The Lakeland Ledger (later simply, The Ledger) had a long history of photojournalistic excellence. The men and women who made up the core of the staff photographers provided windows into the life of greater Polk County in addition to offering glimpses into national and international news stories. However, these men and women were not immune to the media trends sweeping across newsrooms nationwide. In December of 2025, the last Ledger staff photographer retired, thereby ending an era of local photojournalism.

The Last Picture Show: A Retrospective of Recent Ledger Staff Photographers honors the artistry and journalistic contributions of seven recent Ledger staff photographers whose images graced the pages of the newspaper with over 173 years of combined service. As you view the photographs, you’ll become a witness to stories of joy, tragedy, and familiar local icons. You’ll also have a front row seat to national and international news events and personalities – all from the vantage point of the photographers who brought the world to us one daily paper at a time.