Report

“What is that feeling when you’re driving away from people and they recede on the plain till you see their specks dispersing? – it’s the too-huge world vaulting us, and it’s goodbye. But we lean forward to the next crazy venture beneath the skies.” ― Jack Kerouac, ‘On the Road’

In 1957, Jack Kerouac published his groundbreaking novel On the Road, bringing a bohemian twist to America’s love affair with the open road. There have been countless ‘road trips’ in America which inspired me to do one in the United Kingdom.

At the beginning of being given this module, I had a few ideas in mind however nothing was set in stone. It took after a class presentation to realise I lacked the confidence and technical ability to achieve what I hoped for. From a personal and professional point of view, my practice needed to flow more, so despite wanting to take a huge step I felt it was better to play it safe until I was more knowledgeable. ‘The Road Home’ was based on how far my life has evolved up until this point.

The purpose of this project was to connect the past with the present. I have had to go back to places which did not necessarily hold good memories, but the road and the road surrounding the areas of not just my childhood but also connected to my adulthood and where I am now was important for my personal and professional growth.

All the aforementioned photographers and artists have struggled, due to the cost of equipment, materials, selling their art and being recognised. It is not just enough to look at a photograph, you have to feel the emotion and connect with the other photographer who took it. That connection happened with Ann Bridgman and Patti Smith probably due to that spark that keeps them going and wanting to create something new and unique. Both captured images and used words within their art through poetry even if it was for the lyrics of a song, as Smith did. I am disappointed I did not continue trying to recreate their images however I needed to bring everything together.

Jim Marshall could have possibly worked in the same circles as Patti Smith due to his links within the music industry and probably would have used it for escapism, very similar to me. His nature gained him a following which opened many doors for him including capturing images of musical greats like Janice Joplin.

Like Marshall, my enjoyment of music comes hand in hand with my photograph. A car helps, especially when doing a project such as mine. In comparison to America, and the United Kingdom, our roads are not so long and straight, the weather seems more gloomy and the fuel is more expensive! Researching Lee Friedlander there was so much more effort in the design and graphics of posters and billboards, a sense of humour which would stop people in their tracks, even if it was a small ‘road trip’.

When I was a small child Wales seemed so long away from where I was, it felt boring, just sitting in the car. Going past the ‘Welcome to Wales’ sign on the way into Wales was the highlight of our trip. Now I just smile and laugh. Like Friedlander, it’s like I am cataloguing other people’s memories.