another book of southern images…this one by clarence john laughlin.
made in the late 40’s, these poetic images are of plantations, privies, dovecotes, gravesites, and other places. many are strewn with spanish moss, and some feature laughlin’s signature surrealist touches: the use of double negatives or ’spirits’ wandering the sites.
the book has great words and stories about each place in words written by the photographer himself:
“Ruin opened its iron mouth, and laughed…over the altar of so much dead beauty…It is the face that hangs over [this] world…”
i just visited my family in charleston and these photos are reminding me of my trip. have you ever visited the aiken rhett house. it has been preserved but not restored and it’s so amazing.