ÒA Photographic Journey Through Small Town AmericaÓ is a series of photography books created from a two-year project in which I traveled the back roads of America seeking to discover the essence of life in small towns. From the thousands of images documenting hundreds of towns, I discerned common themes that were evident in multiple towns across the country. I am featuring these themes in individual books.
This one is called ÒGhost Signs.Ó It contains images of many types of signs from days long gone, revealing relics of the past that give us a glimpse into the townÕs history. For some of the signs, you can still read the original words, but in others, time has obscured the reality of that which was there. These remnants may be faded, broken, rusty, or cracked now, but they represent something that was viable at one time. As such, rather than simply viewing them with sadness, it is valuable to remember that they also were once a vibrant part of the towns. I find it intriguing and worthwhile to imagine what the signs looked like before the deterioration. In the ghost signs, is there beauty in that which remains? What stories do the images tell? All aspects of the images can be viewed as symbols and as such, can carry meaning. Above all, I hope that these images from across the country provide both enjoyment and some insight into life in AmericaÕs small towns.