The Middle of Somewhere

"I can’t seem to get enough of the ‘highway stuff,’ and the fascination of what may be around the next corner makes the whole trip worthwhile." -- Edgar Praus

"Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs." -- Susan Sontag

 

In this episode, Antonio and Ward talk about how photographs begin to change when they’re placed next to one another. A quick exercise from Antonio’s class, using the still-unpublished zine they made together, leads into a conversation about sequencing, photo books, chapbooks, PDFs, and the simple pleasure of getting pictures off a screen. Not every image needs to be the big standalone “banger.” Sometimes a quieter photograph finds its purpose when it lands beside the right companion and becomes part of a larger story.

From there, they head out of town. Ward takes a long, unhurried drive through small prairie communities, photographing weathered buildings and enjoying the rare freedom of not having to be anywhere at a particular time. Antonio returns to the Cass County Fair, where the smoke, noise, and motion of a tractor pull give him a chance to borrow a little inspiration from Ward’s rodeo and motorsport work. Going back for a second year lets him see what has stayed the same—and how much his own eye has changed. Together, they find that photography doesn’t require an exotic destination or a crowded city street. Sometimes the good stuff comes from revisiting familiar ground, wandering without too many expectations, and paying attention to what a place has been quietly trying to show you.

Mentioned in this episode

• Miro — the collaborative board Antonio and Ward used to sequence their zine remotely

• Apple Freeform — an Apple-based alternative for arranging pictures and collaborating on visual boards

• Gavin Libotte Photography — Gavin’s photography and projects, including Wanderland

• Walker Evans at The Met — an influence on Ward’s direct photographs of prairie buildings

• Michael Kenna — the inspiration behind Antonio’s “diesel Michael Kenna” tractor-pull photographs

• Cass County Fair — home of the truck and tractor pull Antonio photographed

• Outlaw Truck and Tractor Pulling Association — more about the machines, events, and gloriously excessive noise

• Wilber Czech Festival — the festival and parade Antonio visited in Wilber, Nebraska

• Nebraska State Fair — Antonio’s next larger fairground photography opportunity

Subscribe to our Substack Newsletter

Help out the show by buying us a coffee!

Support the show by purchasing Antonio’s Zines or buying a print.

Support the show by purchasing Ward's Zine, Book and Prints

Send us a voice message, comment or question.

 

Show Links:

 

Antonio M. Rosario's Website, Vero, Instagram, Bluesky, and Facebook page

Ward Rosin’s