The St. Petersburg Museum of History is located in downtown St. Petersburg/Photo courtesy of Pixabay
Tuesday (Oct. 31) is the last day to see “Florida Bodegas and the Immigrant Experience” by Peter Bates at the St. Petersburg Museum of History. Admission is free. The museum is located at 335 Second Ave. NE in St. Petersburg.
A documentary photographer for more than 40 years, Bates locates colorful bodegas and convenience stores in this exhibit. Some have hand-lettered signs like the Lakeview Market in St. Petersburg. All look striking at twilight, the time in which he photographs.
Bates travels all over Florida in search of bodegas, and he discovered Tienda El Quetzal by exploring West Main Street in Immokalee. Bates uses the high dynamic range (HDR) photographic process to enhance the color and impact of these buildings. In addition, he films the owners to relate compelling details about their lives and businesses and photographs them in their stores.