Before coming to the U.S., my understanding of America was shaped by the images exported through Hollywood—glossy cityscapes, endless highways, a country in motion. When the countryside appeared on screen, it was either a quaint escape, a place of eerie isolation, or a backdrop for someone else’s story. But stepping into rural America, I realized how much was left unseen.

Hollywood rarely captures the real complexities of rural life—the economic struggles, the deep-rooted traditions, the political divides that carve out a way of life distinct from the country’s urban centers. The U.S. is vast, bordered by oceans and shaped by limited infrastructure, making it easy for rural spaces to remain hidden—even to those living within them.

Shot in the summer of 2024 at the Cummington Fair, this series captures a glimpse of that unseen America. A world where county fairs still bring communities together, where work is physical, traditions hold strong, and time moves differently. These images document a version of the U.S. that isn’t shaped by Hollywood, but by the people who live it every day.