Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

PROJECTS

Home/Land

In Home/Land, I explore a small, remote valley where my family has lived for generations. People often joked that the valley felt like stepping back into the 18th century, with its small Pennsylvania Dutch population and surnames tracing back centuries. Between my departure for college and my return as an adult, the valley seemed to drift further out of time, with a large influx of Amish. The Home/Land photographs capture this unique, aging community and how it has evolved, from the decline of anthracite mining to the blending of old families, Amish, and newcomers who telecommute. For this project, I use medium and large format cameras, printing both silver gelatin and color photographs in my darkroom.

Dorothy and the Duck

My Amish neighbor Dorothy and her pet duck. I was visiting the farm to see her father and photograph some of their sheep when the children began showing me their various pets. I asked the father if he minded me taking a few phot — Dorothy and the Duck My Amish neighbor Dorothy and her pet duck. I was visiting the farm to see her father and photograph some of their sheep when the children began showing me their various pets. I asked the father if he minded me taking a few photographs and he agreed

Dorothy and the Glasses
Dorothy playing with a pile of sparkly sunglasses her mother bought at a yard sale for the girls to wear while doing gardening and yard work — Dorothy and the Glasses Dorothy playing with a pile of sparkly sunglasses her mother bought at a yard sale for the girls to wear while doing gardening and yard work

Amish neighbor Dorothy and her pet pony Blackie

Miniature horses and small carts are used by Amish children to learn skills they need for using buggies — Amish neighbor Dorothy and her pet pony Blackie Miniature horses and small carts are used by Amish children to learn skills they need for using buggies

Amish neighbor getting jars of jelly from her basement

Amish neighbor children Dorothy and Mary playing in the newly cut grass. Dorothy decided to bury her sister

Mennonite children waiting for the school bus

Amish kids on scooters going home from school

In 1975 a small community of Amish from Lancaster County moved north into the Lykens Valley, where land was cheaper and population numbers had declined as young non-Amish left the area for school and work. This photograph, Coming Home From School, shows one of my neighbors driving past our farm, having picked up their children from the one-room schoolhouse just up the road

Snow Day
Three Amish boys walking home from school in the fields across from my farm. — Snow Day Three Amish boys walking home from school in the fields across from my farm.

Amish often have chest freezers located in the basements of their English (non-Amish) neighbors. They pay a small rent for the electricity use

Amish Cemetery
The land this small cemetery is located on was owned by my great grandmother. The cemetery is located directly across from our farm. — Amish Cemetery The land this small cemetery is located on was owned by my great grandmother. The cemetery is located directly across from our farm.

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