Oil Country is a project about the numerous refinery towns along the Texas Gulf Coast and the communities within them. This project uses the medium of photography as a geographic research tool to provide an illustration of place. These towns, which are some of the most heavily polluted areas in the United States, struggle to deal with the environmental and health impacts of the refineries. Still, the communities within them remain resilient. These images provide a window into these towns and the reality their people face today. This reality is one that is pertinent to this moment in time and exemplifies humanity’s strength against forces that threaten our existence on this planet.
Drew Ducote is a photographer currently based in Brooklyn, NY. His photographic work incorporates geographic concepts like place, space, and the passage of time to craft a narrative through his images. Additionally, his work often highlights environmental issues and power struggles that are apparent in American society today.