“Suspended in the balance” is a portrayal of working poverty seen through individuals who are living it every day in Iowa. Iowa leads the nation in egg, hog, corn, ethanol and soybean production, yet the people I photographed live in some of the most food-insecure counties in our nation. By offering unique circumstances and stark contrasts concerning food and housing insecurity, I hope to compel people to acknowledge and address the ongoing and critical need of underserved families in their community.

The following images force us to realize the emotional trauma that occurs in people who are deprived of the basic necessities of living, with food and housing at the forefront of those needs. Food and housing insecurity is an ongoing social issue amplified by current politics, the recent pandemic and severe climate events. We see an increase in socioeconomic separation where access to food and consistent resources continues to more adversely affect marginalized communities. Their limited resources put them in precarious situations; success and failure are out of their control; and they are often numb to the world in which they find themselves.

We see who they are but are not committed to truly knowing them. They are our teachers, front-line factory workers who are critical in putting food on our tables, restaurant managers, road workers, cleaning crews who keep hospitals and food plants safe, and children. They are productive members of communities so their risk isn’t outwardly apparent, but they face the dichotomy between vulnerability and stability every day. 

The connection between people is my inspiration, and those I photograph feel empowered when sharing their stories with me. Telling their story through the spaces they inhabit provides a visual framework for the narrative. Through observations and engagement, I internalize their stories and that becomes an emotional vehicle informing the decisions I make for my photographs. It is inherent in my practice, photographing people where they are with the resulting images revealing their innermost lives. My collaborative approach builds trust with individuals that I photograph and community partners, and my photographs challenge the existing and persisting perceptions of working poverty. We begin to understand and have compassion for these community members whose struggle is not just holding a job, but simply holding it together.

Susan Sidebottom is a humanistic photographer. She partners with community groups and collaborates with the people she photographs to offer a deeper understanding of the relationship between people and their circumstances. Partner organizations for “Suspended in the Balance” include the Bridge Home, Good Neighbor, Immigrant Allies, Mid-Iowa Community Action, St. Cecilia Church, the Salvation Army, Story County Immigrant Fund, United Ways of Iowa and United Way Story County.

Sidebottom is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Bachelor of Arts degrees in journalism and speech communications. She is a proud mom of four and is dedicated to connecting people through her photography.

To view more of her work, visit sidebottomphotography.com