Americana

Navajo Portraits by Justin Merriman

1.) Clayton Long, 65, at San Juan High School on October 2, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. 2.) Tiana Sam, 16, Miss Blue Mountain Unity Princess 2017-18, photographed at San Juan High School on October 3, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. "It's important to me to save our culture and language because I'm full Navajo. Its important to pass it on to the next generation," says Sam. 3.) Marion Sequaptewa, 16, holds her great grandfather's ceremonial basket, as she is photographed at San Juan High School on October 2, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. "My Grandpa always tells me I'm not a true Navajo if I don't speak the language," she says. "It's important to me because other tribes are forgetting their language. I don't want my tribe to forget ours." 4.) Demarian Benally, 14, photographed at San Juan High School on October 2, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. Banally says, "It is important to me to save Navajo language and protect our tradition. Our culture will be stronger and others will be able to learn it." 5.) Syiera Tsosie, 14, at San Juan High School on October 2, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. "I grew up with Navajo. My mom taught me like her mother did. Navajo is passed down. Today many families are losing their traditional ways." 6.) Charlotta Lacy, a teacher at San Juan High School is photographed on October 2, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. 7.) Claramae Armajo, 14, photographed at San Juan High School on October 2, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. "My great grandmother used to speak to me in Navajo. I'm very thankful that she and my grandma taught me." 8.) Esperanzo Lee, 16, holds her Navajo flute, as she is photographed at San Juan High School on October 2, 2018 in Blanding, Utah. "It's a good thing to keep our culture and language alive. It's something we need to keep going for our youth. It brings happiness to our elders that we can share and show our culture is still here," says Lee.

Fort Armstrong Rodeo by Justin Merriman

Esther's Hobby Shop by Justin Merriman

Bob Mehler, 87, works in his business, Esther's Hobby Shop, on October 31, 2017 in Millvale, Pa. Mehler has worked in the store since he was a young boy. "I guess you can say I literally grew up in the store," he said. Read more about the hobby shop in the Washington Examiner

Rodeo Cowboys by Justin Merriman

 A cowboy stands in the back pens behind the chutes as the sun sets at the Fort Armstrong Professional Rodeo on Saturday, July 8, 2017 in Ford City, Pa. 

 A cowboy prepares for his ride in the back pens behind the chutes as the sun sets at the Fort Armstrong Professional Rodeo on Saturday, July 8, 2017 in Ford City, Pa. 

 A cowboy rides a horse in the saddle bronc riding competition at the Fort Armstrong Professional Rodeo on Saturday, July 8, 2017 in Ford City, Pa. 

Trump's America by Justin Merriman

A cross painted with "It's not about religion! It's about relationships" stands in a yard along West 6th Street in East Liverpool, Ohio on Sept. 15, 2016.

Courtney Lally, 23, stands with her daughter, Gianna, 2, at her home in  Munhall, Pa., home on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. Lally's sister, Jessica Lally, 25, and her boyfriend, Christopher Dilly, 26, were found dead by police after Jessica's 7-year-old daughter alerted a school bus driver that her parents were blue and she was unable to wake them. The two had overdosed on heroin.

Vacant business are reflected in an empty storefront in McKeesport, Pa., on Oct. 25, 2016.

Harrold Nelson, 60, stands in the street in front of his home in McKeesport, Pa., on Oct. 25, 2016. Few homes remain on Nelson's block, many of those that do remain are abandoned.

Donald Trump supporters cheer at a campaign stop at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena on October 21, 2016 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton continue to campaign as Election Day nears. 

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a campaign stop at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena on October 21, 2016 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. 

Andy Stafford, a vendor from Sarasota, Florida, holds a Trump flag as he sets up his stand in the parking lot of the International Exposition Center prior to a campaign stop by Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on October 22, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. "I'm a Trump lover," says Stafford. 

Students on a bus shout obscenities as they give the middle finger to Trump supporters lined up outside of the Cambria County War Memorial Arena prior to a Donald Trump campaign stop on October 21, 2016 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. 

A Trump supporters yells at members of the media during Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's campaign stop at the International Exposition Center on October 22, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Bill Hummel, 69, who has worked as a tow-truck driver since 1959, sits in his tow truck in Youngstown, Ohio on Oct. 26, 2016.

A sign stands in a vacant lot in Youngstown, Ohio on Nov. 23, 2016.

A Trump supporter shows off his t-shirt as he stands in line outside of the Cambria County War Memorial Arena prior to a Donald Trump campaign stop on October 21, 2016 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. 

A billboard advertising protection for people losing their homes stands above a small car dealership in Youngstown, Ohio on Nov. 23, 2016.

A crew works at a demolition site of a historic building in East Liverpool, Ohio on Sept. 15, 2016.

A painting sits in a window in Downtown, Youngstown, Ohio on Nov. 23, 2016.

A supporter of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump listens on as he speaks during a campaign stop at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena on October 21, 2016 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. 

A Trump sign sits in a window in Youngstown, Ohio on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016.

Sam Cappelli of Boardman, Ohio watches the demolition of a historic building in East Liverpool, Ohio on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is on a television at the Golden Dawn in Youngstown, Ohio on Oct. 26, 2016.

Phillip Naples stands behind the bar at the Golden Dawn in Youngstown, Ohio on Nov. 19, 2016.

East Liverpool, Ohio sits on the edge of the Ohio River on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016.  The town, once a bustling steel and pottery town, now has a population of about 11,000 people and like many towns across the United States is facing a growing opiate problem.

Antonio Lake, 6, walks in front of a Trump sign in Youngstown, Ohio on Nov. 23, 2016.

Jean Barefoot, 58, reflects on the loss of her daughter, Jessica Lally, to a heroin overdose as she stands near her Munhall, Pa., home on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. Lally was found by police after her 7-year-old daughter alerted a school bus driver that her parents were blue and she was unable to wake them.

Tom Brophey, 77, sits in his barber shop along West 6th Street in East Liverpool, Ohio on Sept. 15, 2016.  Brophey, who worked in the Crucible Steel plant, opened his barber shop after losing his job in the mill in 1982. "Everyone knows there's a problem, but no one knows how to fix it," he says speaking of the heroin problem the town faces. "Drugs are the economy now. It's like an infection. It spreads," he says.

Carl Venzeio, 77, a self-proclaimed supporter of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, stands in front of his trunk in Youngstown, Ohio on Oct. 26, 2016.

Steps lead to a vacant lot where a home once stood in McKeesport, Pa., on Oct. 25, 2016.

A giant statue of Donald Trump stands in a yard of a home along Route 982 just up the road from the Tin Lizzy, a 266-year-old tavern in Youngstown, Pa., on Sept. 26, 2016.

A closed sign hangs in front of a flag in a storefront in East Liverpool, Ohio on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016.

I spent quite a bit of time traveling through West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania documenting the presidential election, communities struggles with the opioid epidemic, and life in America's Rust Belt. The images were published a variety of publications including STAT, The Daily MailThe New York PostThe Dallas Morning NewsThe Washington PostThe Chicago Sun Times, The Times of Oman, The Boston Globe, The Oregonian, Forbes, Folha de S. Paulo, BBC and many others. 

Memorial Day by Justin Merriman

 Kevin "Slim" Forsythe performs from the back of a pickup truck along Butler Street in Lawrenceville during the Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 30, 2016.

 People watch the Memorial Day parade pass along Butler Street .

 Civil War re-enactors with the 40th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry march along Butler Street.

 Kelly Ratz, 32, (right) enjoys a comfortable chair from her tattoo studio, Rogue Tattoo, as she watches the parade pass by. 

 A Syria Shriner buzzes by along Butler Street in Lawrenceville during the Memorial Day parade.

 A man on stilts waves to crowd along the parade route.

 Maryann Brown of Lawrenceville (center) folds her hands as she watches a gold-star mother place a wreath during the Memorial Day events at Allegheny Cemetery in Lawrenceville.

Civil War re-enactors with the 40th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry fire a 21-gun-salute during the Memorial Day events at Allegheny Cemetery in Lawrenceville on Monday, May 30, 2016.