Natasha Zirkle of Roaring Creek Portraits became inspired to create the Blue Collar Men of America Photography Series around two years ago in order to encourage and inspire hard-working men across the nation.

“I had become more aware than ever (of) the lack of respect a lot of labor jobs are given,” said Zirkle, then noting that workers “work (until) their hands are hard and callused” in order to provide for their families.

According to Zirkle, she was inspired to begin the project after witnessing the tenacity of blue collar workers firsthand.

“We were having an addition built on our house, and the workers were scheduled to come a particular morning for the very first day. The night before, it was just storming the hardest rain — one of those torrential downpours,”

Randolph County Magistrate Judge Mike Dyer, formerly of the Randolph County Sheriff's Department, participated in the photography series

“I remember thinking that they wouldn’t be there at seven in the morning — that they wouldn’t show up — that it was too nasty and there’s no way anybody would work,” she said, adding that they did come at seven in the morning in the pouring rain, anyway.

“They started in the late fall, and soon it turned to wintertime. They were coming and working in blizzard conditions when most of us would really quickly get in our cars and do nothing else outside. I just couldn’t believe the conditions that they endured everyday. That was kind of the point when it hit me that they don’t get enough recognition.”

Over the course of a year, Zirkle photographed the workplaces of 16 different labor jobs — ranging everywhere from block layer to underground coal miner — in hopes of capturing unique images that showcase the grit and heart the men put into their jobs.

Those photographed include Ronnie Bodkins, Corey Burgess, Scott Campbell, Justin Carr, Jerry Corley, Mike Dyer, Jason Garrett, Justin Goodwin, Lloyd Heckel, Bryan Mallett, Kevin McBee, Josh McCray, Matt Ryan, Chad Ruggles, Ricky Stillwell and Billy Zirkle.

“A few of them were family members, a handful were friends and quite a few were people who I had never met before,” said Zirkle, then noting that the progression of the project wasn’t always easy.

Zirkle photographed a total of sixteen men for the series, including Lloyd Heckel of Lloyd Heckel Construction.

“Some of the places were really hard to get into — the coal mines being one of them. That was one where everyone told me that there was no way I would ever get in the coal mines. […] They decided to let me go underground after doing a safety class, and I was underground for probably three and a half to four hours, so they made it worth my time,” she said.

“Another one that was tricky to get into was the Toyota plant. It took months and months of going through different levels of approval before they actually let me go in there. So, some are easy and some are hard.”

“The purpose of all the countless hours I have dedicated to this project (is) very simple. I wanted blue collar men all over America to be reminded that they are not forgotten, not unnoticed… They are appreciated and valuable, admired and critical for the well-being of this great Nation,” she stated. “Whatever the job, I want them to hold their heads high and know their value — know that we recognize the muscle and determination it takes to do what they do everyday.”

When she finished the photography sessions, she compiled her favorite images into a tribute video playing alongside a song honoring blue collar workers that is both written and performed by Zirkle — the lyrics embodying the traits of some of the men she photographed. The song features a piano instrumental arranged by Gale Poe and guitar music by Seth Maynard. It was recorded, mixed and produced by Maynard at Lone Wolf Productions, LLC.

“My goal in the whole thing was to remind them that whether they’re picking up trash, they’re fixing toilets — whatever they’re doing — that all that is important. We take a lot of that for granted.”

Zirkle

“In bigger cities, people that didn’t go to college are often thought of as uneducated, like they weren’t smart enough to go to college, but that’s not true. God designed all of us with different sets of skills, and a lot of people who work office jobs don’t have a bit of mechanical aptitude. … They’re not to be looked down upon; it’s just a different set of skills, a different kind of knowledge, and it’s just as important.

“I want those men to know that what they do is appreciated; what they do is important to the structure of America. I don’t want them to feel overlooked– so they feel like there is value in what they do,” she said.

To view the video, search “Blue Collar Men of America Photography Series” on YouTube.