I traveled to Georgia last year to help out Rashod Taylor with a wet-plate project he was working on for National Geographic. That story dropped today* (here’s the link) and I wanted to share some of it.
We spent the week all over the state photographing his family members who are part of the military in some way, making tintypes as a means of engaging the complexities of Black military service.
I helped out and shot some behind the scenes for NatGeo which should be on their stories soon.
*I’m writing this the day it posted, but am publishing this after the embargo time, just for the record.
Photograph ©Rashod Taylor / National Geographic, used with permission
Photograph ©Rashod Taylor / National Geographic, used with permission
Photograph ©Rashod Taylor / National Geographic, used with permission
Here are a few snaps from the week in Georgia.
Rashod and his cousin Valerie Lewis visit the grave or her grandfather, Sgt Lecky Taylor, at the Marietta National Cemetery.
Rashod organizing chemistry at his aunt and uncle’s home in Griffith, Georgia.
This is maybe 80% of the gear we needed to cram into this van. If you look closely, Rashod is in there waving.
Couldn’t resist talking this shot of my shadow at the Marietta National Cemetery.
This is a favorite moment in Griffith. We were photographing Rashod’s Uncle Ernest “Unc” Lewis and I ended up using an 8x10 dark slide as a flag gaffed to a c-stand arm. Truly a #shittyrigs moment.
Staff Sergeant Vanessa Lewis Williams shows me where “regulation” is for her hat, in preparation for a plate Rashod was about to make.
Rashod shows family the plate in the fixer.
Once again, check out the story here.