Brice and Crow on Porch by Shelby Lee Adams

Shelby Lee Adams has been photographing Appalachian families and individuals over the past 5 decades. Born and raised in Hazard, Kentucky, Shelby’s work is a personal expressive statement of the human condition as seen through portraits he makes of his subjects, many of which he photographs year after year.

– Adapted from Wikipedia

This photograph is one of the best-known images by Shelby Lee Adams, depicting his childhood friend and early subject, Brice, together with his older brother, Crow. Using a strong electronic flash, Shelby renders the details crisp, while creating an otherworldly quality to their porch. The composition also highlights a sense of danger one feels for the small puppy that is innocently sniffing around directly under Crow.