30.8.12

IMAGE OF THE WEEK #43

What better way to close a chapter, than with a sunset. Our travels were over. Our hearts and minds full of thought and inspiration. The key is keeping that feeling alive. Especially when you know your heading home to a pile of bills and an empty fridge. We were however, pleasantly surprised when we finally got home. On the opening of the fridge, our lovely house sitter Anna, had made us a welcome home cake.
Not a bad start to the next chapter.
Until next week...

Simon Hewson ©2012

22.8.12

IMAGE(S) OF THE WEEK #42

This time last year we experienced one of the worlds most interesting automotive events, Speed Week. This happens once a year on the revered Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Man and machine combine to become one for a run up the salt, wringing every last drop of speed out of themselves and their machine, in the hopes that they might set a record. The salt is similar in appearance to snow, it's kind of wet and sticks to everything like glue. I saw one guy pull up at the start of the salt, he filled a small container, quickly scanned the surroundings and jumped back in his car and went on his way. I'm not sure what this was for, I'm doubting it was for his fish & chips.
It's not the usual type of motor sports event, you can get up close and personal. There is very little in way of boundaries, you can pretty much roam to your hearts content, you can even stand just metres away from the start line. The only rules that stood out, are to not step foot onto the courses and everyone must be off the salt by dusk (which we only just managed). The machines come in all shapes and sizes, be it two or four wheeled. This is reflected in the folk that descend to the salt too, they range from extreme petrol head to fascinated passers by. A few things that are universal is a smile, a smile the size of a ripe banana and tans that would give a dermatologist nightmares.

Simon Hewson©2012

Simon Hewson©2012

Simon Hewson©2012

Simon Hewson©2012




16.8.12

IMAGE(S) OF THE WEEK #41

This week is a slightly special image of the week. Firstly its not just one image. Secondly the people in these photographs all share a special bond. They are all hobo's.
A hobo is someone who travels to work , they are not a bum or a tramp. Their mode of transport is the railroad system which is ingrained into their long history.
I made these photographs a year  ago to the day (almost). We were heading west through Iowa and we pulled up in a quirky little town called Britt. Britt has become the official home of the hobo. Each year it holds the 'National Hobo Convention', this is a week long gathering which culminates in the crowning of the new 'Hobo King and Queen'. On our arrival we went to the Hobo Museum, fascinated, we got chatting to the lady at the desk, she told us that some of the hobos were already in town and were camped out beside the railroad tracks. We decided to go down and have a chat. Seven hours passed, we learnt so much, met so many wonderful people and listened to years worth of tales. It truly was one of the best days of ours lives.
Tommy or "Oops" as he is know in the hobo community (apparently named this because he has fallen from a moving train) was celebrating his birthday, he spends the entire year travelling the length and breadth of the country. He shares this lifestyle with most hobos, some have become too old to jump trains but they still travel. Connecticut Shorty, a past hobo queen, started jumping trains in the early 90's and only recently stopped. She misses it, it's part of her family history, her father rode the rails his entire life. Her older brother still rides them. She now travels around in a van with her sister. Tuck was the 2007 hobo king, he still rides the rails. A positive outlook on life is something they all share and Tuck is no exception, he travels to work and when there is no work, he makes things to sell to get by. If you ever pass by the little town of Britt make sure you pop in, take a look around, you never know, you might just be as lucky as we were.


Oops, Simon Hewson ©2012
Simon Hewson ©2012
Tuck, Simon Hewson ©2012


Oops, Simon Hewson ©2012
Connecticut Shorty, Simon Hewson ©2012


6.8.12

IMAGE OF THE WEEK #40

A year ago today we pulled up in Dixon, Illinois. What at first sight appeared to be a relatively sleepy city, happens to be the extremely proud home town of the late Ronald Reagan. It seems apt that my 40th image of the week is about the 40th President of the USA, especially as most countries are feeling a great sense of patriotic pride from watching their sports people put their everything into the London Olympics. Reagan himself was quite the athlete in his time. In 1927 he was a lifeguard at Rock River where he saved 77 people from drowning. A large statue of him horseback stands as testament beside the very same river. I was too young in the early eighties to know much about Reagan, I only really knew of him through the satirical TV show 'Spitting Image', although funny, it may not have been the closest portrayal of a man that gave a country hope and warmed the hearts of many. He was a positive man, he tried to make a difference and in many ways he did make a difference. It seems to me, that in this life that is all we should really aim to do.

Simon Hewson©2012