Coal Mining Mining coal is difficult, dirty, dangerous work. Miners emerge from the dark, their black faces rising towards the sky, tired legs and backs lifting their bodies out of the man-trip buggies six, sometimes seven days a week. Any man or woman who works that hard for a living deserves respect, admiration and high wages.
Coal mining is a dying industry.
Every year miners lose their jobs because of technology and huge open pit mines. I spent five years visiting small mining communities throughout Appalachia. I feel that documenting these hard working people was enjoyable and important historically and socially. These six photos are part of 40 which have been on exhibit across the country.