Portraits of the Remaining Residents of a Diminishing Austrian Mining Community

Austrian photographer Erwin Polanc focuses on the rapidly diminishing mining community not far from his hometown. 8790 tells the tale of Eisenerz, a small town that has decreased in population by over 10,000 in the last 60 years. Once a thriving source of work and livelihood, the mountains now ominously shadow over Eisenerz’s former prosperity. Mining continues more than ever but with significantly less labor and the wealthy are few. With the young leaving in droves and the retirement homes growing each day, Polanc examines those who have chosen to stay in this dying community. 8790 is about a town at a haunting standstill, the images recording the landscape and personal stories of survival one day at a time.

This post was contributed by photographer and Feature Shoot Editorial Assistant Jenna Garrett.

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