I am totally surprised by the fact that we have so little internet service along the California coast. Even in L.A. we had spotty net service even using a wifi mobile hot spot, we have been without a signal a lot of the time. This may end up being true all across the country. So if we are not posting, it is because we cannot for one reason or another.
Of course the most obvious thing is that at the rate we are going, we will never make it across the country. We have laughed and joked about this. Like what happens if we never even get out of California? Well, fact is, who cares? Certainly not us.
There have sort of been two concepts rolling together on this project. One is the American Family concept and the other Off For A Family Drive concept. Two related but different things. We have pretty much decided to go for the latter which opens up the freedom door. I mean I don’t think I can just photograph families and have that be the book. Just too pedantic no matter how good the portraits might be I will key off of this idea (from past and present) but it will not BE the book….
Just as I was ready to totally drop the camper van idea after one day, Bryan, Tony, Candy and Panos started painting it. That alone made me think differently about our camper. Suddenly the camper became an “art object” on its own. This morning I woke up , had my coffee and decided another important element would change the way we looked at the entire trip. Our camper will become literally a rolling living breathing GALLERY. We will stop today or tomorrow at a one hour photo service and start “decorating” the inside of the camper….with pictures from the trip…So the trip will always be present.
This is a way to make the trip synonymous with the making of photographs. It is the really easy to think about and do ideas like this change my mood and thinking completely.
The book will reflect the van and the van will reflect the book.
Of course I could change my mind again. Or modify this one. For now this is the “plan.” Smiling.
Naturally, we had to also come up with a name for our camper. Collectively we decided on La Tortuga – the turtle. Seemed an obvious choice for us and we agreed unanimously. For one thing my pets as a kid were box turtles. I loved the tortoise and the hare story as a kid and simply liked turtles. They had their home on their back and they always got where they were going albeit slowly.
Track us here. Come and meet us. Cold beer in the box for you and chips and salsa and paints available for you to make your mark.
