They say the most beautiful pictures are candid. They speak to human emotion. Fabrication is a manifestation of the truth. To accurately represent humanity in its purest form one must capture subjects in their natural form.

Parkland Art Gallery showcases an exhibit of culture with “People and Places Revealed: The Documentary Photography of Kerry Stuart Coppin and Amanda McCadams.” Both collections are meant to bring about understanding by calling upon real life.

Coppin is known for works that display economy, history, culture, and urban life. He grasped these matters when traveling to urban West Africa and the Diaspora in a quest to open the eyes and minds of fellow men. He wants to close the gaps separating the Black community, for African-Americans to be in touch with others around the world. Each can then look at one another in a new and clear way. His black and white photos showcase the raw elements in the rough. Subjects include distressed landscapes and human strength.

Amanda McCadams’ works are very different, but they still compliment Coppin’s. Variations in subject matters give way to new views of the country. McCadams hopes that Americans will leave with knowledge and an appreciation of this diversity. Both collections of photographs bring light to a world full of misconceptions.

Parkland Art Gallery features “People and Places Revealed” from Jan. 14 to Feb. 14, open Monday through Friday from 10am to 3pm, reopens Monday through Thursday from 6pm to 8pm, and Saturday from noon to 2pm. excluding Martin Luther King Jr. Day. There is a reception on Jan. 17 from 6pm to 8pm and a Gallery Talk at 7pm.