Coal Town USA

giganova said:
That's funny, Keith, I almost didn't take this picture because the bridge is such a cliché of WV!
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I'm not the only one who liked that one then. Nothing wrong with cliches, when the photo is good.

Many other good ones, too.
 
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Closed Walmart. The closing of Walmart was a big loss for the region because it provided many jobs and served as an anchor for other business. I made a little experiment and stitched together a mosaic consistent or 37 individual frames:

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This series is really getting good.

People like the Klansman will never understand one of the real reasons for a loss of coal jobs is the companies found ways to mine more coal with less workers, especially mountain topping.

I met a fellow worker a couple of months ago that I hadn't seen in years, and knowing what he is like, I tried to keep the conversation on neutral subjects. But it didn't matter what we were conversing about, he'd inject something about Obama, welfare cheats, gun rights, etc., etc., etc.

I could stand to not see him for another ten years.

PF
 
x-ray said:
Excellent work!

My early years were in a small coal and oil town. You captured the essence very well and handled it very well. You allowed the people to preserve their dignity.

Well done.
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I agree. Very well done.
 
giganova said:
Ku Klux Klan members! Father with his two sons. The father was the most hateful person I have ever met in my life. Can't repeat here what he said about President Obama (would get me banned from RFF!). He kept saying that Obama was a Muslin who wants to destroy the USA. When I asked him how he knew that Obama was a Muslim, he said "Because I said so." No point arguing.

When a Geico insurance car drove past, the guy jumped out of his chair, raised his fist into the air and shouted as loud as he could "F%$#@ gecko! I hope a snake will bite your f%$#$@ head off!". Yes, he was shouting profanities at a cartoon character on the side of a car. All I could think of was "I NEED pictures of them in their silly robes and hoods, with a burning cross in the background!!" but decided that I don't want to spend any more time with these people, so I left.

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nice series- thank you for sharing. as much as you would not want to hang out with these 3 characters- they would be the link to a lot more interesting cast of characters, if you live to get the film developed!
just noticed their hillary sticker….
 
Superb series. Thank you.

As moving as it is, to put things in perspective, West Virginia always looked like that. As a child I grew up in post-war Italy. When we moved to the USA and traveled quite a bit, West Virginia left indelible images in my mind that I still see clearly today. It was the only place I've ever been in the USA that reminded me of poor areas in post-war Italy.
 
danielsterno said:
as much as you would not want to hang out with these 3 characters- they would be the link to a lot more interesting cast of characters, if you live to get the film developed!
just noticed their hillary sticker….
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You are absolutely right! After I got into my car and left them, when the whole awkward conversations with them sank in a little bit and I calmed down, I realized what an idiot I was to not further pursue this. So the next morning I went back and drove around quite a bit looking for them, but I never saw them again. I might go back in the Fall and will try to "befriend" them for the sake of fine photography. They actually liked me -- probably because I'm originally from Germany, tall and blue-eyed. Maybe I should put a fake swastika tattoo on my arm next time I see them! :D
 
Huss said:
Did u use a filter? (yellow/red etc)
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Huss, I use a red filter for the wide 21mm shots if there's some blue sky. I keep a light yellow filter as protection on the 50mm lens. No other filters.

BTW, I never mentioned this, but I'm just guessing the exposure based on the "sunny 16" rule. For critical shots and when I have time, I bracket my shots -1/0/+1 to make sure one has a decent exposure.
 
i dont know how i missed this thread, but bad on me! i dont make these kinds of comments often, because ive seen too much to be easily impressed. but i must say, i thoroughly enjoyed this and think your work here is nothing short of marvelous. thank you.
 
giganova said:
Huss, I use a red filter for the wide 21mm shots if there's some blue sky. I keep a light yellow filter as protection on the 50mm lens. No other filters.

BTW, I never mentioned this, but I'm just guessing the exposure based on the "sunny 16" rule. For critical shots and when I have time, I bracket my shots -1/0/+1 to make sure one has a decent exposure.
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Thanks! Keep em' coming!
 
Since you like my new Klan friends so much, here's two more of father & son:

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This guy was a tough cookie and clearly a "rebel outlaw", but look at his Smurf tattoo on his left arm! I mean, how tough can this guy be? :D
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This is Mack restoring a vintage V8 Chevy engine in his garage:

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Mack asked me to follow him and he led me to this old diner where members of the Road Angles vintage car club met:

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This is Richie putting a new engine in his old truck. Richie used to work in a coal mine but started his trucking business when he got laid off.

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