w/nw: Rural

[x-ray]

Good subject!

 

[x-ray]

A few more.

 

[x-ray]

I live in a small town in East TN surrounded by plenty of great subjects.

 

[Keith]

 

[Retro-Grouch]

Irrigation pump
Stanley, NM

 

[Retro-Grouch]

I live in a small town in East TN surrounded by plenty of great subjects.

The subjects are only half the equation. They are blessed with a great photographer in their midst! But really, I'm stunned to see an entire series that looks as though it could have been shot 100 years ago. Most of rural America has been taken over by corporate entities that have squeezed out more traditional communities. Seeing your series gives me hope that the battle may not be completely lost.

 

[Keith]

 

[Mackinaw]

Canon AE-1, FD 50/1.8. Ferrania P30.



Jim B.

 

[x-ray]

The subjects are only half the equation. They are blessed with a great photographer in their midst! But really, I'm stunned to see an entire series that looks as though it could have been shot 100 years ago. Most of rural America has been taken over by corporate entities that have squeezed out more traditional communities. Seeing your series gives me hope that the battle may not be completely lost.

I really appreciate the kind words.

A lot of these go back fifty years and more and a lot no longer exist. At least in my area I can still find new subjects but I’m having to look harder and go deeper into the “hollers”.

I’ve found making contacts in the communities and cultivating friends is the secrete to gaining trust among these folks. I’ve met some great folks and made some wonderful friends. The sad thing is many of them have died in recent months. I’ve lost great friends and invaluable connections in the community.

I estimated that I have around 100,000 negatives. It’s hard to estimate but have a lot of historic subjects, some good and some bad.

I’ve been documenting the area and people since getting my first Brownie in 1955. There’s something I can’t explain why I was drawn to this kind of photography. I even carried my camera to school and photographed my friends and teachers in class and on the playground.

I remained active through high school and went into high gear in college while working as a PJ and after college as a commercial photographer.

Around 2000 I approached a long time friend and writer. We ramped up the project and started doing audio recordings of our subjects. We wound up with recordings of a cock fight, KKK cross burning, moonshiner making whiskey, serpent handling church services and dozens of more subjects. In 2007 we opened a pretty large show at the East Tenn Historical Societies museum in Knoxville. I had 97 silver gelatin prints plus audio of many of the subjects and artifacts like moonshine, KKK robe, serpent handling snake box and more.

The show was up for 7 months and drew more visitors than any other exhibition they’ve shown. Schools even brought in classes to see the exhibit. After closing here it toured other museums for 7 years.

I donated the show to the museum plus another 75 or so prints plus willed my negs to their archive for educational purposes. The Tenn State Museum purchased a number of original prints and Vanderbilt University has inquired about obtaining some of my images.

Thanks again!

 

[x-ray]

I hope everyone here understands the KKK shots are part of an assignment in 1971. I’m not associated in any way with there people.

The photo of the little man sitting on the edge of a moonshine still is the late and famous Popcorn Sutton. The person next to him is me. 4 hours after this photo Popcorns assistant set fire to the still house destroying it completely. Popcorn was arrested that evening but that didn’t slow him down. He went right back into business until his 4th arrest. After his last arrest he was tried and sentenced to 18 months in the state prison. Rather than go to Jail again he committed suicide.

 

[Retro-Grouch]

I really appreciate the kind words.

A lot of these go back fifty years and more and a lot no longer exist. At least in my area I can still find new subjects but I’m having to look harder and go deeper into the “hollers”.

I’ve found making contacts in the communities and cultivating friends is the secrete to gaining trust among these folks. I’ve met some great folks and made some wonderful friends. The sad thing is many of them have died in recent months. I’ve lost great friends and invaluable connections in the community.

I estimated that I have around 100,000 negatives. It’s hard to estimate but have a lot of historic subjects, some good and some bad.

I’ve been documenting the area and people since getting my first Brownie in 1955. There’s something I can’t explain why I was drawn to this kind of photography. I even carried my camera to school and photographed my friends and teachers in class and on the playground.

I remained active through high school and went into high gear in college while working as a PJ and after college as a commercial photographer.

Around 2000 I approached a long time friend and writer. We ramped up the project and started doing audio recordings of our subjects. We wound up with recordings of a cock fight, KKK cross burning, moonshiner making whiskey, serpent handling church services and dozens of more subjects. In 2007 we opened a pretty large show at the East Tenn Historical Societies museum in Knoxville. I had 97 silver gelatin prints plus audio of many of the subjects and artifacts like moonshine, KKK robe, serpent handling snake box and more.

The show was up for 7 months and drew more visitors than any other exhibition they’ve shown. Schools even brought in classes to see the exhibit. After closing here it toured other museums for 7 years.

I donated the show to the museum plus another 75 or so prints plus willed my negs to their archive for educational purposes. The Tenn State Museum purchased a number of original prints and Vanderbilt University has inquired about obtaining some of my images.

Thanks again!

I'm very glad to hear that your work has been archived and has a permanent home. I fear that there are a good many people who are working in this vein whose work has not yet found a home, and which may be lost, should they pass suddenly. I think of Vivian Maier, for example, whose work is now known only because of some fortunate accidents. These records are too valuable to be lost, and all of us working in a documentary mode should give some thought to where our legacy might go. Your story, as well as your work, is an inspiration!

 

[Bob Michaels]

The subjects are only half the equation. They are blessed with a great photographer in their midst!

Regarding x-ray's talent, which I believe is substantial: I believe the 3 most important keys are: 1) BE THERE, 2) have a camera, and 3) use it. The most important thing x-ray did was to BE THERE! That is where most of us lose out. Now, I am sure he did not just go to a different church one Sunday to hear a new sermon and found the preacher to open a box and pull out a poisonous snake to handle. Or, meet some old guy who happened to be running a still who said "Hi, I'm Popcorn Sutton. I make likker." I say you have to love your subject more than photography. Not everyone agrees. But I find those who make the photos that I am attracted to fit that description.

 

[x-ray]

Regarding x-ray's talent, which I believe is substantial: I believe the 3 most important keys are: 1) BE THERE, 2) have a camera, and 3) use it. The most important thing x-ray did was to BE THERE! That is where most of us lose out. Now, I am sure he did not just go to a different church one Sunday to hear a new sermon and found the preacher to open a box and pull out a poisonous snake to handle. Or, meet some old guy who happened to be running a still who said "Hi, I'm Popcorn Sutton. I make likker." I say you have to love your subject more than photography. Not everyone agrees. But I find those who make the photos that I am attracted to fit that description.

Bob you’re absolutely correct and you have that connection to your subjects too. People know who’s genuine and who’s not. If you’re allowed to make photos per chance then without that connection they’re just snapshots. When you have a genuine connection it can be seen in your photos.

I spent a great deal of time over many years building trust with the Mennonites. Even then some were rather shy. Getting into a serpent handling church is equally as hard. They are very distrusting because of they way they’re viewed by many. They’re looked on as ignorant hillbillies but most are very sincere about their faith and willing to put their life on the line.

I guess I’ve been to well over 50 of these services and met moonshiners and a couple that got busted selling drugs and I’ve met a very educated executive with Walmart who has 2 masters degrees. Another in Kentucky was a multimillionaire land developer from Atlanta. The secret is treat people with respect and show you’re genuinely interested in their lives and stories.

Finding moonshiners and cock fighters are even more difficult. What they’re doing is highly illegal and can land you in jail for a long time. Doing your research and following leads and then finding the right people is the secret.

I was allowed to photograph a cock fight, 5 cross burnings and do detailed photography of a couple of moonshiners. If you don’t think it’s difficult and very risky just try to walk into a cross burning or cock fight with or without a camera.

The KKK shot with the cross and swastika was a joint private meeting between a group of neo nazis and the Klan. Because I have a traceable history of not ratting on people and not biasing my photos and what my work is about I was the only outsider allowed in. Let me say this was the most frightening night of my life.

There is huge money in cock fighting and a day of winnings can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. These folks will protect their territory and won’t hesitate to kill anyone they don’t trust. Who you know and lots of research is the key.

The man holding up his wrist showing off his watch is actually a tracking bracelet. He was arrested the evening I photographed his stills. One of his assistants sabotaged his operation and burned the still house to the ground which summoned the sheriff. This led to his arrest and 4th felony conviction which got him 18 month in prison. He never served his time and chose to kill himself rather than do 18 months.

 

[Darthfeeble]

 

[Mackinaw]

Last autumn, northern Michigan.



Jim B.

 

[Mackinaw]

Elk season.



Jim B.

 

[Bob Michaels]

The discussion we had about the importance of being there and caring as much or more about the subject caused me to think about James Nachtwey, the consummate peacenik / war photographer. If you do not know Nachtwey or have have not seen the movie "War Photographer" in a few years, it is archived at It's not by Nachtwey. It is about him but some of the B roll is from his helmet mount minicam as he was photographing. You will get a great idea what photography is all about to the top tier.

 

[x-ray]

I’m familiar with him and his work. He’s been a big name in photojournalism for a long time.

Thanks for posting the link. I’ll check it out this evening.

 

[markjwyatt]

baleman by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

 

[x-ray]

baleman by Mark Wyatt, on Flickr

Those circular bails of hay always reminded me of giant shredded wheat.

Cute!