Pearl, Pineville, Kentucky
Film scan from a 120mm negative.
53 Responses
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On 17 July 2008 Eric Finster gave props:
What an intriguing capture! Where was it taken?
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On 18 July 2008 Timothy Little said:
my question is when? It looks like it could be 1920. Great capture.
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On 18 July 2008 John E. May said:
This family lived in south east Kentucky in their log cabin. They had electricity, one bare bulb hanging in the kitchen. I visited them three times way back when I was in college. This image was made with a 500 CM with TX film... best I remember. Made in the spring of 1982. This image has been very special to me... It has traveled around the world. I will never forget the look in their eyes when I would give them photos from my past visit. In the photograph here, she was telling me where her husband and son were. I was taken the way she was holding her pet cat Snowball. I'll try and post a few more soon... Thank you both for your comments and questions!
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On 18 July 2008 Ivailo Petkov said:
beautifully WOW ............
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On 18 July 2008 Bradley Nichol gave props:
Stunning!
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On 18 July 2008 karl gave props:
Now this a great B&W photo, its hard to beat 120.
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On 18 July 2008 Andrea Moussanet said:
i don't know, maybe it's just my opinion, but i think this image shows how amazing film is... i think...
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On 18 July 2008 Brandy Amos said:
John, this is simply phenomenal. This leaves me speechless. Even the thumbnail is riveting. I can't quit looking at it! Beautiful, beautiful work.
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On 18 July 2008 William Brueggemann gave props:
One of a kind very good
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On 18 July 2008 Keith Skinner gave props:
John you have captured a masterpiece - this is such a strong and moving image!
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On 18 July 2008 Jason Platt gave props:
this would make a great addition to the growing up theme john!
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On 18 July 2008 peggy gardner gave props:
very emotional shot for me - says a thousand things.
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On 18 July 2008 Katrina Serene said:
Wow, Awesome shot. SOO powerful!! The emotion in it is very strong. Great image
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On 18 July 2008 Henry Bowman gave props:
Powerful, powerful! This image screams out in silence. Outstanding!
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On 18 July 2008 John E. May said:
thanks everyone...had a Commercial shoot starting @ 10 AM and just got home @ 11:02 PM to these wonderful comments! thanks to all!
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On 19 July 2008 Juliann Langeheine said:
A view into a much different world than most of us are accustomed to. Looks to be a very hard life. Incredible portrait. Congrats!
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On 24 July 2008 Dmytro Chornyi said:
absolutely great!!
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On 24 July 2008 Magalhães Maria De said:
Strong and beautiful pic!
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On 24 July 2008 May Lattanzio gave props:
John, this is incredible. Have you enough for an essay or a photoessay book? www.createspace.com, for all of you who want to do something like this, is the best venue - better than Lulu.com - for this.
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On 24 July 2008 laurent bourlier said:
bravo/congratulations
the way you shoot this photo, like in the mid 20th century,
is still powerful !
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On 24 July 2008 william zimpel said:
great shot sincere mood congratulations william
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On 24 July 2008 Lanora Mueller said:
Stopped me cold... and took me back to my grandmother's front porch. Beautiful is not a strong enough descriptor. Thank you.
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On 24 July 2008 Newweird said:
i just can't help but wonder what these people might be doing right now; whether they're still alive or not.. have you got any news from them later on? and the cat! my parents used to have a cat named Snowball back in 82 - the year i was born. amazing, really..
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On 24 July 2008 Jim Goodin said:
John that's a really great image, like a cross between grapes of wrath and I don't know but so much the edge of Appalachia... so much life so much heartache and feeling...
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On 24 July 2008 Adrienne Darnell said:
wow, this is brilliant.
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On 24 July 2008 Robert Duncan said:
This work, especiallyl, could very easily be a Dorthea Lange.
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On 24 July 2008 Victoria Amato said:
ok. I love Pearl ad Snowball. This photo has so much heart. It is beautiful and humanistic. One of the best portrait photos I have ever seen. Also it reminds me of some of the "salt of the earth" people I met in the hills of North Carolina when I would visit my Grandmother. Thank you for sharig this image.
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On 24 July 2008 N said:
I hope she is in a good place. In the simple surroundings I can sense love in the way she touches Snowball and hope and spirituality in the way she looks to at the horizon, lost in he rthoughts.
This picture tells a true story and that is what good photography is about.
Congratulations. You leave me wanting to know more about her and her family. What is the complete story? -
On 24 July 2008 Esme Wright gave props:
I cannot believe this is real. Gorgeous.
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On 24 July 2008 Marie (Rhe) Harris said:
A lot of sadness can be seen in the eyes. A true depicition of many a people I knew. This lady has seen many a year of hard living. Great photo.
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On 24 July 2008 Anne Brisco said:
This is one of the most powerful shots I have seen since Life mag's Dust storm shots back in the day. I think you know which one I mean. I rarely see this style of photography anymore , but when I do it doesn't have what this does. This is the type of photography I long to do . Absolutely Awe Inspiring . Thank you for sharing.
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On 24 July 2008 Raymond John said:
This photo is great. The thing I love about it is that you can see in one instant the inner life of this woman who has had to struggle, probably her whole life, just to survive. There is so much character their, and love, and vividness about the grit of life that most of us rarely if ever experience.
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On 24 July 2008 Just P said:
Walker Evans, Dorthea Lange- anyway you look at it, it's just a beautiful image.
I was also taken by the juxtaposition of the overall grit of the photo and the tenderness of the hands holding the cat.
Thanks for sharing- can't wait to see the others. -
On 24 July 2008 Piero Cauduro gave props:
Grande fotografia - Great photo
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On 24 July 2008 Thomas Henry gave props:
Wow! One of the most impressive and moving portraits I've ever seen!
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On 24 July 2008 Franziska Funke gave props:
wow :)
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On 24 July 2008 Karl Browne gave props:
Phenomenal shot. Reminds me of Walker Evans
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On 24 July 2008 Marco Profanarte said:
Remarkable!
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On 24 July 2008 Debbie Cannaday gave props:
Amazing shot, so full of emotion..
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On 24 July 2008 Sara Lee McK gave props:
Reminds me of dear old mom.....awesome!
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On 24 July 2008 candie schulthess said:
reminds me of my aunt Belva who lived in Kentucky all her life. she had a very hard life but she was a gentle soul. I never heard her once raise her voice in anger. I'm sure she's got a place in heaven.
thanks for sharing -
On 24 July 2008 Guy with a camera gave props:
wow that is a haunting image!!
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On 24 July 2008 Martie Last said:
This is as fine a photo as Dorothea Lang shot during the Great Depression. Please make sure that you protect your copyright of this photo. What an extraordinary documentation of time and place in America! This is a masterpiece.
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On 24 July 2008 Leanna Lomanski gave props:
Not much to say that hasn't already been said here.........this is a stellar piece of work. A great great portrait in the largest sense of the word.
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On 25 July 2008 Joseph H Dalton said:
Agree with Leanne...this is so damn good. Plus how beautiful of you to give them photos you've taken on your return visits...
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On 27 July 2008 Vickilynn said:
Thank you for sharing this, we will never meet that family but through your photos - and may I say we are richer for it! Thank you!!
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On 27 July 2008 Bless Santonia said:
interesting!great photo!
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On 27 July 2008 Lois Elling said:
I was also drawn to this photo. It's very powerful. My mother-in-law came from Pineville, Kentucky, so it was especially interesting. I'd love to see more of your visits there.
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On 27 July 2008 Lisa Slifko gave props:
Is there anything else left to be said about this image?? Wow!! Stirs the emotions, provoking such a deep thought surrounded with compassion.
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On 28 July 2008 Rosana Prada said:
It's a wonderful and beautiful capture!
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On 28 July 2008 Allison Sullivan said:
Beautiful... Reminds me of Shelby Lee Adams...
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On 29 July 2008 Christophe Le Canne gave props:
Stunning !
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On 29 July 2008 Laura Boston-thek gave props:
Absolutely moving image!!
Also by John E. May
