somewhere between a handshake and two kisses

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about

Paige Green is a documentary and portrait photographer, whose storytelling approach to photography frequently addresses issues involving agriculture, land use, and food. Her work is featured in nine books and has been published in Glamour, National Geographic Traveler, New York Times Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, GQ, Country Living, House Beautiful, and Culture. Paige lives in Petaluma, CA with a house full of boys.

  • Seperatists Unite

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    This is Aaron, my sole representative of Christian Exodus, so far. He moved to SC a year ago, he packed up what belongings he could, including his dog, in a minivan and left his home state Maryland. This was after his initial attempt to bike down as a publicity move for CE. Aaron only made it 60 miles before he learned that CE would not be able to support him after-all and so he turned around and biked home.

    This could have served as an indicator for Aaron that CE might not be the well organized and supportive community he was hoping for because he has been disappointed with the lack of community and support he has found from CE thus far. Which he believes is because the leaders have yet to move from California to lead the community they are supposed to be building and also because it is not easy trying to organize separtists who do not like to be told what to do. He says he is just like a Mennonite man but without the beard and more political. And to be more specific, he calls himself a:

    Mennomessiocostalbapterianmethoquakerist. He wants to live off the land as it says in the Bible.

  • Consumer Nation: It is getting better(?)

    “I think it is getting better because you can find more organic food.”

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    “Shopping is my high, when I am depressed I go shopping.”

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    “When we die, we will be covered by all the things we purchase, that is going to be our hell.”

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    ” I just think about all the things I could give up and give to people so that they could survive. But instead of doing anything I just feel guilty.”

  • I don’t know how mom’s do it…..

    My mom says it is because they are not mine…..I say I am glad they are not mine and I was more than happy to return to my four-legged, shedding babies after a day at River Falls Park in Greenville, with Ann and Chrissy and their little people.

    Today proved to me that I am out of photography shape as I got served by a three year old, a two year old and a nine month-er…..and their mothers. I was reminded how much of a song and dance it is to photograph little people and in the future I need to hire a clown for an assistant.

    The day was gorgeous, as was the location, and the kids are super cute….but the three-year-old wasn’t having it, and the two-year-old frowned at me and the moms talked. The baby however, couldn’t have been better…..that’s it…..new requirement only children who can’t walk, crawl or talk.

    No, I am just whining, I loved it and am thrilled to be able to have the time to meet the new extensions of my friends, and to be able to give them memories that will last for-almost-ever…..

    Here is the ‘cutest kids in the world’ winning photo of my day:

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    Nap time, for all of us. If you want to see more of the ‘before’ (the cute stuff) click here.

    And now that I sold myself so well, if you have cute kids you want me to photograph, please don’t hesitate to call.

  • Welcome to Reidville….

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    This was Reidville, SC’s Sizzling Summer Event last Sat night….and my new community….I love it.

  • not a great photo but….

    an amazing experience…..imagine showing up to an event and realizing that the second to last competition for Greer Idol was about to happen….but you only realize it because people are holding signs and wearing t-shirts with a girl’s face on it. So I asked this man what was the story behind his shirt…..”Greer Idol, this is my daughter, she is one of the remaining three who are competing tonight and she is expected to go until the end”…..”can I take your picture please?”

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    Jennifer Johnson is the name of this man’s daughter….and she can sing! She is definitely going to win…..look for her on the next American Idol, try-outs are next month, and she’s going for it.

  • shopping ‘R’ us

    Welcome to strip malls and chain stores. Welcome to anywhere USA.

    But what are families supposed to do, when there aren’t many other options, and time and money are not disposable? For young working families, it has to be cheap, fast and convenient. This is life for millions of Americans….

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    Susie learns about helium, as her second balloon floats to the ceiling. It is a tough lesson for a two year old.

  • turning 3

    The biggest challenge of them all….photographing a 3 yr old’s birthday party with a camera made in the 50’s…..I looked cool doing it, but my photos are hit or miss….these are some of my favorites.

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    The photo actually includes Darren’s feet but the place where I have the negs scanned goofed on a few of my rolls….this is one of them.

  • Asking for directions….

    …can lead to some amazing experiences. I was on the way to Lake Keowee, to visit Ann and her family and I wasn’t exactly sure I was going the right way, when I saw this man, Homer Price, on the side of the road with his spray can full of herbicides….

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    I pulled around and asked him if I was headed in the right direction and I found out I was….and so much more…turns out Homer was in the mood to talk….and before I knew it, I was meeting his wife and touring their cabins, looking at doll collections and photo albums and drinking a coke on the couch. I was very late to the lake….but I realized this opportunity was a gift that I would not have again if I didn’t take advantage of the moment….so it was worth arriving 2 hours late with my melted chocolate pie. My only regret is that I missed photographing the ant that was working hard navigating through the twisted strands of Homer’s beard, until Judi squished it between her fingers.

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    This is my portrait of their self-portraits, very close to the real humans, except for the four left hands.

  • best friends and babies

    Being back in the South, where I grew up, means visiting friends from my childhood… and their children. So I am also using them as models for my look into the American way of life for middle class families. Ann and Susie are my favorite models… and we go everywhere together. It is good practice for me.

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    Ann and her husband Darren bought a house in the neighborhood that we grew up in. They wanted a safe place to raise their daughter Susie and their new one who is on the way.

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    Spending the summer at the lake is mandatory in the South. Every good Southern family spends as many weekends as possible at the lake skiing, tubing and just driving around.

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  • Japanese Beetle Assassin

    aka: mom

    This is my mom. She is a bit of a rarity in her neighborhood….I would even guess some of her neighbors might call her a bohemian because of her unconventional unruly yard….and if her neighbors knew about her technique to get rid of the Japanese Beetles that eat the flowers on her crape myrtle trees…..they might call her worse.

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    As a gardener she is a good environmentalist…she does not spray her plants with pesticides that would protect them from even her worst enemies, the Japanese Beetles. So instead she cups her hands around the flowers, shakes the bugs into her hands, then rubs her palms together….the sound is amazing and the color of her hands afterwards is definitely a work of art….and that is my mom.