project statement
“Photography about Amish people was always separated by distance. Photos were taken from a distance, accompanied by written assumptions or fantasies about our lives. It seemed to me that a fogged window separated our worlds. The Amish yearn for a glimpse of the outside world, and the outside world longs for a peek of the plain and simple. I wanted to show my truth, and through my friendship with Honey, I hope we have defogged the Amish. We are one even though we live in separate worlds.”
— Barbara Miller

“Amish are complicated, generally secrective people who are usually thought of in connection with pies, carpentry, shunning, the lack of electricity, multiple children, horse drawn buggies, and romanticized by those of us wishing for what appears to be a simple life revolving around God and family. I have known Barbara for fifteen years. Two years ago, we began this photographic collaboration. Recording moments of Amish living as reflected in Barbara’s eyes was a pleasure and a responsibility. Barbara and I mutually decided on the environments for these pictures. Our friendship and understanding of the complexities inherent in each of our lives made this project possible. In addition to making these images, our respect and love for one another deepened beyond words or pictures.”
— Honey Lazar