There’s a pulse of community pride that runs through Excelsior Springs. It flows as sure as the famous waters that built this town. Travelers would come from around the world to soak in and drink up these healing waters to, searching for cleansing and refreshing.     

In late September, 40 photographers arrived in Excelsior Springs to soak in the intimate and intense Missouri Photo Workshop experience. They came from 18 states and five countries to immerse themselves in picture stories.    

What resulted from this town of 11,700 residents is a document of life in 2022. Family was a consistent theme: families at work, young new families, and families experiencing the challenges of time.    

Long-standing institutions like the town’s famous Ray’s Diner changed hands. Meanwhile, the St. Mary’s Home for Mothers continued to provide a safe space for women.    

MPW forces photographers to look with intimacy at the human condition. Photographers found their stories, pitched these stories to their faculty, and completed a photo story, rich in understanding. The experience leaves both the photographer, and those photographed, with the MPW creed well defined — “To show truth with a camera.”