West Virginia coal miners are the focus of the photography exhibit now on display at the Cultural Center in West Virginia's Capitol City.

"They're all full length, head to toe, and they're life size and they're photographed life size on the film which gives them incredible detail and incredible clarity and, as a result I think, a lot of power," Artist and Photographer Thorney Lieberman said on Monday's MetroNews Talkline.

An opening reception for Lieberman's photo exhibit was scheduled for Monday night from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the state Cultural Center. 

Lieberman moved to West Virginia from Colorado where he had photographed Native Americans in full regalia.

After the Sago Mine Disaster in Upshur County in 2006 that lead to the deaths of 12 coal miners and the underground mine fire at Aracoma Coal's Alma Number One Mine in Logan County the same month, Lieberman says he started taking pictures of West Virginia coal miners.

"I realized that I lived in coal country and that I really should turn my camera to the people that I live with," he says.

The pictures say something, Lieberman says.  "It's a very intimate look at a person."  It takes 30 pictures, shot on a grid, to make one full size photo.

The exhibit is opening as part of FestivALL events in Charleston.

It will remain open for at least the next month.