly I was overwhelmed by one of the most intoxicating, seductive fragrances I had ever experienced. Surrounded by marsh on all sides, I could think of no flowers anywhere near me capable of producing such a wonderful scent. There was a slight onshore breeze and I could see a tree line about 3 miles distant towards the coast. My curiosity had taken control, and I managed to navigate through the marsh close enough to the line of barrier islands to identify the source of the perfume that was so tantalizing. It was a very large grove of Chinaberry trees. It was a unique experience; one I’ll never forget. China berries?
CRAZIEST SC LANDMARK: The Gaffney Peach water tower!
SC CLAIM TO FAME: Not really a claim to fame, but I’m most proud of being a part of the Hunley crew excavations and submarine salvage.
Barry Gooch of Port Royal © Do Not Use Without Written ConsentWHY I SUPPORT THE SCPP …
My favorite thing about the South Carolina Picture Project is that it offers everyone the opportunity to share their photography in a digital archive for future generations to learn about “our” life and times.
Barry Gooch of Port Royal, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written ConsentA FEW LAST THINGS …
1 THING I MISS: My dad.
3 THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY: My grandson, Frogmore stew, and sunset/sunrise on the water.
SOMETHING I ADORE/TREASURE: Nature winning in spite of man.
MY DREAM CAR: Running … one that runs all the time!
SOUND(S) I LOVE: Oyster popping at night a low tide. And, a raft of coots across the surface of still water on a cold winter morning just before sunrise. You can’t see the birds, but you know they are there. The sound of their feet hitting the water reminds me of an unseen locomotive running across the lake.
Barry Gooch of Port Royal, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written ConsentCONTACT ME …
See all of Barry’s photos in the SC Picture Project.