Roughnecks

Kittle set out to examine an ""American archetype'': the men who work on oilrigs and are known as roughnecks. Traveling through Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Louisiana, he shot pictures of the drillers on and off the jobposing in begrimed overalls and hard hats, standing next to a pinup taped inside a locker door, drinking beer, proudly displaying their families (or prostitutes), showing off tattoos. There are brief quotes from the roughnecks, and pictures, by contrast, of oil executives in front offices. Kittle's color shots are effective, albeit of varying quality; and although redneck America is not unexplored territory for photographers, these photos exhibit more affection for the subjects than is often the case. Kittle's work has appeared in Life, Smithsonian and other magazines. (February)