This is a group of photos I took with my Holga while on the “T-1/Etnies 6400 Miles with Ruben Alcantara” trip. Every time I pull this camera out it’s a roll of the dice, and I treat it as such. It’s not the go-to for inspiring or professional shots, but the memories it captures are always important even if the images it creates are not. - Hanson Little
Photo: Joe Rich
1. Joe’s life reminds me of the Senfield episode where Jerry realizes he always “breaks even.” Without effort, everything just sort of works out for him. In this particular example we were on an especially uninspiring stretch of road in northern Colorado, watching the “Supermoon” rise in front of us as the day ended. I was sure that we would miss the chance to get some interesting photos/video of this rare occasion, yet Joe seemed unfazed and continued along at 5 under the speed limit. Sure enough, just as the final moments of usable light approached we crested a hill and a colorful stretch of mountains were revealed to provide a most excellent frame for the moon. Zero effort, zero stress, the guy found exactly what he was seeking. There’s a lesson in there somewhere...
2. Made of grain harvester blades, this eagle sculpture in middle-of-nowhere Idaho looked exactly how everyone in the car was feeling throughout the whole trip.
3. Joe navigated us to the “canoe wave” in Oregon without GPS, Siri, or even a map, just a single memory from driving by years earlier. I’m convinced Pop Rich infused Joe with some sort of directional superpower when he gave him the middle name “North.”
4. T-1 belts were still in the idea-phase at the time of this Colorado photo, obviously.
5. Seeking that childhood feeling, Ruben?! Or just some post-session Montana shade?
6. Completely unique and totally empty concrete park? The Northwest knows how to please.
7. Get into the car and aim it at the west. I’m certain Ruben, Joe, and I would still be driving if we didn’t run into the Oregon coast.
8. When I was young all I knew of the ocean was the murky and dirty Gulf Coast of Texas. Flat land and oil spills. Scenes like these seemed wholly impossible. The 101 flashed enough epic vistas that I can confidently say I’ll be back Oregon!
9. A quick water temperature check reminded us that spring is a different type of season where the rivers are fed by snowmelt. As evidenced by the wreckage from upstream docks, this particular one was running so fast I wouldn’t have stood a chance had I fallen in.
10. River barge floating onward. Memories from the window of the Pathfinder are just as prevalent as incredible concrete parks in the far corner of the country, thanks for the good times Joe & Ruben!