Self-Rising, 1993
The intent of my portraits is to inspire
an unrestrained awareness and acceptance
of mountain people and all people. To view
and study our collaborative portraits,
mirroring life in harmony and struggle
together from varied perspectives is our
responsibility. Probing and studying these
portraits can open us to a humbler yet
sustaining humanity, dissolving differences
overcoming fears, establishing meaningful
connections; guiding us to find reception of
each other. It is through personal reflection
and focusing inwardly that one experiences
empathy and compassion. Embracing our
diverse humanity, discovering and seeing
basic commonalities within all peoples
brings about growth, helping to form unity,
finding freedom from strife. Still only
imagining what another's life is really like.
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| The Home Funeral, 1990 Leatherwood, KY |
Neighbors Look, both within your hearts and into what these photographs embrace. Openly experience this world, a part of our world without casting judgement. Just behold, absorb, and clearly think.To embrace each other we need a more accepting, sometimes unsettling and yet more tolerant view. Photography can enable us to ultimately find, see and identify common ground within. Sometimes, a benevolent personal transformation occurs, a touch to one’s heart that makes whole, which gives the gift to see our interconnectedness. Look harder if you will.
Jane with Diddles, 1994
together, let’s them reckon' their pictures
out for themselves."
Arlie Caudill
Sherman with Wrecker and Son, 2003
"You break bread with a man you have moved on to another level of friendship. I heard somewheres that that's true the world over."
The Sunset Limited - Cormac McCarthy
Judgement
“Only when one approaches the work of art nonjudgementally does it begin to reveal the artist’s personality and creativity and their relationship.’’
Donald Kuspit, “The End of Art”
Sissy, 1988
Beaver Gap, 1998
Leddie with Children, 1990
As published on cover of my first book
by The University Press of Mississippi, 1993.
Leddie, 2002
One never really knows another's thoughts and internal life, which in part is what fascinates me about making portraits; we are always guessing. We get close making photographs, yet so much is still unknown. Psychology has become important to my portrait work because of my encountering so many distinctive people. Human behavior: how we think, look, feel and act is infinite in its complexity as is how we affect each other.
Shelby Lee Adams
From the opposite end of the spectrum; Food Stamps, Commodities and Relief
“They quit use-in stamps a few years back. You could get change back then and buy cigarettes, pop or whatever you wanted. Then you got a card you punched in your pin number and traded what they wanted you to have. Today we got SNAP cards, and I draw $150.00 a month, the government office told me I would be cut to $50.00 a month. I can’t make it on what I get now. They say they are a goin’ to take that away. They quit giving out foods like cheese, beans, flour and sugar. With a little bacon and bread, you could live on that years back. You could even buy gas for your car or whatever the store had then. Now they fixin’ to quit giving out commodities, stamps and cards. Lord, they are going to take everything away.”
—Anonymous Posted on Facebook August 2025
Current Time and History
Many of the rural people I photograph tell me they do not go to the polls to vote, nor do many watch the news that is often manipulated. Yes, they depend on the checks they receive from the government for they have no other sources. Most are not politically motivated, they love their land, family and culture as is. Many do not desire to leave the land they are born. Their potential wealth was taken from them when the big corporations paid them 25 cents an acre for their coal, timber, & underground mineral rights, when many mountain people then were unable to read and understand the documents they were pushed to sign.
At the turn of the century corporations used a decree called the Broad-Form-Deed to take much of the coal and minerals. During the 70’s the regional people took this ruling to the supreme court and the courts decided in favor of the corporations. Like the American Indian much has been taken from the Appalachian People by outsiders.
Shelby Aug. 1st, 2025
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