SI Mag 3.3

9 www.SullivansIslandMagazine.com | www.SullivansIslandHomes.com N ot too long ago, I was sitting on the front porch of our beach house when a woman on a bike rode up and asked, “Is this house old original?” I laughed and said yes, this house is definitely “old original.” Built in 1910, constructed on different levels at different times and weathering several major storms, the little shack does not have a right angle in the entire place. Like the people and families who have lived at least as long on Sullivan’s Island, it has earned its character. It was not easy choosing a starting point for this ongoing project. As a portrait photographer, I have a keen interest in the history of my surroundings. It is a great joy to hear the stories and life experiences of the people I photograph and then attempt to share their lives and their stories in my work. Although rapidly changing and at times below the surface, Sullivan’s Island is steeped in the history of its people and places. Like the good people in this article, it has been my privilege to photograph and to become better acquainted with the residents and families that have made Sullivan’s Island the most storied barrier island in South Carolina, affectionately called “Mayberry By The Sea.” ~ Mark Stetler We Are Sullivan’s Island .