So I’ve been working on a project for a little while now, and I haven’t really talked about it here (not sure why!).
Y’all know I love photography, but I also absolutely love my little hometown. I grew up in a very small town of about 3,000 people in Southeast Missouri, in an area called The Bootheel. After living in bigger cities at different times during my life, I have realized I am definitely a small town girl. City life is ok, but I prefer the warmth and community feel of a small town. I don’t know if all small towns are like ours, but the people here are so warm and welcoming, and we take care of each other; there are parades for things like sending our athletes off to state championships, or welcoming someone home from the hospital after a traumatic accident, and lots of support given to families who fall on hard times and crisis. Seeing the way our community pulls together to support each other is inspiring and makes me so proud to live here.
When I was growing up, a local reporter took the time to write and publish books about the history of our town, and I remember being so fascinated by the pictures of our town in the past and how much it had changed over the years. A while back, I was looking around at how much our town has changed even since then, and I decided that I wanted to capture what life here is like now; The Portageville Project was born. I started taking pictures of places I love in and around our town, as well as areas that I feel are significant to those living here or who may have lived here in the past, such as our city park or the Mississippi River. My goal for this project is just to capture life in our sweet little town through documentary-style photography.
I have started an Instagram account and a Facebook page for The Portageville Project, where I share photos a few times a month. So far the reception has been very positive, and it makes me happy that my photos bring joy to others- especially those who have moved away and look at them for the nostalgia. I originally had a website, too, but decided to take it down, since everyone already views the pictures on Facebook or Instagram. However, you can view all the photos for the project here, as well as purchase prints of the images. Follow The Portageville Project and enjoy a slice of small town life. ♥