My Peoples

Ken West

Shaun Connell

22 Mar 2023 — 1 min read

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started."

– Mark Twain

About four years ago I was on a photo walk in downtown Atlanta.

I came to an intersection and across the street I see this brother walking with the unmistakable bop of a free man carrying a little girl.

When he got to my side of the street, I complimented him on his clear adoration for his daughter. He smiled and simply agreed. He went on to explain that just about fifteen minutes earlier he had just been released after a lengthy detention and his sole prize was getting to hold his daughter.

This moment resonated with me because it was so saturated with love from a source that society says is irreparably barren and caustic.

I love this image because the conqueror wants us to not realize that the love that dwells in the heart of the conquered is more pure and unadulterated than anything we’ve been sold or told.

About Ken West

Ken West is an award-winning, Atlanta-based fine art photographer with a preoccupation with the mundane.

You can find his highly recommended book, The Beauty of Everyday Thangs on his website.

Connect with Ken

Website / Instagram / Twitter

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