SHAKEDOWN is an evocative nine-year-long photographic journey capturing the essence of choppers and motorcycle culture that pervades the highways of America. Documented by Liam Kennedy who rode more than 60,000 miles on a chopper he built with his friends, SHAKEDOWN pays tribute to a subculture often misunderstood.
Through Kennedy’s lens, viewers are presented with an intimate portrait of a unique community telling a story of raw emotions, camaraderie and a sense of freedom only riders experience. Viewers are consumed and engulfed in a world of diverse perspectives and stories of riders from all walks of life, challenging the misconceptions that often plague bikers and offering a deeper understanding of what it means to be a part of this dynamic and passionate subculture.
Ultimately this body of work is a gritty and unapologetic tribute to the raw beauty of diversity, unbridled passion and the unbreakable bonds forged in the crucible of the open road. Boldly challenging societal norms, inspiring individuals to fearlessly pursue their dreams in an unrelenting reminder that true freedom lies in carving your own path, leaving an indelible mark upon the world.
Liam Kennedy is a photojournalist and documentary photographer based in Nashville, TN. He began his career as a photographer when he joined the United States Navy in 2012 and discovered his passion for photojournalism after documenting the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and Hurricanes Maria (Puerto Rico) and Irma (Virgin Islands).
Kennedy pursued a career in photojournalism after leaving the service in 2020 and since then has documented the tornado that ravaged Mayfield, Kentucky, Black Lives Matter Protests, the water crisis in Jackson, Miss. and most recently the war in Ukraine. He has also documented the modern-day biker over the course of the last nine years, which will soon be released as a monograph with Fall Line Press in 2025.
Kennedy is currently studying towards his B.S. in Visual Communication, concentrating on photojournalism at the Newhouse School of Syracuse University. He has contributed to publications such as The New York Times, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, Getty, CNN, BBC, USA Today, Mother Jones, ABC World News Tonight and Radio Free Europe. His work has been recognized by the Tennessee Press Association, Department of Defense and the International Photography Awards for his inclusion in "Ukraine: A War Crime," published by FotoEvidence Press.
Liam Kennedy
765-414-5130
LiamNKennedyPhoto@gmail.com
1019 Avery Ave., FL2, Syracuse, NY 13204
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