Arkansas, USA – 2013
A couchsurfing trip with a girlfriend inspired a new series which is for the most part, simply an observation of select parts of The South, the most insightful and open-minded region of the United States of America. Most images were shot from the passenger’s seat of a moving vehicle.
Shooting out of moving vehicles and through windows is something I’ve grown fond of lately. Maybe it’s because of the spontaneity or the lack of control…maybe it’s because doing it safely requires not being alone.
This gallery has images from Arkansas and Texas and some images are part of a larger, more serious project that also contains photographs from Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma. As I get the opportunities, it will extend father into The South, documenting the effects and intermingling of small communities, religious repression (primarily sexual urges) and operating in a lifelong fear-based mentality.
-
- The most peaceful little guy I met in Arkansas, a Citrine Forktail (Ischnura hastata) hangs out on a blade of grass while we both bond over our extreme dislike for humans. Fortunate for him, he doesn’t have to hate himself because of this.
-
- Two lanes, windows down. Excellent travel partner. Maybe my best days are gone.
-
- You never know what kind of weird shit you’re going to find on your way to Arkansas. These Deep South boys really know how to play pranks.
-
- Miles of nothing but grass and blue skies. Though Arkansas has a hillbilly rep it is an amazingly scenic state.
-
- A pup keeps his ear out for intruders. His owner’s mobile home was rated “Best Completely Standing Two-Tone Pseudo-Home in a 30-Mile Radius of Russsellville”.
-
- Copassengers in life…they come and go…just like your slowly-dying grandparents. You’re always fucking alone. Just make sure you pack a cool hat.
-
- Trust me…I’m never bored enough to believe in god. I’ve got plenty of other irrational thoughts to get out of my head.
-
- This is a mobile chicken hotel, or possibly a tour bus for chickens who are just visiting Arkansas–they get to see all the important sights. The tour operator running this tour based his set up off of Chinese-style tours.
-
- Please pray for everything created in your perfect image that has failed. Thanks mom and dad!
-
- Neither…I fucking hate my life and that’s why I write this blog.
-
- How can such serene beauty exist in the midst of such crazy conservative madness? I mean…this stream is not even remotely straight and it is way out in the open!
-
- Share in the love…or desperation…of believing in antiquated fairytales.
-
- Those powerlines are directly connected to heaven. A substantial portion of Southerners get all of their energy straight from the Almighty Lord. This is part of God’s “Prayer for Power” program, where each legitimate prayer earns 1kwh free energy. Just another way God helps keeps your lights on so you don’t have to watch yourself suffer a useless existence in total darkness.
-
- Can’t wait until it’s not a drill anymore. I’m ready for this one!
-
- Nothing creepy ever happened near this garage…positive vibes everywhere.
-
- It’s always Halloween in the Arkansas backwoods. Potholes, fog and a deluge of bug noises flooding your senses just might leave you carrying a double-barrel and chewing tobacco to stay awake.
-
- Early morning traveling, no time-limit, no real destination. Like heroin without needles.
-
- Steam rising off the water of a hillbilly pond. No yokels in sight, still too early for them to get up and neglect their unreasonable number of uncivilized captive dogs.
-
- These people do not know how to do crosswords…and yes, that does probably say, “HONEY + JESUS”.
-
- A rotating trinity sign with a sign below advertising everlasting life. Actually I want the opposite of living forever. Do they have a church for that?? Well, they definitely don’t in Arkansas.
