ABSTRACT
Visual methods to study rural crime can be valuable for humanizing those under study. However, these methods can also contribute to further stigmatization if not done in thoughtful ways. Our aim here is to show how, with thoughtful care, the inclusion of photographs of crime and deviance in rural areas can aid in providing valuable insights into how economic conditions structure people's lives. In making our case, we draw on our experiences from an 18-month-long photo-ethnography of people living in rural Alabama who use methamphetamine. We demonstrate the benefits and challenges of using photo elicitation interviews with vulnerable people in rural areas by emphasizing the importance of representation.
