Unveiling Hidden Stories: A Photographer’s Journey Through America’s Heartland Communities

A documentary photographer dedicated three years traversing the spine of America to investigate division in the U.S. by engaging with individuals he believes have been overlooked politically, socially, and culturally for many years.

Photographer Richard Sharum examined the 100-mile wide corridor stretching from the Canadian border down to the Mexican border, encompassing the Dakotas, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas. This region is frequently labeled as “flyover” country, a phrase Sharum considers derogatory.

Sharum interacted with over 4,000 individuals and captured upwards of 14,000 photographs, which ultimately culminated in a publication titled Spina Americana. He was not solely documenting that geographical region; he was also investigating what has been causing a rift within the United States in recent times, which he claims has reached a plateau not observed since the years leading up to the Civil War.

“I have grown increasingly concerned and apprehensive regarding our national divides, and I sense that I am not solitary in this concern,” he articulates to PetaPixel.

“The governing forces have effectively provoked divisions over the past two

decades. Furthermore, I have consistently held an interest in recording communities that are often overlooked and disregarded en masse.”

Sharum captured the project from February 2021 to November 2023. Raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, he witnessed individuals laboring long hours for minimal compensation, which he states significantly impacts his artistry.

“I personally encountered a fair amount of verbal and physical aggression due to my skin color, and had to swiftly learn how to protect myself,” he recounts.

“This experience allowed me to perceive humanity for what it truly is and to recognize how delicate one’s convictions can be when confronted with an alternate reality. I have carried that understanding into adulthood, and it is evident to me that nearly all of what we consider to be differences among us is an illusion.

“We are essentially identical, irrespective of color, language, culture, and so forth. Thus, the obstacles hindering unity and advancement exist solely because we permit them.”

When queried about his insights from the endeavor, he mentions that “most individuals simply desire to be acknowledged and listened to, and once that occurs, they blossom like a flower.”

Sharum utilized a Sony RX1R II for this project and opted against color.

“It is monochrome for two reasons: Firstly, I am severely color-blind and unable to perceive colors. Secondly, for me, black and white enables me to distill the essence of what I want to convey without any distractions to the audience,” he articulates.

“It’s challenging to draw the viewer’s attention to the eyes of a laborer, positioned in a field, if he is also clad in a vivid red shirt. Black and white permits me to reach the core of my message.”

Spina Americana authored by Richard Sharum is released by Gost Books. Additional works by Sharum can be discovered on his official site and Instagram account.