ÒA Photographic Journey Through Small Town AmericaÓ is a series of photography books created from a two-year project in which I traveled the back roads of America seeking to discover the essence of life in small towns. From the thousands of images documenting hundreds of towns, I discerned common themes that were evident in multiple towns across the country. I am featuring these themes in individual books.
This one is called ÒOddities.Ó It contains images depicting sights that piqued my curiosity because of their character and uniqueness. They include window displays, signs, sculptures, and other features of the towns. I found myself stopping, musing, taking a photograph, and wondering. I thought to myself that the sight was strange, or fascinating, or creative, or weird, or just plain unique. And I often wondered who created it, why it was there, and what it meant. This book is a collection of the images that evoked those reactions. The photographs represent the creativity and quirkiness of small towns. I invite the viewer to reflect on the details of each photograph, which can be appreciated and meaning inferred on multiple levels. Are they pure whimsy and entertainment? Do they make you chuckle? What might be the intent of the creator? What messages do they send about the culture of the town and the people who live there? Above all, I hope that these images from across the country provide both enjoyment and some insight into life in AmericaÕs small towns.