Mississippi Dream

“America is still out there… you just have to look for it.” — Larry Niehues

“Look past the blue skies of the Magnolia State to find a community rich in spirit. A tribute to the culture of the Deep South, French documentarian Larry Niehues captures sides of Mississippi far beyond its landscapes in his second book, Mississippi Dream published by Lannoo Publishers.” — The Eye of Photography

“A photographic journey across America that connects the present with the past in ways that make us contemplate our collective future.” — Ibarionex

Mississippi Dream is French photographer Larry Niehues’ second book following Nothing Has Changed, his ‘love letter to America’. For this book, Niehues chose to go deeper into his fascination with the Delta region of the United States and focus on the great state of Mississippi. In this passionate exploration inside the culture of the Deep South, Niehues captures aspects of Mississippi far beyond landscapes and blue skies. These are images that were taken throughout 2020 & 2021 while confronting a pandemic, as well as major flooding that deeply affected the Mississippi Delta. This raw and passionate body of work captures a range of moments; from epic performances by Blues legends at iconic local juke joints, to more intimate settings. It documents century-old Baptist traditions and everyday life in what is often referred to as ‘The Most Southern Place on Earth.’ The photographs tell a story that feels both nostalgic and surreal, and is sure to inspire a deep sense of what life is like in the Magnolia State.