My America - Rashod Taylor Photography

My America is an examination of what it's like to live in America as a Black man. The wet plate collodion process was first introduced in the 1850’s. I use this process to connect the past to the present, and to explore the atrocities of slavery, Jim Crow and the institutional and systematic racism that remains so tightly woven into the fabric of American society. The American Dream is founded on the idea that equality of opportunity is accessible to all people, but it is a dream which continues to be out of reach for a majority of Black Americans. By capturing the Black America that I live every day, I hope to shed light on what people unfamiliar with Black lives either don’t want to see or refuse to acknowledge.

My exploration of the land extends beyond visual documentation; It extends into the intricate layers of history, memory and human experience. Ossabaw Island, situated off the coast of Georgia, serves as a poignant backdrop for this exploration. Capturing the ethereal beauty of Ossabaw’s landscapes is the surface of my artistic endeavor. Beneath the lush foliage and sweeping vistas lies a profound narrative of struggle and resilience for my ancestors who endured the brutality of enslavement on this very land. I strive to evoke the presence of those who came before me, whose labor and suffering have left indelible imprints on the island’s terrain. I seek to honor the lived experiences of the enslaved individuals who toiled on these planation’s, their stories intertwined with the very soil I stand. Each image becomes a testament to their resilience, humanity, and their enduring connection to the land.

* The wet plate collodion process was first introduced in the 1850’s. It’s a process that requires tin, glass, or photographic medium to be coated, sensitized, exposed and developed within about fifteen minutes. If working in the field, it requires a portable darkroom for development. Though the overall experience can be delicate and cumbersome, it renders each platea one-of-a-kind art piece.