I made my first visit to the Rose family in “Call Hollow” in the Fall of 1998. To me, they resembled people I had seen in the Appalacian portraits of my former teacher, Shelby Lee Adams. In reality, thesewere among the last mountain people,
living on 5 acres of land bordering Harriman State Park, not far from my home in Haverstraw, New York..

While my first efforts were dissatisfying to some of my subjects, we agreed that I would continue to visit, making pictures which would portray them in an honest and open way. Over several months during1999, I would spend many hours each week just being there with them and my camera.

Ultimately, the ‘observer’ became the ‘observed’ as I came face to face with the reality that I had, in fact, gotten “too close.” After several consultations with former teachers, I decided that my work in “Call Hollow” was finished.

Looking back I realize that, to me, it was a test to see if I could be honest enough, real enough to be accepted by the Rose family as someone who wanted to document their lives fairly and to create a record of their existence at that particular place and time.

Ken Karlewicz 2005