Boondock is a photographic investigation into a population for whom a vehicle represents not just a mode of transportation, but a means of shelter and sustainability. It seeks to reveal a subculture whose existence isn’t carved into the landscape of America, but a mirage upon it. Surveying both urban and remote locations to provide a unique juxtaposition of vehicle, owner, and environment, it explores ways in which survival dictates a fluidity of location, interconnectivity, and the concept of home.
Against the backdrop of the recent housing crisis and enduring economic fallout, I traveled the western United States seeking out individuals and the communities that blossom from this lifestyle. While technically off-the-grid, many are far from disconnected. For those fortunate enough to have access, the Internet plays a meaningful role in the fostering of community and the construction of a virtual safety net of information and support.
For some, the vehicle as home represents a willing rejection of American dogma, challenging the very meaning of “home” detached from ownership. For others, it’s a necessity brought on by hardship and an inability to attain stability. For many, the vehicle is a home away from home; a temporary reprieve from domesticity confined to a fixed geographic location. Rather than attempt to define an archetype, my hope is to embrace the diversity of this disparate community and present a compelling vision of existence outside the current narratives of domesticity dominating American life.
Andrew Waits is a freelance photographer based in Seattle, Washington. http://andrewwaits.com