photo stories: growing up in gary

In the early 1990's I met the Rose family in a rural holler in Gary, West Virginia. The family, led in principle by divorced parents Maxine and James Rose, was comprised of ten children from varying parents. The children spent time fluidly between both households, and learned to live life under the weight of poverty in one of the poorest counties in America. 

For me, this was more of a personal project - it was a huge growth experience early in my adult and professional life.  

The pictures are from my time with the Rose family - with them I learned the beginnings of documentary work, as well discovered my love for intimacy in daily photography.