Swampy, the pseudonym of the artist that created these photographs documenting a year's freight train journey from Mexico to Alaska used simple, yet powerful technical decisions that work well with this style. The artist made the viewer feel emotions/sentiment that he had while he was embarking on this unique journey. His POV from his lens is what allows the reciprocation of these emotions to the viewer. One gets to visualize his experiences, and visualization as we know is a big reason for being able to take in feelings such as this.
The artist's intentions behind this concept of documenting his trip across North America by freight train and barge were to show the way that "The railway strikes out a different path across the landscape than roads and highways." Along with this, he wanted to show the sense of solitude that comes with riding and why he continues to do this even a decade later. The people he met on his journey and memories he made with them are ones that he will never forget. The images captured on this journey are something that came with this experience, however he set out for the journey and not just for the purpose of making photos. This shows that photography can be something that one has a natural connection to do along with their lives and the adventures we embark on, whether it be a daily routine or a once in a lifetime journey.
I admire the artist's intention's and concepts because I myself want to travel around the world and have photography as a way of living as I travel. I believe his intention of putting so much emphasis on the actual journey is important because it highlights how it's much more about the adventure to get somewhere than the actual destination. One will experience many things that they never imagined they'd take part in themselves or things that they've never even thought of doing. Meeting different people of varying backgrounds and stories is probably one of the best aspects of it. And then afterwards having a whole set of images that you made to reflect back on, is an amazing way to hold onto those visual memories forever.
"It is better to risk starving to death than surrender. If you give up on your dreams, what's left?" -Jim Carrey
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