There are nearly one hundred towns in Ohio which bear the names of foreign places. Each name reflects the dreams and aspirations of the founders of that small community in an unfamiliar environment that they were making their home. These names reflect the ambitions of people who were dissatisfied enough with their past to change it, yet optimistic and hopeful enough to make plans for their future. Still, each town’s resemblance to its namesake may be difficult to discern because today’s reality does not con
In 1985 I was moving from Colorado to New York City to begin a new chapter in my life. I was unable to live in my new place in NYC but wanted the time being creative and preparing for my new career as a freelance photographer. Having been born and raised in Cincinnati I was familiar with Ohio. I spent 2 weeks traveling around the state creating images for my corporate annnual report portfolio and also visiting towns with foreign names, photographing myself with the town signs. The self portraits were made i
When the Ohio country was settled at the end of the Revolutionary War, the immigrants and the frontiersmen who colonized the wilderness were people with grand ideas and aspirations, an indomitable spirit and a desire to make a better future and a willingness to overcome challenging, awesome odds. These adventurous spirits were dreaming of better lives possible now that the Union was free.