These intimate photographs of young women were hidden away for almost half a century

Photographer Sherrie Nickol rediscovered over 300 intimate portraits and documentary photographs from 1977 after finding them in a forgotten archive. These images, taken when Nickol was 20 years old, provide a fascinating glimpse into her early photographic journey and her approach to capturing the lives of young women in the American South.

Nickol's photography began with her purchase of a 35mm Canon single-lens reflex camera during a summer trip. This experience ignited her passion for photography, leading her to enroll in a basic photography course at university. She quickly found her niche in creating visual stories about the people around her, particularly in domestic settings across Cincinnati, Ohio.

Her subjects were often women sitting by windows, looking away, or engaging with the camera, revealing a sense of privacy and directness. These intimate portraits, combined with documentary images of the American South, including family gatherings, streets, and landscapes, form the basis of the new book, Chrysalis.

Written by Hirmer Verlag, the book showcases Nickol's intuitive approach to photography, highlighting her interest in people rather than mere appearances. The sequence of the photographs, spanning her early experiences in Cincinnati and her exploration of the rural South, works together to illustrate the complex relationship between individuals and their surroundings.

The book preserves the full black borders of the film photographs, allowing readers to experience the images as Nickol intended. It serves as a testament to her growth as a photographer and her keen eye for uncovering the stories that lie just beyond the surface.