What is Kentucky without its Fairs?

Young boy at Green County Fair, Kentucky

This past summer I attended the Kentucky High School Media Institute Summer Media Workshop at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. http://www.wku.edu/khsmp/. While there I was able to practice photojournalism by going to different events in and around Bowling Green with other high school students who shared my interest in photojournalism. My mentor there for the week was Professor Jeanie Adams-Smith, who did a great job of instructing us high school students (except for getting us lost in the backwoods of Kentucky one night but that is a story for another time....!) http://www.wku.edu/journalism/staff/jeanie_adams-smith.

For the very first time I had the opportunity to use different lenses besides my 18-55 mm Canon lens. The fairs in Kentucky can be a culture shock if you aren't from around here. Not only do we have funnel cakes and corn dogs but we take it a few steps further. Ranging from deep fried Kool aid to Donut burgers (yes they are as exactly you would imagine, donuts used as hamburger buns). Everyone comes to the fair—all colors and sizes of people and animals. So if you have a chance to visit one of these fairs stop by and see us. Come for the people but stay for the deep fried Snicker Bars.

Me with my beloved Canon that I got for my 14th birthday

What is Humans of Kentucky?

 A moment in the life of an adolescent beauty pageant contestant at the Green County Fair

Welcome to my new blog, Humans of Kentucky. I was inspired to create this blog by the fascination I had with the blog Humans of New York http://www.humansofnewyork.com/.

I am a student at duPont Manual High School in the Journalism and Communications Magnet http://www.manualjc.com/ in Louisville, Kentucky. Photography is a big passion of mine and I love capturing moments in people's day to day lives.

Even though I was born and raised in the Ohio River Valley, both of my parents are from the East Coast—one is from Georgia while the other is from New York—while here I am in the "flyover" Commonwealth of Kentucky. Though it is not a state people think of as a destination point (except during college basketball and Derby season) you'll find that it is a lot more interesting then people make it out to be. With the pictures I post on this blog I will show you why.