Elena Rue 2005-2006

Elena is a 2003 graduate of Kenyon College, where she studied anthropology and photography. While at Kenyon, she combined her interest in photography, farming, and fieldwork through her involvement with the Rural Life Center, which promotes local organic food in Knox County, Ohio, among other activities.

Elena Rue is working to complete the Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) Certificate program offered in conjunction with Duke Continuing Studies. During an intensive semester at CDS in 2001, she completed a number of undergraduate documentary studies courses and was involved with CDS’s Youth Document Durham program and Student Action with Farmworkers, an organization housed at CDS. She spent that following spring semester in Ghana documenting the unique sign language of the isolated deaf community of Adamorobe.

After graduation, Elena completed internships at the Maine Photographic Workshops and DoubleTake magazine and has worked with photographers Wing Young Huie, Constantine Manos, and Lisa Kessler.

Elena’s recent documentary work focuses on adoption and the changing face of the American family. Included in this body of work are international, interracial, single, and gay and lesbian adoptive families in Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Ohio, and North Carolina.

As a Lewis Hine Fellow, Elena worked with Hope for Children (HFC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. HFC supports young children affected by HIV/AIDS by ensuring they have access to basic services, such as food, shelter, education, and medical care.

To learn more about Elena’s work visit:

http://documentarystudies.duke.edu/projects/hine/gallery/elena-rue

http://elenarue.com