Customer Reviews

Appalachian Lives

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Those who have followed Shelby's work know of his deep respect for the friends and families he photographs. His talent, dedication and love for his subjects is apparent in his work and reinforced by his text. This third volume is a "must have."

I am a great fan of this book as it has inspired me to try to be come a better photographer. When you see his photos you see the real rough-hewn people without the masking of an airbrushed reality. It is clear that he has created meaningful relations with the subjects of this book and as a result they are willing to share who they are, and I for one see pride and strength. The rich textures and patina of life is so vividly captured by his images that I found myself constantly going back to this book as a reference to refine my goals for my own images. These photographs are real, intimate, and he is a rare chronographer of a deep woods Appalachia that still exists. If you are offended and don't want to see the truth maybe you should not purchase his books on photography, those more open minded will find it quite beautiful. I have been to similar places and this is an honest view of how it is.

I cannot be anything but baffled when I read some of these other reviews! Adam's is doing nothing to degrade or push anyone into a stereotype. He is a documentary photographer, obviously documenting a place in which he grew up. He isn't railroading these people. Have you read any of the texts that accompany his photographs? The photographs are stunning, the people real and dynamic. Fantastic book!

In a world where photographs should stand by themselves and be judged as photographs, Shelby Lee Adams is forced to walk a dangerous wire. His photographs of economically disadvantaged Appalachian families could easily be seen as exploitative and, indeed, they have received much criticism along those lines: "Wealthy city slicker comes down to the hollar' to poke fun at the local folks." The only real down side to "Appalachian Lives" is that Adams has to spend so much time in text defending his photography, explaining to the reader that he came from that area, that he went to the same schools, that he knows these people, and that he's known them for years.

The bottom line is that Adams' photographs are beautifully executed. Is it a scientific sample of life in Kentucky? Surely it isn't, but ultimately I think the only real question is "Were the subjects of the images represented fairly." And I think they were. I don't question Adams' motivation, I'm inspired by his skills as a photographer to open a window for me to look through that without him, I would have forever been denied.

I am somewhat confused by the people who bash Mr. Adams work, and those who suggest that he is exploiting poverty. The local Wal Mart magazine racks are packed full of airbrushed images of malnourished pop icons. Noone gets upset at that, and that isn't a reality in any sense of the word.
Mr. Adams has brought beauty from the everyday. He has shown us happiness is not purchased at a make up counter, or a tanning salon. He shows us true reality of living, and that simplicity is beauty.
For those who think he is showing the worst of Appalachia, I disagree... he is showing the common everyday life, and the effervescence of humanity that noone should be ashamed of.
The problem with most people is they don't have a warped sense of beauty. Mr. Adams captures the polor opposites of light and dark. The stark reality of death and the joy of life... even if that life makes some uncomfortable. To those living it, they know no difference, and make no apologies.

as a canadian..watching this show. threw mw off a little bit.I have seen it twice,and see nothing wrong with showing the rest of the world people and places they would never see for them selves.further more i believe that any one whom doesnt like the book/movie is very close minded,and should open them selves up a bit.I can say that if not for this show.. i would not have known that people like these ones featured in the show.. even still do excist.id recomend this show/movie to any one who looks at life and all in it..with an open heart body and soul.

I photograph WV coal towns. My Mom greww up there and every summer as a child, I played and lived in those places.

When I photograph now, folks claim the same, athough, I am no Shelby Adams, I have corresponded with him, he has looked at few of my pics and I can say in all honesty, he has never ever photographed the worst. Thats lost on many folks.

Shelby gives us a mirror and in that mirror, lookking at people who many would dismiss, we see truth and beauty. Its as real as any moment and hence the genius.

This is 5 stars. This is life and this is a truly gifted man, and now, a gugenheim fellow

Go Shelby GO!

This is a beautiful book for those who are interested in Shelby Lee Adams, the first book that I've found for under $100, totally affordable and great for any photography fan. I don't feel the negative reviews on this site are very helpful since they're simply accusatory of Adams work in principle, and look at his work as both an artistic expression of the world Adams is from or as an attempt to preserve a dying culture, a lost lineage of American heritage. I praise Adams for his bold ability to humanize many of these people. Thank you Adams.

The thing that struck me most when viewing these photos was that Mr. Adams was documenting a way of life that defies contemporary values. Most reviewers here seem to think that it is sad to see so many "poor" "hopeless" or "downtrodden" people in our wealthy county. What I see instead is an enclave of people who CHOOSE to live simply and honestly and who don't worry too much about what the rest of society thinks of them. The people depicted in Mr. Adams' photographs look to me to be strong, proud, healthy, and hardworking. They don't need a 5 bedroom 3.5 bath house for 4 people-- they are content with small, simple, and comfortable. They don't need satellite dishes, dishwashers, or SUVs. On the other hand, I see the people in this community controlling their own work schedules, spending TIME with each other, working together, raising children and grandchildren, praising God, and appreciating their environment. Maybe if they worked for "the Man" 14 hours a day and gave their kids over to day care workers they could have bigger, fancier houses and bigger, fancier cars. But I don't think they would consider such a trade-off to be a good thing.

It appears to me that, for the most part, the people in eastern Kentucky have everything they need and most of what they want without succumbing to the "Buy! Buy! Buy!" mentality that fosters resentment and discontent among the rest of us. I admire them for sticking to their values and marching to the beat of a different drummer.

Shelby should be ashamed of himself!! He knows he staged these pics...I am a resident of one of the hollers photographed!! I am close personal friends with some of the subjects and they were told what to wear, how to look, where to stand to get the worst possible background. I am from a holler and I am a proud, CLEAN, HARDWORKING, HOLLER DWELLER!! Shame on you for what you have done to your own kin!!