Sarah Balch
My intent is to understand and shed light on social ideologies concerning identity, relationships, community, and beauty though documentary photography. I strip away mass stereotyped implications and reveal personalities beneath the surface, in this case, those of the Appalachian culture. By interacting first with the subjects, I am able to gain a better understanding of each person by observing from inside of the culture versus outside.
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Acknowledging and dismissing preconceived notions of the Appalachian myths, I observe and translate, educating with a companionate eye the misconstrued and misrepresented.
I was inspired to photograph the communities of Appalachia with a curiosity and urge to better understand something that I did not know. I carried with me both knowledge of the stigmas of the Appalachian culture and the desire to discover and communicate my experience. In the summer of 2008 I was welcomed into the lives of Hobert, Jeremiah, and Sherman’s families. The experience inspired me to photograph, with dignity and honor, those who took me in and taught me their way life, giving a glimpse of their culture.
I provide the audience with something out of the ordinary, asking what it means to exist in a society completely different from their own, or what it means to exist in the context of another. The portraits are taken in a way that is reflective of an intimate and equal exchange between photographer and subject. These photographs provide a catalyst for communication and bridge a gap between the subject and audience, allowing for reflection not only of the subject but also of the audience's connection to the subject.
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