The Spirit of the People
2024 / 73 Minutes 6 seconds / HD Video / Color / Sound
Photographer Shelby Lee Adams reflects on his life-long journey to seek out identity by capturing portraits of Appalachia’s mountain people through the lens of his camera. Adams’ need to document the unseen self-providers creates a desire to keep alive a culture that is slowly disappearing. As Adams prepares his archive for future generations, he relives his childhood roots through annual visits to the hollers of Eastern Kentucky. A shorter 30 minute version of this film was also created for gallery screenings and select film festivals.
“Shelby Lee Adams’ journey as a photographer is told with a careful nuance by Hollenbaugh.” - Revelation Perth International Film Festival
