Dennis Corrick On His Passions For Photography, Video Production And Local Agribusiness

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He shot pictures for The Independent Florida Alligator, the University of Florida’s student-run newspaper. A journalism major, he graduated in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree.

“One of the reasons I went into journalism is because I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” says Dennis Corrick, now an attorney at Dean  Mead. “I figured if I knew how to write, I could do other things.”

And Corrick did. He produced commercials for Winn-Dixie and slide shows for Saint Augustine, then opened Cork’s Fine Wine with a couple of friends and eventually became a wholesaler.

When his wife, Pam, was pregnant, he returned to UF to pursue a law degree and graduated again, this time in 1998. His daughter Amanda arrived between his first and second semesters, and son, Ryan, six weeks before the bar exam. They are now  22 and 19, and while Amanda is a Gator, Ryan chose to become a Florida State University Seminole.

“We wore shirts to last year’s UF vs. FSU game that said, ‘Beat The Other Team!’” the 57-year-old says.

Although divided by school colors, the family enjoys time together boating, fishing and kayaking, pictures of which fill Corrick’s Flickr account.

“Usually we head out of the ramp by Little Jim Bridge in Fort Pierce, and whether we go north or south is dictated by reading the winds,” he says.

Back on dry ground, his role as an attorney includes protecting the interests of Florida agribusiness.

What is the biggest issue facing agribusiness today?

Floridians need to understand that the open-range cattle ranches in the heartland region are vital to water quality in Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades, and working farms provide lots of environmental, aesthetic and economic benefits. Interconnected natural lands protect Florida’s native species, like bear and panther, by preserving their ranges. None of us would want to live in a Florida without the benefits that agribusinesses provide.

You take advantage of Florida’s benefits by way of your pastime: photography. What kind of camera do you use?

My primary camera is a Nikon D750, and I still occasionally use the lenses I bought in the ’80s.

Which of the many photos you’ve taken are your favorites?

While I enjoy the straight wildlife photography, my favorites are the ones that reflect a little humor, like the one of our cat playing mole toss or the squirrel with the acorn in his mouth.

When shooting wildlife, how do you prevent your camera from falling into the water?

I haven’t taken my primary camera out in the kayak yet for exactly this reason. I take my second camera on the kayak and on the boat, and I have it strapped to my body. If it goes over, it’s because I went with it.

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