‘Close Encounters’ National Geographic publication

I am thrilled to announce that a photograph from my Junkanoo documentary photography project has been selected for ‘Close Encounters’, a story for the National Geographic website. The story features 28 photographs that the editors Matt Adams and Kristen McNicholas selected out of more than 13,000 submissions.

From the article:

“Each editor on this story realized very early on that the title Close Encounters could have many different meanings. It could be an up close view, it could be you the photographer getting to know a location, person, or species on a deeper level, or it could be that brief moment where things just appear closer than normal. The following images are a collection of three points of view that make up one final story. This was our close encounterwith the incredible images submitted to this assignment.”

Erik Kruthoff Photography Junkanoo National Geographic

Click image to go to story on NationalGeographic.com

Book covershot. History Among The Hills – Morehead, Kentucky The 2017 Mountain Workshops

It was just announced that one of my photos was chosen for the 2017 Mountain Workshops book cover! The workshop invited 60 of the best up and coming photojournalists to attend and together we created some great work covering stories about the town of Morehead, Kentucky. There were a lot of amazing photos taken throughout the week and to have mine be chosen for the cover means a lot!

See my assignment story, Mother En Pointe, from the workshop here.

Social media cover reveal

erik kruthoff book cover

The Mountain Workshops 2017 Book Cover – History Among The Hills / Morehead, Kentucky

 

Photo Story: Mother En Pointe – The 2017 Mountain Workshops

I had the pleasure of of participating in one of the best photojournalism workshops out there, The Mountain Workshops put on By Western Kentucky University. Each year they go to a different small town in Kentucky and document life in the area, culminating in a published book, a website, and a gallery exhibition.

 

Each participant picks a name out of a hat on the first day, and that’s your story to follow for the next 4 days. Team captains are assigned, along with supporting editors and writers, to help guide you along the way. It was an incredible experience and I grew a lot as a photojournalist and storyteller.

 

Here is my contribution to the workshop,

 

erik kruthoff mountain workshops 2017 morehead

Street Photography from La Boca, Cuba.

Road Trip: Driftless Wisconsin

One weekend in the summer of 2016 my wife and I traveled to an area in Wisconsin known as the “Driftless Area”. It’s the southwestern corner of the state which was not glaciated during the last ice age which results in a beautiful landscape of rolling hills and deep river valleys that work their way toward the Mississippi River. This is the area where the great American architect Frank Lloyd Wright grew up and built his own home and studio, Taliesin. I remember coming to this area as a child and camping at Tower Hill State Park, canoeing on the Wisconsin River with my dog and hiking up to the shot tower overlook.

We based ourselves in Wisconsin’s 3rd oldest city, the former Cornish mining town Mineral Point, home to a thriving artisan community and steeped in Wisconsin history. The town is full of historic stone buildings, quirky artisans, and  a handful of good local restaurants and bars. We stayed at the Tuckpoint Garden Suite we rented through Shake Rag Alley. It’s definitely one of the coolest places I have stayed. High stone walls from the 1800’s and finished with restored and reclaimed items, attention to every detail was considered when making it. There’s even a short book on the history of the building you receive just for staying there.

Here are some of the pictures from the trip:

 

 

 

Road trip through rural Wisonsin.

Road trip through rural Wisconsin.

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Devils Lake state park

Swimmers at Devil’s Lake State Park.

Devils Lake state park

Hiking at Devil’s Lake

Devils Lake state park

Devils Lake state park

The Devil’s Doorway rock formation at Devil’s Lake State Park.

Devils Lake state park

 

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Tuckpoint, our B&B rental in Mineral Point.

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Stained glass window in the bedroom, Tuckpoint.

tuck point mineral point

Flower arrangement at Tuckpoint

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Shake Rag Alley

Stairs to Shake Rag Alley

Shake Rag Alley

Shake Rag Alley

Shake Rag Alley

Shake Rag Alley gardens

Shake Rag Alley gardens

Gardens at Shake Rag Alley

Shake Rag Alley blacksmith

Blacksmith workshop at Shake Rag Alley

wisconsin landscapes by erik kruthoff photography

Shake Rag Alley entrance

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Old house in Mineral Point.

wisconsin landscapes by erik kruthoff photography

wisconsin landscapes by erik kruthoff photography

wisconsin landscapes by erik kruthoff photography

wisconsin landscapes by erik kruthoff photography

wisconsin landscapes by erik kruthoff photography

Mineral Point

mineral point downtown

Downtown Mineral Point

wisconsin landscapes by erik kruthoff photography

Antiques in Mineral Point.

mineral point wisconsin art

Artist’s studio. Mineral Point

wisconsin landscapes by erik kruthoff photography

Artist Tom Kelly in his studio. Mineral Point

wisconsin landscapes by erik kruthoff photography

Mrs. Gevelinger’s 4th Graders Pencil Stub Collection

mineral point artist Tom Johnson

Pottery Studio.

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wisconsin landscapes by erik kruthoff photography
erik kruthoff photography

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The banks of the Mississippi River along the Wisconsin state highway 35.

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Mississippi River from Lansing, IA

wisconsin landscapes by erik kruthoff photography

Mardi Gras Indians, Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs in New Orleans

While traveling to New Orleans for the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, I was especially excited to witness the Mardi Gras Indian groups and the Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs that form an important part of New Orleans culture and identity. The similarities to these traditions and Junkanoo in The Bahamas are apparent. It is interesting to see these traditions in a cross-cultural context. Any Junkanooer could easily jump into a second line and fit right in.

Mardi Gras indians Mardi Gras indians Mardi Gras indians Mardi Gras indians Mardi Gras indians Mardi Gras indians Mardi Gras indians Mardi Gras indians Mardi Gras indians _Y1A0241 _Y1A0233 _Y1A0212 _Y1A0210 _Y1A0207 _Y1A0205 _Y1A0194 Mardi Gras indians Mardi Gras indians New Orleans Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs New Orleans Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs New Orleans Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs New Orleans Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs New Orleans Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs New Orleans Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs

New Orleans Street Photography

My wife and I recently traveled to New Orleans to attend the annual New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. After living in the Caribbean for a number of years, it was interesting to note some of the similarities between the cultures. I especially was interesting in seeing the Mardi Gras Indians perform as well as some of the brass bands and second lines. No one I asked was familiar with Junkanoo in the Bahamas, even though the traditions have striking similarities. Walking around town, we gained a little glimpse on this amazing and vibrant city. It’s truly one of America’s cultural gems.

_Y1A0093 _Y1A0089 _Y1A0081 _Y1A0079 _Y1A0041 _Y1A0035 _Y1A0031 _Y1A0024 _Y1A0023 _Y1A9994 _Y1A9971 _Y1A9957 _Y1A9955 _Y1A9926 _Y1A9906 _Y1A9860 _Y1A9857 _Y1A9848 _Y1A9844 _Y1A9839 _Y1A9836 _Y1A9822 _Y1A9810 _Y1A9807 _Y1A9803 _Y1A9793 _Y1A9780 _Y1A9771 _Y1A9767 row of historic new orleans houses

Junkanoo Season Officially Starts. Genesis Junkanoo

With Junkanoo Carnival finished up, it’s time to switch gears to this year’s Junkanoo. Weekly group practices and activities have started. I will be attending various groups’ practices and documenting their progress. Here are some shots of Genesis Junkanoo Organization, who recently made the jump to an ‘A Group’ classification, which means they have over 200 members rushing.

Junkanoo band practice in theBahamas Junkanoo band practice in theBahamas Junkanoo band practice in theBahamas Junkanoo band practice in theBahamas Junkanoo band practice in theBahamas Junkanoo band practice in theBahamas Junkanoo band practice in theBahamas Junkanoo band practice in theBahamas Junkanoo band practice in theBahamas Junkanoo band practice in theBahamas Junkanoo band practice in theBahamas Junkanoo band practice in theBahamas Junkanoo band practice in theBahamas Junkanoo band practice in theBahamas