San Jon Motel

This is an interview of seniors Daphne and Norman Marsden originally from Great Britain, they've ended up owning & operation their own Motel along the now generally defunct Route 66 in the small semi derelict village of San Jon, New Mexico.

- Interview with the Owners of San Jon Motel, New Mexico, (Please use headphones where possible), 2011. 

Recorded with a Marantz PMD661 Field Recorder & Rode NTG1 Shotgun Microphone.

The End.

9 Mile Cafe

We made a stop at 9 Mile Cafe just over the Texan border, one of those cool roadside cafe's that could either be completely awesome or give indigestion for the next 48 hours. As we walked in the door I noticed a group of rough looking oil workers sitting at a table to our left. Most of them were eating the chicken fried steak lunch special that has been tailored to fit their budget and appetite. We ended up just getting water and coffee and while we were leaving I saw some of the guys were having a smoke so I approached them and took a few portraits (they'll will be uploaded when the film is developed in L.A.). I also managed to grab a quick interview about Life, Drugs and the American Dream.

- Oil Workers at Nine Mile Cafe, Texas. (Please use headphones when possible) 2011.

Recorded with a Marantz PMD661 and a Rode NTG-1 Shotgun Microphone.

The End.

Pedro

So far driving through Oklahoma and Texas you really begin to realize how much and for how long the States have invested time, resource and energy into simply getting oil and natural gas out from under the ground. Dotted all along the road are new and old crude oil and gas operations, many times there would be clusters of operation but often I would see a lonesome oil pumpjack slowly but relentlessly pumping oil. A few miles West of Wheeler, Texas we found a historical US Army Fort Elliot and just a across in a cattle populated field I noticed a rusty black pump jack that had probably been first started back in the 1940's judging by its design and condition (Oil was first discovered in the Texas pan handle in 1905). There its was over seventy years later still slowly but surely pumping what is left of the oil still under the ground. While admiring this hunk and solid iron and noticed that under the main arm someone had written "Pedro" probably during its rapid construction and installation all those years ago. Heres what Pedro sounds like.

- iPhone Photo of Pedro, Texas, 2011.

- Pedro the Oil Pumpjack, Recording #1, (Please use headphones if possible), 2011.

- Pedro the Oil Pumpjack, Recording #2, (Please use headphones if possible), 2011.

- Pedro the Oil Pumpjack, Recording #3, (Please use headphones if possible), 2011.

- Pedro the Oil Pumpjack, Recording #4, (Please use headphones if possible), 2011.

- I recorded with a Marantz PMD661 & a Rode NTG-1 shotgun Microphone, 2011.

- Pedro, 2011.

 The End.

The Western Half

As some of you know, I am currently on a documentary road trip working with my friend and rival Chris Saunders. We are following Jon Beeby who has decided to walk across the United States to raise £100,000 for the TAG Rugby Trust in Africa. We are basically spending the next two months in a camper van driving 10 miles at a time till we get to the end of the Santa Monica pier. I arrived in Oklahoma City late last Thursday night and since then we have slowly made our way West into the small Texan town of White Deer.

- Two Dollars, "Nine Mile Cafe" just over the Oklahoma/Texan Border, 2011.

The trip has already been filled some great moments and people. Other than the project of documenting Jon, I will also be scratching beneath the American surface, photographing on my non digital Leica's as well exploring the sounds of this place with a portable field recorder. The only problem with shooting film is that its going to be tough to show you anything till I get back and get it all processed. But every now and again I'll snatch up Chris's 5D and shoot an image for you. Its been great being on the road sleeping wherever that 40 mile mark is, looking up at the stars at night and starring face to face of whats become of the American Dream during the day. I hope you find what I put up interesting and you can be sure that when I get back there will be a whole lot more to come, till the pay special attention to the audio content since it will pair up with the images to come. Adios from Texas.

- My Leica M6 & M4-P, Near Wheeler Texas, Photograph: Chris Saunders, 2011.

- Chris Blogging it up, White Deer, 2011.

The End.

The Greff Brothers

Here are some shots I did for the Greff Brothers.

 New Westminster, 2011.

 New Westminster, 2011.

 New Westminster, 2011.

 New Westminster, 2011.

The End.