On Nochaway

Norton's photography and prose chronicle the restoration of longleaf pines on her family land in South Georgia—a place she felt little connection to until a prescribed fire sparked a profound and transformative experience. On Nochaway explores the layered relationships between humans, land, and the passage of time.

A poignant journey into the heart of a disappearing Southern landscape, On Nochaway weaves together a family’s legacy with the story of a resilient and biodiverse ecosystem. Norton’s photography and prose chronicle the restoration of longleaf pines on her family land in South Georgia—a place she felt little connection to until a prescribed fire sparked a profound and transformative experience. On Nochaway explores the layered relationships between humans, land, and the passage of time. Through a unique blend of personal narrative and lyrical documentary photography, Norton invites the reader to consider themes of permanence, transience, and the enduring power of place. A deeply personal project, Norton’s story begins with the rediscovery of a family camera and a partially exposed roll of film revealing a forgotten history tied to a specific patch of land. This intimate connection allows the book to move beyond a simple ecological study and become a meditation on heritage, stewardship, and the resilience of both nature and memory. With essays from Janisse Ray, Jeffrey Richmond-Moll, and Rob McDonald, On Nochaway is for anyone who has ever felt called back to their roots or wondered about the stories hidden within a landscape.