The True Meaning of Pictures

[ciaramc29]

look at other photographers work from this region and you will see people as they are, not shot to look so completely different, these people are "normal" yet to look at his photos they look far from "normal." Just shows the photographer can give a different spin on things just by using a different lens.

[MusicViaTim]

Pure exploitation. I'm sickened that Shelby Lee Adams tries to make people believe he's documenting these people. He knows what he wants, he knows what the critics want, he knows how to manipulate these people. Although I believe his photo's are incredible, he shouldn't try to protest that he's doing something noble. Like he said, he takes "community service" photos for the families and then delicately photographs what he wants to show.

Artistic, yes. Photo journalism, no.

[tonlo92]

She reminds me of my Grandmother. Before she passed away last year, I asked her why she had so many pairs of shoes & she told me that when she was a child she never had a pair. She had to walk to school barefoot, winter, summer didn't matter. She said her mother used to cut potato sacks to make her dresses. She was from Apalachicola, Fl. She lived a hard life, but was a great woman. Even though she wound up living comfortably later in life she never forgot where she came from & was VERY thrifty.

[caibarien71]

can somebody upload the part when Bertha sings ? (very end of the documentary,,when she died,,,,

[caibarien71]

THE BEST DOCUMENTARY I HAVE EVER SEEN,,,, HIGHLY RECOMEND IT TO EVERYONE !!!

[pcamjf]

I LOVE THE MUSIC IN THE DOCUMENTARY. I also don't think that the director/photographer is saying that ALL people who live in the mountains are like this one particular group. Anyone else who lives off the land in North Carolina or where ever may tell you that they don't live like this. The Appalachians cover a lot of ground with a lot of different people.

[swbpower]

I have it aswell, love it.

[zelphia1]

I am sorry for all you Shelby fans but I cant stand this junk!! It in no way portrays life in the mountains. I have a few questions for you all what in the hell is so wrong with people who make a living off of the land!! I can t stand Shelby Adams. I do however have the video myself because I am sad to say that my family is in it!! And we do not live in the way that he said we do!!!

[syrupdrop]

@zelphia1 hi, tell us more! i'm fascinated by these dignified by people. nothing wrong at all with living off the land - that's my dream!

[Pollypot]

I love these people and i see no reason to criticize them at all

[AIIahuAkbar]

this documentary of incestuous, backwoods trash is funny.

[thepallasbull1]

Being a photography student and having watched the whole documentry i feel that the American system is letting these people down and Adams is exploiting these people for his own gain ( to help sell his books )

there are some disturbing scenes in it

the most disturbing to us all was the scene where he allowed the brother and sister with special needs to kiss ( thus portraying that this was normal) this to me should have been left out as it served no purpose in the documentry.People will exploit

[KentuckyRangerPro]

@thepallasbull1

You need to step away from your education and look at life with your own eyes.

To say the scene of Homer and Selina, the 2 mentally challenged siblings, kissing disturbed you, only shows your over educated, skewed perception of the world around you.

Shelby's books sell because they're honest and show his talent as a photographer, nothing more.

[thepallasbull1]

I suppose that being from two sides of the world we both have different ways and perception of whats normal and to be honest education has a lot to play with it.

yes i agree he is a wonderfull photographer and has captured many beautifull shots

The beauty about the whole documentary is that it shows the down to earth people and their struggle for existance ..

If I could produce works of art like Shelby I would be very happy, very happy

[TheCindy1111]

@thepallasbull1 Right. Because only non special needs people are allowed to kiss their siblings on the cheek.

[kiah520]

Being born and raised in Appalachia I think it is necessary to show these types of photographs but I also believe Shelby Lee Adams needs to revise how his works are titled. In other words, I feel that Mr. Adams has portrayed all of Appalachia in this manner and it's simply not true!

[LeonardMemento]

I own this documentary, it is Beautiful !

[timmyguy13]

where did you get it??

Can you buy all the documentaries from ovation??

[LeonardMemento]

I actually just had a local music/dvd shop special order it for me.

[medusawoman]

I caught this show last week. What a fascinating portrait of people. Brutal and raw.

[ubuibiok]

*****