American in 20/20 By Gordon Hight Mississippi; State Rt. 1
Mississippi River crossing
“1955. I cross the States. For a year. 500 rolls of film. I go into post offices, Woolworths, 10 cent shops, bus stations. I sleep in cheap hotels. Around seven in the morning I go to a nearby bar. I work all the time. I don’t speak much. I try not to be seen.” These words are my road map. They were written sixty-five years ago by one of my photographic heroes, Robert Frank, who was describing how he went about creating one of the most significant books of photography: The Americans. In 1955, Frank drove across the United States in search of pictures that spoke of who we truly were as a nation. For 2020, I’m doing the same. At the end of last year, I wrapped up my ninth and final season of work at my other job. I was a fly fishing guide on the rivers around Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was good work in a gorgeous part of the world, but as the ideas for this project came together, an opportunity to study an entire
country and attempt to document it at a historic period in time, I became convinced that doing it right required a full-time commitment. So, I sold my drift boat. I sold my house. And I started mapping out this photojournalism journey that I’m calling American in 20/20. Why now? Like 1789, 1860, 1929, and 1968, 2020 sets up to be a pivotal year in US history. A deeply divided nation will hold a presidential election in November. This period of economic growth that continues to drive the stock market past record highs seems to march on, indifferent to the gravity of market cycles that have historically called for correction. Tenuous international relations put alliances and peace in jeopardy and more troops are heading overseas. Australia burns as we wait for our next fire season at home. Like our nation always has, we navigate the good and the bad. And while I’m optimistic for prolonged prosperity and positive outcomes to the circumstances we confront, for better or worse, 2020 will be a year
Eastern Oklahoma; State Rt. 116
Tulsa, Oklahoma 50
February 2020
Winslow, Arizona
