Fee photographed what he saw as America's cultural icons in decline, the rusted cars, crumbling drive-in movie theaters and other discards that fascinated him.
He worked like "an archeologist, exposing the detritus of a rapidly changing civilization".

Fee's website

"He was disappointed in what America has become as opposed to what it could be".

I know the feeling, but never give up. There's a well of untapped potential in us.

America. The land that never was, yet must be-Langston Hughes

"Anything that was being torn down and removed from our landscape was of interest to me, because I feel that is what is happening to us as individuals"

Some of us would call this progress and good riddance.

Then you also have the "more things change, more things stay the same" crowd.

Some of us would call this progress and good riddance.

This misses the point entirely. Fee chronicled (masterfully) the process by which our physical landscapes shift over time, due to economic and social changes. Great, great photographer (this is seriously exquisite) and I'm sorry to hear the news of his death. Thanks for the post, matteo.

"his sense of loss for what he remembered as better times for America"

"America's cultural icons in decline"

Sounds to me to be exactly the point (of the article, anyway, if not the artist).