Appalachia

My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

Worldwide | Tuesday, November 8, 2011 | 5 photos

While I'm currently a student of Graphic Design, photography has always been one of my passions. These two disciplines intertwine frequently, allowing me to take the most beautiful aspects of life and express them through digital art.

Oftentimes lines on a map are used to define a region; however, to truly know a region, you must look to the culture within those borders. I grew up in southern Virginia and have always taken pride in my Appalachian heritage. This led me to explore the rural community that represents and helps define this beautiful place. One could argue that the farmer’s way of life is slowly fading—only to be replaced by suburbia and technology. My photographs show the tradition, simplicity, hard work, and spirit of this region's people. I hope that my work will help bring awareness to this fading way of life, and potentially aid its preservation.

Berenice Abbott said, "Photography helps people to see." That's what I want to do; I want to tell stories through photographs and help people not just look at a situation, but actually see the story behind the picture. I'm eager to learn more, develop my style, and get to know myself as a photographer, and I think this scholarship will help me accomplish that goal.