"When I die let my ashes float down the Green River
Let my soul roll on up to the Rochester dam
I'll be halfway to Heaven with Paradise waitin'
Just five miles away from wherever I am."
John Prine's music is at the heart of how I came to love and understand the American landscape. Almost every good idea I've ever had can be traced back to something I learned through his gentle, heartfelt lyrics. These photos were taken at the Rochester Dam in Kentucky, the day after the news broke that we had lost John Prine to Covid-19. I drove three hours, still uncertain about the virus and wondering if I was taking a risk. But I felt drawn to that place he famously sang about. Being there was unexpectedly powerful. Everything—the pebbles, the roots, the birdsong—reminded me of the eternal cycle of life and the universe. Energy doesn’t vanish; it transforms. In such a difficult time, this was a comforting reminder. Even in death, John continues to share a profound, cosmic beauty. These pictures are my way of saying thank you, John. Eternally.
