Truro, Massachusetts Sep 7, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - Documentary f/8 and be there. Chronicles the Extraordinary Life and Photographs of Charles Fields
TRURO, Mass. September 7, 2026 A new documentary, f/8 and be there. The Life & Photographs of Charles Fields, is bringing the remarkable story and photographic legacy of Charles Fields to a wider audience through a live Kickstarter campaign.
The documentary explores the life of Charles Fields, a photographer, publisher and world traveler whose career has taken him from the neighborhoods of Wallingford, Connecticut, to locations around the world and the communities of Cape Cod.
Fields began photographing at an early age, documenting the people and places around his hometown. During the 1980s, his passion for photography developed alongside extensive international travel, including journeys to China, Jamaica, France, Japan, Canada, Egypt, Vietnam, South Korea and Cuba.
After building a successful career outside photography, Fields returned his attention increasingly toward his artistic work. Following his move with his wife, Gail Fields, to the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts in the 2000s, he became deeply involved in documenting the area's landscapes, communities and working life, including fishermen, oyster pickers and the distinctive character of the Cape.
Fields and Gail later established Fields Publishing, producing photography and art books featuring the work of numerous artists and photographers. His own publications include Vietnam Journeys and Cuba Journeys, while his publishing work also featured artists and photographers including John Grillo, Anne Packard, Sam Feinstein, Kenneth Hanson, Don McLaughlin and Charles Niewenhous.
The documentary is being developed by Bill Hale, who has been friends with Charles Fields for more than 12 years. For the past several years, Hale has also been working through Fields' extensive photographic archives, helping preserve and document the story behind the images.
The project also follows the more difficult chapters of Fields' life. After the loss of his wife Gail in 2016, Fields experienced a serious automobile accident that resulted in a spinal cord injury. He later underwent hip replacement surgery and was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2025. Despite these challenges, Fields has continued to approach his work with determination and a positive outlook.
“f/8 and be there.” aims to preserve more than photographs. It seeks to capture the experiences, friendships, travels and creative journey behind the images, while giving audiences an opportunity to discover the person who created them.
The Kickstarter campaign has a funding goal of $11,900 and is currently seeking support from people interested in photography, documentary filmmaking, Cape Cod history, art and preserving photographic archives.
The campaign also offers a selection of rare and previously published photography books connected to Charles Fields and his publishing career, including Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, Martha's Vineyard: A Photographic Essay, Nantucket: A Photographic Essay, Cuba Journeys, Vietnam Journeys, Himalayan Portfolios: Journeys of the Imagination, and a rare signed Anne Packard book.
Supporters can learn more about the documentary and campaign through the official Kickstarter project:
The campaign is scheduled to conclude on September 30, 2026.
About the Project
f/8 and be there. The Life & Photographs of Charles Fields is a documentary project exploring the life, travels, photography and publishing career of Charles Fields through archival photographs, personal history and the perspectives of friends and peers.
Media Contact
Bill Hale
f/8 and be there. The Life & Photographs of Charles Fields
Truro, Massachusetts, United States
Media Contact
William Hale photosbybillhale@gmail.com
