A Drug Free Land

car — Auto City Speedway Clio, Michigan, 2003 Thomas Kern

police officer — 9/11 Memorial Parade Flint, Michigan, 2003 Thomas Kern

wrestling — Wrestling at the Boys and Girls Club Kearny, New Jersey, 2009 Thomas Kern

women on a poster — Women Only State Prison Chowchilla, California, 2006 Thomas Kern

Livestock Auction Diner Sugarcreek, Ohio, 2009 Thomas Kern

Zabriskie Point Death Valley, California, 2003 Thomas Kern

Military Funeral Santa Fé, New Mexico, 2003 Thomas Kern

Sidewalk Graffiti Flint, Michigan, 2003 Thomas Kern

Farm Auction Hettinger, North Dakota, 2004 Thomas Kern

High School Fence Oakdale, California, 2003 Thomas Kern

Battle of the Bands West Helena, Arkansas, 2009 Thomas Kern

Swiss photographer Thomas Kern shows us a seemingly forlorn America off the beaten path.

This content was published on July 22, 2010 - 11:34

As a photo editor I am responsible for the editorial use of photography at SWI swissinfo.ch and our collaborations with photographers. When the opportunity arises, I take a camera and accompany one of our journalists. I trained as a photographer in Zürich and began working as a photojournalist in 1989. I was a founder of the Swiss photographers' agency Lookat Photos in 1990. A two-time World Press Award winner, I have also been awarded several Swiss national scholarships. My work has been widely exhibited and it is represented in various collections.

Thomas Kern is a silent observer, the subject of his work remains the unspectacular everyday life of America and its people. A visual commentary on the state of the nation in pictures that appear to be familiar, and yet remain remarkably resistant.

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