Elliot Ball
BBC News, West Midlands
Ryan Dunn
Kevin Donnelly describes Arizona as being “massively” similar to Willenhall, Coventry
“I’m there in it, with the dirt around me, the cows around me, and that’s exactly where I want to be.”
Kevin Donnelly might have grown up in a Coventry suburb, but unlike his school peers, he now juggles his time as a wrangler and photographer in Arizona, USA.
He started life at St Anne’s RC Primary School before going on to become a photographer working in Thailand, New York and Los Angeles.
But in 2020 Mr Donnelly discovered “the most beautiful landscapes” and a community “massively” similar to Willenhall, Coventry, but in the American south-west.
“Willenhall has an excellent sense of community, and it is echoed out there in Arizona,” he said.
“No one has to pay an interest in someone else’s life, but they do because it’s an honourable, good thing to do.
“It’s very similar to Willenhall in many ways.”
‘I’ll just bring America to Willenhall then!’
Discussing the communities in Arizona he has encountered, the photographer said: “I feel like when you get out into rural America, people will give you the shirt off their back most of the time.
“A lot of people try to give it a bit of stick, but in my experience people have been wonderful – they’re really intrigued that a guy from England would be running around, lying in dirt, taking photos of wonderful horses and taking risks.”
Kevin Donnelly
Mr Donnelly said it was “an honour” to photograph rural communities in America
He added: “For me, it’s an honour to photograph rural communities in the American south-west because these are the people that grow the food for the rest of the country.
“When I got out there it was everything I thought it would be and more. There were some really interesting subcultures – people of all ethnicities.
“Out there because life is tough, everyone has each other’s backs – especially in Arizona – everyone looks out for one another.
“There’s a real sense of community and cohesion, and that’s what I wanted to capture on camera. I think it’s important to tell that story; it’s beautiful.”
Kevin Donnelly
The Coventry photographer said photographing scenes while on horseback can give him a “really unique perspective”
While expanding his photography portfolio, Mr Donnelly also works as a wrangler and “works the land”, but he said this gives him a “really unique perspective” compared to other photographers.
“I’ve always got my camera on me because you never know when a moment or a scene will open up while on horseback,” he said.
“So I carry my camera while on horseback and snap and shoot where I can.
“That’s great, because while riding it’s given me the chance to improve my horsemanship but simultaneously get the shot on horseback, six feet off the ground.”
Kevin Donnelly
Mr Donnelly said it’s “important to tell” the story of rural communities