I added a new section of work to my portfolio site called Glory.
I have wanted to photograph a tent revival for as long as I can remember. This summer, on one of many trips home to photograph, I happened upon a tent meeting where a service had just gotten underway. Sitting in my truck with the windows down, listening and not wanting to intrude, I noticed a man get up from his chair, leave the cover of the tent and make his way to me. “You’re welcome to join us,” he said. I explained that I was a photographer and that I didn’t want to impose and take the focus away from the message. Gripping my hand again, he said, “Honey, you can take pictures of anything you want. You’re welcome here.”
Brother Roger Stevens and everyone in attendance that evening welcomed me and invited me back to another tent revival a few weeks later. In Baisden, I met Jay West, son of well-known tent preacher, R.A. West of Varney, West Virginia. These photographs are from July and August of 2014 in Goody, Kentucky in Pike County and on Gilbert Creek in Baisden, West Virginia in Mingo County.
Though I don’t identify with their specific beliefs, they are familiar to me. The language, the signs, the themes. Roadside signs that serve both as warnings and promises, waypoints to help one navigate on both the literal and spiritual road. Songs of hope and promise, messages of a need for salvation. “I’ll tell you what this nation needs; it needs Hell preached hot,” Brother Roger says in one his sermons.
These are early photo and video sketches of a series I hope to work on over the next several summers. I’m grateful to have met these folks.
Glory – tent revival series. from Roger May on Vimeo.
Hi Roger I really appreciate what you are doing here and also the explanations with it. I think it more important now than ever that we as a culture stay connected, talk to each other and try to understand each other. I can’t help but think that projects such as this one are of tremendous help in this regard.
Hey Roger – first – I think its great you actually do a blog and maintain it and post great pictures to it. Mad props man. You asked for comments on the new layout. I think it looks good, except that on my macbook the images are a little too big. I have to scroll a bit. Is that my screen setting or is it that the images are just a bit too big?
I’d love to hear how your blog works for you. My website is mostly neglected (by me, especially). I’m not considering a blog – at least not at this point, but would like to put more energy toward my facebook page and a tumblr page… one of these days.
Would also LOVE to get out more and photograph – and your work makes me want to do that, for sure.
“Glory” reminds me of one of Tom Roma’s books – Come Sunday. Do you know it? Fine work.
Thanks. Ken.
I’ve enjoyed this section called “Glory.” It made me think of the film “The Apostle.” I felt like Robert Duvall got it right. Anyway, I appreciate the work you’re doing here.
Tent revivals were a big part of my life growing up. I’m happy to see them documented here. Evocative work, I really love the picture at the top of this page of the woman with her arms out thrust.