7 - LOOKING FOR SOUTH CAROLINA
This gallery contains a selection of images made for the StateArt.Net Looking For South Carolina project. This project has now been completed and will eventually be printed as the poster collage seen below. Text regarding my journeys and individual images are included farther down the page.
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DRIFTING ACROSS THE PALMETTO STATE
My journey into StateArt South
Carolina
got off to a rather auspicious beginning back in July of 2001. As a member of the Professional Photographer’s of America (PPA) I had been “spammed” several times by Rick Vanderpool to consider this special project concerning my home state of South Carolina. Coincidentally, around this same time I was once again experiencing some problems with a ruptured disc in my back. Needless to say, I had a great deal of time on my hands lying at home in bed. So when the last plea came from Rick about looking into the StateArt project, my curiosity was finally peaked. My first reaction after receiving more information from Rick was, “I can do this.” This thought was quickly elevated to, “I really should do this,” which finally became “I need to do this!”
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LOOKING FOR SC 7-1
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LOOKING FOR SC 7-2
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LOOKING FOR SC 7-3
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LOOKING FOR SC 7-4
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As an aspiring freelance outdoor and travel photographer/writer, the opportunity to become involved in StateArt seemed to divinely fall at just the right time and place. Unfortunately, though, the beginning of my South Carolina tour was delayed somewhat when I made the decision to proceed with back surgery. Despite this impediment I resolved to stick with the project and spent a great deal of time studying routes and making plans for my journey while my back healed. Prior to my surgery, however, I was able to knock out a few counties closer to home. With my back well on its way to recovery, by Thanksgiving of 2001 I was finally on my way.
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LOOKING FOR SC 7-5
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LOOKING FOR SC 7-6
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LOOKING FOR SC 7-7
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LOOKING FOR SC 7-8
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I will always remember the great times I had out on the road. I was constantly blessed with great shooting weather and although I mostly traveled unaccompanied, I never felt alone. There was something truly special about my journeys. Though
South Carolina
is technically the smallest state in the South, its size is the perfect fit for my photographic goals. Not only was I able to complete all the shots for StateArt but I was also able to work on some other photo projects simultaneously. I was able to begin a personal project shooting South Carolina’s courthouses and as also able to shoot many stock images for submissions to publications. My trips also helped to stimulate new ideas and generated numerous notes for return visits. In fact, at one point on a stretch of SC Highway 8 in northeastern corner of the state, it was all I could do to keep moving on the StateArt images because it seemed like every mile there were numerous photo opportunities.
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LOOKING FOR SC 7-9
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LOOKING FOR SC 7-10
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LOOKING FOR SC 7-11
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LOOKING FOR SC 7-12
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Life on the road for this project was an experience I will not soon forget. It is amazing how traveling throughout one small state can change your perception of everything. In my conversations with others all over South Carolina I have been quite surprised to find how few people have been to every county in the state. Looking for South Carolina throughout the state was a spiritual crossing of sorts. It has helped motivate me to continue documenting all areas of the state photographically. Most of all, however, it has been a tremendous tool in training my photographic eye to look for things that I have often overlooked. Indeed, I will never look at the words “South Carolina” in the same light again. And for this, I am truly grateful.
Shawn M. Knox
Honea Path
,
South Carolina
March 2005
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 make up the five principal towns of this area where cotton was once king and is, in fact, still an important part of peoples` everyday lives.'))
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