Joel Anderson

In Home/Land, I explore a small valley where my family has lived for generations. People often joke that the valley feels like stepping back into the 18th century, with its small Pennsylvania Dutch population and surnames tracing back centuries. Between my departure for college and my return years later, the valley seemed to drift further out of time, with a large influx of Amish. The Home/Land photographs capture this unique, shifting community and how it has evolved, from the decline of anthracite mining to the blending of old families, Amish, and newcomers who telecommute. For this project, I use medium and large format cameras, printing both silver gelatin and color photographs in my darkroom.