Across America, the landscape is changing.

Time, building codes, even expanding farmland take their toll on the buildings, streets, and icons that shape our past. The traditions and activities that used to be common place begin to fade. Before long, people start asking, “What used to be there? How did people live here?" as their memories fade and there’s nothing present to remind them. It only takes one generation to forget.

The Rural Record works to save these memories one vignette at a time, providing a catalog of photographs to spark interest and tell the stories of places and traditions that seem to disappear before we know it.

It all started by accident.

I grew up in Northeast Arkansas and produced commercial photography and video throughout Eastern and Central Arkansas. On the job or wandering about, I would regularly shoot scenes that interested me: buildings standing in the middle of nowhere, dilapidated main streets, towns with artifacts from a bustling era no longer populated. Over time, a collection of these images naturally developed. I thought if they meant something to me who hadn't lived in these areas, they might have a special place for folks that have a connection or just simply lovers of the rural aesthetic.

I created an Instagram account in 2019 to begin sharing this archive. As 2020 turned into what it did, I found driving down back roads and gravel trails was better than sitting at home. A friend of mine, Matt Nix, wanted to explore with me and we began hitting the road as often as we could. His contributions have become a central part of the project.

Purposefully documenting this environment began to reveal the patchwork of rural living. Some towns were still thriving, while others had fallen into despair. We’ve run into all kinds of people with stories of “how things used to be,” and it wasn’t until recently that we’ve tried to preserve the conversations themselves.

From the towns to the turnrows and the atmospheric space in-between, there are more stories than we can possibly gather in one lifetime. Maybe it spurs others to find out more about the history around them or strikes a visual chord with someone that wants to hang a print on their wall. The end result will be to remember and celebrate the lives and livelihoods of those who came before us.

The Rural Record: An Introduction

Across America, the landscape is changing.

The Fire : Peach Orchard, AR