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 ÒOnce A Dream.Ó It contains images depicting businesses that did not succeed, at least in the long term. As I traveled the country exploring and reflecting on the sights in small towns, I found myself drawn not only to that which was surviving, but also to those businesses that were now closed. To me, these remnants represent far more than defeat or deterioration, but rather they represent a dream that was alive and well at one time. The black and white treatment emphasizes structure, textures and patterns of the buildings, and that which was left behind. I hope that these images from across the country provide insight into life in AmericaÕs small towns. And I truly hope that the ownersÕ dreams were fulfilled.