Ben McKeown

In my formative years, much of my photographic training came in the area of photojournalism. The art seems to fit my personality nearly perfectly, for in addition to my passion for photography, I’ve also always been passionate about stories - stories of people, stories of places, stories, just in general, that bring to light little pieces of our environment of which we otherwise may have been unaware. Stories teach us to listen, they teach us to learn, they are what we are. Truly, the essence of existence must be stories, for they are what we remember and subsequently base our lives around. Many people I’ve talked to say that when they die, what they hope for is to have a story by which they can be remembered. It is the lingering nature of our stories that ultimately make us immortal.
As a photojournalist, I am privileged to have the responsibility of capturing (and thus immortalizing) these stories. Such a privilege is grand and heavy, yet my personality embraces the opportunity unfailingly.
I’ve recently re-entered the photojournalism realm. My now good friend, Ken Ketchie, owner of the High Country Press based in Boone, NC has allowed me to do some freelance work for High Country Magazine the semi-anual magazine published by his company. High Country Magazine focuses its content on people and places in and around the Boone area - known to locals as the “high country”. I’m glad to share with you some examples of the stories I’ve captured over the past couple of weeks:

Next to his bus, artist Chris Smart shows off one of his favorite carvings. Smart says he particularly enjoys creating human likenesses such as this one. Dozens of his sculptures can be found at his roadside venue on highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Banjoist Floyd Gragg shows off his banjo at his roadside stand on highway 221 near Grandfather Mountain. Made in the 1920’s and one of only six of its kind, Gragg says, this style of banjo also belongs to musical legend Ralph Stanley.

Golfers enjoy a round in the morning at Linville Golf Club located in Western North Carolina. In the distance, Grandfather Mountain stands elegantly as a reminder of the pristine surroundings.