CPOY

Gold: Jordan Tovin

A body of work that demonstrates versatility, expertise and depth and showcases a photographer's vision.

Caption
Slide 8 of 37
The Swallows
August 30, 2025

In the bluegrass region of Kentucky, many of the tobacco warehouses that once shaped daily life now sit mostly empty as quiet reminders of the past. Their rafters, that once hung tobacco, now cradle swallow nests each summer, as the birds return to buildings in flux, mirroring the uncertainty of the land below. This series of photographs documents one of many agricultural economies navigating an unclear future: where farmers pivot to new crops, officials place their hopes on tourism, and longtime residents hold tight to a way of life rooted in the land. It is not a summary of this space but rather a visual record of a rural community reckoning with the end of an era—just a chapter in a larger story about the changing face of rural America.

Location
Location map
Harrison County, Kentucky
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