Inspiration

I have always been fascinated by the old, the abandoned, and the forgotten. Seeing an empty home makes wonder about its former occupants. A closed, run-down business is a portal to another time…a time where it held importance and a role in the community around it. And though the historical facts surrounding them are interesting, the feelings and humanity contained in these places are the draw for me.

Abandoned country home

When my good friend Matthew Walton began capturing such scenes in The Rural Record, I instantly loved his work, but I wanted more: what was that place in another time, and what did it mean to the people around it? Matthew and I started talking about the potential to dig deeper into these locations and document what we found, but not for the sake of history or romanticizing the past.

A gas station in another life

I believe an honest look into a place or time will uncover important lessons and experiences relevant to us today. And I believe those lessons are found in places we pass by and ignore every day. My hope is that The Rural Record not only inspires appreciation of the beauty around us, but also encourages us to find value in the things the world often leaves behind…humbly recognizing that it will eventually be our homes and lives left behind in a similar fashion.

I’m thankful for the chance to jump in with Matthew on this project, help him bring his vision to life, and happy to pick up a couple of old film cameras and learn along the way.