BAY ST. LOUIS - Gulf Coast photographer Ken Murphy and author of "My South Coast Home" lost a collection of photos spanning three decades, thanks to Hurricane Katrina.

"I had everything protected as far as the new books and the photos for them," Murphy said. "I grabbed a couple of containers of slides and I kept my cameras that I use every day with me, so I could keep my eye on them. But I lost everything else, including 30 years worth of photos."

But the man known for his quick wit and positive attitude continues to find captivating images among the devastation.

"There have been a couple of things that I found very interesting," Murphy said. "I've taken several pictures of Virgin Mary statues where the whole place was destroyed but the statues were left standing. And then there are the flags. You see them everywhere, tattered and beaten. I think it says something about the American spirit."

There remains nothing but piles of rubble where Murphy's house and business once stood on the Bay of St. Louis. He owns Daniel's South Beach Bar and Restaurant, formerly Dan B's, along with his two brothers.

"It was the place to be in Bay St. Louis, if not on the entire coast," Murphy said. "Business was booming. It was a hot spot, for sure."

Murphy's self-published coffee table book, "My South Coast Home," has sold out in book stores and online. Diane Shepherd, owner of Main Street Books in Hattiesburg, confirmed there's no shortage of customers who want to buy the book featuring 110 photos of the pre-storm coastal region now scarred and battered from the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina.

"When we came back after the hurricane, the first day we were open, a customer called and bought our last two copies," Shepherd said. "He would have bought three more if I had them."

Shepherd said customers ask daily about the book, but the title is no longer available.

"If I had more, I could definitely sell them," Shepherd said.

Murphy offers good news to fans of "My South Coast Home."

"'My South Coast Home' will be reprinted with an additional chapter that shows the before-and-after of Hurricane Katrina," Murphy said. "Every location featured in the original book will be cross-referenced to a new photo that shows what it looks like now."

Images include those of Coastal landmarks like Tullis Toledano Manor, Beauvoir and the Hewes home on U.S. 90 in Biloxi, as well as the casinos that dotted the coastline. The photos span an area from Bayou Caddy and east to Ocean Springs.

A native of Bay St. Louis, Murphy has photographed the Mississippi Gulf Coast most of his adult life.

"I think that this may have been the purpose of these books, to capture those photos beforehand," Murphy said. "I've always believed I've been on a mission."

His pictures of natural, panoramic vistas as well as the cultural and economic icons of south Mississippi appear in calendars, magazines and newspapers across the country. His work has been featured in Sierra Magazine, Reader's Digest books and countless business publications. Robin Roberts, a fixture of ABC's "Good Morning America" and Pass Christian, native held the book up for ABC cameras shortly after it was published and touted it as a must-have coffee table book.

"I can't say I've won a lot of awards because I don't bother entering contests," said Murphy. "I'd far rather see my name on a check."

Following the tremendous success of "My South Coast Home" which sold out its first and only printing, Murphy turned his lens toward a broader scope.

"My next book is called 'Mississippi' and is nearly complete," said Murphy. "It will have 160-plus photographs of some of the most important places in our state with a map that shows the readers exactly where they can find what they see. Both books will be printed and released in spring of 2006. I'm just waiting now on my SBA loan to fund the remainder of the project, and I am hoping to use a local printer for the job."

Of interest to corporate fans of Murphy's breathtaking photography, the photographer offers special editions of 200 to 1,000 print runs that feature the history and photos of their company as the first chapter of "Mississippi."

"We're selling customized versions to companies," Murphy said. "This is a unique opportunity for businesses to show their pride in the state of Mississippi. With their purchase, they get the first chapter of the book to tell their story and get their name on the cover. They write their own history and can submit their own photos or they can hire me to shoot them."

Murphy said the special editions make great gifts for dignitaries who appreciate the rich cultural history and esoteric beauty of the state. Each book features a nameplate that can be engraved.

Packages of 200 copies start at $110 per book, but Murphy notes a small increase may be necessary to cover the costs of adding a Katrina chapter to both titles.

Hattiesburg customers can be assured of easy access to both of Murphy's new releases at Main Street Books, as soon as they are available.

"What we'll do, when the book is re-released , is invite Ken in to sell and sign here," Shepherd said.

Kodak supports Murphy's photography publications by providing film and processing for free.

"They started providing me film years ago," Murphy said. "After the storm, I called their representative Audrey Jonckheer for supplies, and they offered to process the film at no cost. They've always been so good to me."

As the photographer presses on with getting his books to press, he counts his blessings, including his recently acquire FEMA trailer, and offers amazing optimism for the future.

"We're rebuilding," Murphy said. "I like what the Governor's Commission has planned for the coast. I've wanted to do what they are talking about for 15 years."

As his hometown of Bay St. Louis struggles to its feet, Murphy admonishes those would who dwell on the loss following Hurricane Katrina.

"We have to move on. This is no time to lose our sense of humor," Murphy said. "This is the worst time to lose things like that. We lost everything but each other here, and for that, I'm grateful. There is nothing like Mother Nature to give us a little lesson in materialism. I hear people say 'Why did God do this?' This was a natural event, and we were just in the way. It's God who will help us rise above the devastation."

Copyright Kristen Twedt 2005