Amberg's first book, Sodom Laurel Album, was published in 2002 by the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke and the University of North Carolina Press. His second book from Madison County, The New Road: I-26 and the Footprints of Progress in Appalachia, was published in 2009 by the Center for American Places at Columbia College Chicago. To complete the trilogy, a third book, tentatively titled Shatterzone, is in progress.
Amberg is the recipient of numerous awards and grants, including the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the North Carolina Humanities Council, the Center for Documentary Studies, and others. In 2004, he had the honor of presenting Sodom Laurel Album at the Library of Congress.
The following 10 images are from the series Shatterzone.

I-26 at Buckner Gap, 2008.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Boy With Jawbone, Walnut, 2007.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Benny at Troublesome Gap, Big Pine, 1980.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Carrie Henry, Marshall, 1976.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Molasses Making at Elden Henderson’s House, Big Pine, 1978.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Ally, PawPaw, 2012.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Shu and Griffin Shaving Cheyenne, PawPaw, 2012.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Cheoah Webb Butchering Hogs, Dry Pond, 2010.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Cathy Bennett and Scar from a Ruptured Appendix, Cargile Branch, 2013.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

At Cricket’s Birthday Party, Big Pine, 2011.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.
The following 10 images are from the series SODOMSONG.

Cas Wallin Singing at Home, Sodom, NC.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Berzilla Wallin (left) and Her Aunt, Zipporah Rice, Rice Cove, NC.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Evelyn and Dustin Ramsey Cutting Tobacco, Sodom, NC.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Byard Ray at the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, Asheville, NC.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Denise Norton O’Sullivan Singing in the Barn, Sodom, NC.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Sheila Kay Adams, Sodom, NC.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Larry Norton Singing at the Easter Gap Gospel Sing, Sodom, NC.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Doug Wallin Fiddling at Home, Crain Branch, Sodom, NC.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Berzilla Wallin (left) and Her Aunt, Zipporah Rice, Rice Cove, NC.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.

Morris Norton Playing the Tune Bow, Sodom, NC.
Copyright © Photograph by Rob Amberg, 2014.