BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County’s Fiscal Court took a moment Thursday to recognize a local artist who is flipping the script on how Appalachia is seen. Freelance photographer Andrew Gess—known for his stunning shots of local landscapes—has had his work splashed all over town. You have probably seen his images on the walls of the old jail downtown, decorating Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty’s office or on that eye-catching “Welcome to Martin County” sign along Route 645.
“For what he’s doing, I thought it was important we acknowledge him,” Judge Lafferty said, gesturing toward the young artist. “I grew up in Martin County at a time of poverty, and I dare say when you Google Martin County, most of the images you see of our county are negative. They show us a lot of impoverished areas—and that’s all true; we’re not trying to hide any of that. But this young man is beginning to show us a completely different light. His artwork is unbelievable. …I think his picture of the Warfield Bridge is one of the most iconic photos that I’ve ever seen in my life. His work is just incredible, outstanding. He has become the photographer for the Appalachian Mountains, presenting us in a positive light.”
Lafferty then handed Gess a plaque as the court members beamed with hometown pride.
“I can’t decide which one of his pictures I like the best,” District 5 Magistrate Ronald Workman chimed in.
Gess, who grew up along the Tug River south of Lovely, has been taking pictures since he could hold a camera. His portfolio spans everything from family portraits and pet pics to sprawling landscapes and wild elk—one of his personal favorite subjects. He also favors waterfalls.
For Gess, it is more than capturing beautiful moments.
“It’s about taking people on a journey,” he said, clearly excited about his next passion: drone photography. His aerial footage, particularly a recent video of a coal truck cruising through Warfield, went viral.
“It’s a whole new world,” Gess said, chuckling about his childhood days dodging coal trucks. “They used to spill coal out the sides, and we’d have free house coal forever.”
Despite being largely self-taught, Gess credits photographer Mary Reed Runyon from Pike County for helping him learn his camera. Now his mission is clear: telling the story of Appalachia from the inside.
“I’m not an outsider,” remarked Gess. “I’ve crawled through coal mines and breathed that dust. I want future generations to have the evidence of who we are. That’s my biggest project.”
To follow along on his journey, check out aceimages.net or find Gess on Facebook for the latest.