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.

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 shows one of my neighbors driving past our farm, having picked up their children from the one-room schoolhouse just up the road

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

One room brick schoolhouse used from 1800s to mid 1950s

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

Mennonite children waiting for the school bus

Amish neighbor getting jars of jelly from her basement

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.