Faculty Spotlight: The Documentary Photography of Thomas E. Franklin

As violence, extreme poverty, and persecution continue to drive record numbers of people from their homes worldwide, forced migration and border security have become the most critical issues of our time. Over the past five years, SCM Journalism Professor Thomas E. Franklin has explored both personal and collective tales of people seeking safety in foreign lands, and the heroic efforts of those trying to help them, in places such as Greece, Mexico, and in the U.S. Recently, a collection of his documentary photography was featured in an exhibit at the ROMANO GALLERY in Blairstown, New Jersey entitled “Seeking Refuge: Images of the displaced by war, poverty, and persecution.” All the photos bear witness to both historical events and the more subtle shifts in cultural attitudes that speak to the historic migration numbers.