Doris Ulmann, like many great photographers, started out doing other things and rather haphazardly found her calling. Born in New York in 1882 and educated at Columbia University, Ulmann intended to teach psychology. Instead she ended up making portraits of intellectuals and writers and capturing the essence of rural culture in Appalachia, without condescension or romanticization. Below are a few of her images, but you can see more here.

Shielded from the sun.

Southern mountain man.

Nice going, Einstein.

Laborer's hands.

Fellow photographer Clarence Hudson White.