Since January 2020, I’ve been on a journey across the United States, working on a project called Panoramic United States Abstracted. The concept is simple but deeply personal: I travel solo to different locations, creating panoramic photographs of landscapes with a unique twist—I place a carefully designed arrangement of mirrors in the foreground of each scene.
So far, I’ve traveled through 18 states, covering nearly 15,000 miles. From Georgia to Kentucky, I’ve driven through a wide range of terrains, each offering its own challenge and beauty. The states I’ve visited include Georgia, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, and Kentucky.
The process? Well, it’s been a mix of physical and mental endurance. I’ve lugged 20+ mirrors to some pretty remote locations, carefully setting them up and then capturing the scene in panoramic format. After that, I stitch everything together into the final image. The setup can take hours, and the photos themselves? Well, they’re worth the effort.
The journey has been split into three major phases. The first third of the series was shot in the Southeast during the spring of 2020. That stretch was broken up over several weeks. The next third came from a 2.5-week road trip across the Midwest and Western states in January 2021. Finally, the last third of the project was captured during a 3-week road trip in September-October 2022, traveling through the Northwest and Midwest. During that time, I was living and sleeping out of a rental car, moving from one landscape to the next.
A Dream Come True
Traveling the country has always been a huge dream of mine. While I’m nowhere near finishing my goal of seeing all the states, this project has given me a massive taste of it and deepened my love and passion for exploration. It’s been an incredible adventure, both outwardly—capturing the stunning beauty of the land—and inwardly, as I’ve discovered a lot about myself along the way.
One of the things that makes Panoramic United States Abstracted more than just a landscape photography project is the personal connection I have with it. This series has become as much about self-discovery as it is about the places I’ve photographed. The landscapes are stunning, yes, but the mirrors I’ve placed in the foreground aren’t just an artistic choice—they represent something much deeper.
A Glimpse Into My Artist Statement
To give you a little insight into that, here’s a snippet from my artist statement for the series:
"...The purpose is to build a collection of places while introducing my own life commentary, steering away from stereotypical landscape panoramas to catch the eye of viewers and demand more attention than a simple glance. Furthermore, I find that the arrangement of mirrors expresses the anxiety I have been feeling on an array of circumstances going on in my life. This is something that can be seen in the abundance of mirrors, how they all are facing and reflecting different things, breaking up the landscape and interjecting all sorts of subjects. All of which I have come to realize was a subconscious representation of my thoughts and emotions that day and the state my mind is in. Creating tight patterns and designs with the mirrors occupies my mind and allows me to focus on fabricating images and finding temporary stability with the process..."
It’s been a deeply personal project for me, one that reflects not only the beauty of our country but also the emotions I was processing along the way.
Behind the Scenes and Some of My Favorite Moments
As I continue this journey, I wanted to share some behind-the-scenes photos from a few of the locations I’ve visited, as well as some of my favorite panoramas. The process can be a bit of a challenge (especially when you’re carrying 20 mirrors!), but the results make it all worthwhile.
Thank you for following along as I continue to capture this vast, beautiful country—both the landscapes and the reflections that mirror the state of my mind.
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