You're not in Disneyworld anymore: Florida's 'shadow country' laid bare by photographer who spent months traveling through the Sunshine State's wild side

There are crack addicts, people with health issues and poverty everywhere. These pictures could be taken in Edinburgh

I live in St. Petersburg, Fla., the fourth largest city in the state, and 90 percent of these photos could have been taken in my town. It's Florida! We have snakes, lots of construction and dare I say...low income families. This is the best he could do? He obviously didn't get too lost because these are everyday photos.

The man sitting in water among cypress tree knees not mangroves salt water

I come from Arkansas. A lot of folks on here are so full of judgment, and so full of hatred. They're quick to condemn the poor. They're quick to apply the broad brush, as if the poor don't have their poetry, their loves, their stories. It makes me wonder how many of these people are just completely disconnected from the poor, that they allow their ignorance to promote the most pathological hatred. In the 19th century, John Riis traveled across the slums of New York City, and put a spotlight on the living conditions of the impoverished in our nation. In his time, there were preachers, there was a middle and upper class, and they spoke with their hatred as well. Some of them condemned the garment workers that were deeply impoverished, and who were for a year were protesting in favor of fair working conditions. Because there were union activists, the employers locked the workers in a central room, where they worked between 12-16 hours a day. Well, a fire started, and countless women died.

That's not a mangrove swamp. Those are cypress trees and the thinks sticking up out of the water are cypress 'knees', part of it's root system.

I love articles like this, its more interesting than the mundane pictures of white sandy beaches and upmarket hotels, each person has a story to tell. Just a shame about the captions, they are an annoying afterthought based on the writers lack of knowledge on the subject. If you can't write anything but the bleedin' obvious don't bother making an idiot out of yourself, 'pictured a girl grasps a snake in one hand and covers her face in another as she sits surrounded by broken bricks'... seriously!

Hey DM, Disneyland is in California. Disney World is in Florida. What is up with all of the junk articles and poor journalism these days?

That is no "mangrove swamp". It is regrowth ("knees") of taxodium distichum or ascendens, we know not, which are commonly called bald cypress or swamp cypress. You hope the other labels are more accurate.

Despite the poverty the people photographed look happy. People should reserve commenting and insulting kids being kids. Being well off is not just about the cash in your wallet.

More likely the houses were hit by hurricanes. Florida does get earthquakes, but very rarely. Two reasons for the cars and machines being around: people are poor and sell them for parts, and can't pay to have them taken away.

Looks like upscale Detroit.

Erica is diverse. We have free education through 12th grade, free grant for low income to go to state supported universities, free breakfasts and lunches nches for school kids, free medical for low income, frees food stamps too. We have section 8 housing and welfare stipends for moms with children. We have big liability payments from tax payer money. In America you are free to become a Trump, free to be a bit lazy and live on the dole, or simply go to work and live a nice life like most of us do each day. I love America.

it looks like their trying to bury something and not digging out a car

"Perhaps it was damaged in an earthquake"- hurricane or tornado yes, but earthquake? Seriously? It is Florida not California!

I lived in Ocala for 2 years. When you drive the little towns in northern and central Florida, you see that Florida is still very much a part of Dixie. South Florida has been taken over by Yankees and immigrants, but the rest of the state is a different world. There are a lot of beautiful places in Florida; it's a shame that the state is so crowded. You have 20 million people living in that small of a space; it's become like New Jersey. One thing you notice quickly is all the homeless people. They're in every town you go to down there, whether it's Miami or a small town.

I live in rural Kentucky these are pretty much my neighbors...most people on my street don't work, but I guess they keep an eye on my house while I do. They are nice people but uneducated. They are stuck in generational poverty, where they don't even bother to try to move up the ladder. They get plenty of food, money, drugs, and absolutely free healthcare from the government, they are sitting on grandpappy's paid for land...why bother?

I've seen ray mears living in the woods with nothing but a knife to start out with, his camp is much tidier and more hygenic than this shambles, I guess it's just being motivated and being civilised. Tidy up, don't cost a thing.

Yes, America.... its a game of two haves - the haves and the have nots!

It is a disgrace that Obama is over here telling us what to do, when he has presided for two terms over that situation at home. Perhaps it is the federal society that he is used to that makes him want the same for us?

That's not a mangrove swamp. Looks more like a cypress lake or river.