Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Steven G. Smith is embarking on an ambitious nationwide project to capture the essence of America as the country approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026. The University of Connecticut professor has been named one of 26 Andrew Carnegie Fellows for 2025, receiving a grant of up to $200,000 to support his comprehensive documentary work titled "These United States: A Portrait of America in the 21st Century."

Since launching his project in 2023, Smith has traveled extensively across 20 states, capturing thousands of photographs that showcase the diversity and complexity of American life. His visual storytelling approach aims to bridge cultural divides and challenge preconceived notions about different communities. "My goal is to cut through some of the noise, reduce polarization, promote understanding, and challenge stereotypes," Smith explained during a recent interview from rural Colorado.

The Carnegie Corporation's generous funding allows Smith to dedicate himself full-time to this monumental undertaking, with plans to complete his documentary research by July 4, 2026 – exactly 250 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The project encompasses multiple ambitious goals: producing a high-quality tabletop photography book, organizing a traveling gallery exhibition that will tour the nation, and creating a comprehensive digital multimedia experience that integrates still photography with short films, interactive mapping, and compelling narrative text.

Smith brings impressive credentials to this endeavor, having earned his master's degree from Ohio University's School of Visual Communication in 1994 before establishing himself as a respected photojournalist. He gained national recognition as part of the Rocky Mountain News team that won the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography for their coverage of Colorado's devastating wildfires. Since joining the University of Connecticut faculty in 2013, Smith has built a prolific and acclaimed body of work that spans multiple media formats.

His artistic achievements extend beyond photography into filmmaking, most notably with his award-winning documentary "The Long Goodbye," which explores the emotional journey of a daughter caring for her father with dementia. This powerful film has been screened at more than two dozen festivals, including the prestigious Cannes World Film Festival in 2023. Smith's photography and cinematography work have been featured by major organizations including ESPN, National Geographic, and the Smithsonian Institution. He also authored "Under the Dark Sky: Life in the Thames River Basin," a compelling photo essay book published in 2018.

The photographer's motivation stems from a deep desire to highlight what unites Americans rather than what divides them. "I see resilience, pride in place, cultural depth, and a sincere desire for connection," Smith reflects. "I am consistently taken back by the diversity of this vast nation and the graciousness of the people I meet." His approach draws inspiration from legendary photographers and documentarians, including Elliott Erwitt's combination of humor and humanity, Robert Frank's groundbreaking cross-country journey in 1955-1956 that resulted in his influential book "The Americans," and the Farm Security Administration photographers who created an extensive visual record of American life between 1935 and 1944.

The Andrew Carnegie Fellows Program represents one of the most prestigious awards in the humanities and social sciences, enabling recipients to focus intensively for one or two years on critical societal issues. The 2025 class of Carnegie Fellows marks the second year of the program's concentrated effort to build comprehensive research on political polarization, with Carnegie committing up to $18 million to this initiative over three years. Smith joins distinguished academics including MIT Political Science Professor Adam J. Berinsky, Purdue University History Professor Kathryn Cramer Brownell, Michigan State University's Matt Grossmann, and American University's Cynthia Miller-Idriss.

Fellows are carefully selected based on the originality and potential impact of their research, as well as their detailed plans for communicating findings to broad audiences beyond academic circles. Smith's project perfectly embodies these criteria, as he continues to photograph America's diverse communities while deliberately avoiding oversimplification. He emphasizes that "American identity is not defined by a single narrative. It is formed through many stories living side by side," reflecting his commitment to presenting the full complexity of contemporary American life through his lens as the nation prepares to celebrate its semiquincentennial milestone.