I am so excited to share these images I shot for Golin Harris and the CDC for their quitting smoking campaign. The campaign featured portraits and interviews with former smokers and non-smokers who have been affected by second hand smoke. I was never a smoker myself, but meeting all of these people and hearing their stories made me that much more adamantly anti-smoking. I have urged and continue to urge all my friends and family (anyone for that matter) who still smoke to please quit.
Here is a little bit about each of the people I photographed.
-Bill mixed smoking with diabetes and was forced to have his leg amputated.
-Jameson developed asthma triggered by second hand smoke at the age of 16.
-Michael was diagnosed with COPD at age 44. He had to have part of his lungs removed.
-Nathan worked in a casino for years and developed severe asthma caused by the second hand smoke.
-Terrie was diagnosed with oral and throat cancer at age 40 and had her larynx removed.
Each of these individuals has a harrowing story about what smoking and cigarette smoke has done to alter their lives forever. Please visit the CDC website to read more about each of their stories, as well as several others.