Why We Document The In-Between Moments of Life in America

We have to remember that what we are doing with this project has long-term goals.  And to appreciate what it can become, we have to look to the past. Here's an article from Ronny Salerno on how FSA Photography changed the world, and why we need a similar view of America today. "In the middle...

Three Ways You Can Contribute to the Roy Stryker Photo Project

INTRODUCING AMERICA TO AMERICANS & UNITING A DIVIDED COUNTRY - ROY STRYKER PHOTO PROJECT GOAL We live in a time where we label people liberal or conservative, 1% or 99%er. What are we really? Do we even know? Is the Facebook picture our best side forward and not even true? Perhaps we’re not seeing the...

Thankful for Preserving History on this Thanksgiving, Our Photographers and Viewers

It is a big idea to think that this project can grow to be as influential as the photographs from the FSA and the Roy Stryker era.  But that is where great things come from, big ideas. Today I give you a link to see some of the "shooting scripts"--the photo assignments from back then...

Feature Article on Emulsive about Roy Stryker Photo Project

Emulsive, a film photography web site, just published an article on the Roy Stryker project.  

A Look Into the Past (Which Is What We’re Creating Today)

Today we take a look at the words of the people from the original FSA photographs. This is a fascinating oral history posted by Errol Lincoln Uys. Including this intriguing title: "No safe way to hop aboard a speeding train." On the way across town from the hobo jungle to the rail yards my friend...

What Roy Stryker and Robert Frank Did – Seeking Truth (If We Dare To Look)

You could say Roy Stryker accomplished his goal of "Showing America to Americans" when he completed the FSA photography project. Robert Frank did it in the late 1950s with his book, The Americans, showing America a viewpoint that was both real and less than beautiful. In fact, despite the book now being considered one of...

Quotes from Roy Stryker and the Photographers of the New Deal

“When I began to use my 35mm camera I was never separated from it. I wore it often under my jacket, on my shoulder like a weapon in a holster. I always had the feeling that something was going to happen in front of me and when it did I wanted my camera to be...

Oral history recording of Roy Stryker, FSA Photography Project Director

The following oral history transcript is the result of a tape-recorded interview with Roy Stryker on October 17, 1963. The interview took place in Montrose, Colorado, and was conducted by Richard Doud for the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. RICHARD DOUD: Mr. Stryker, we were discussing Tugwell and the organization of the FSA Photography...

Mapping the U.S. in Photographs

So, here's where we're at with submissions.  The states marked are the ones we have content from so far. Next, as the collection grows, the plan is to make each state a link to the photographs from that state for easier navigation. We need your work, your vision.  Become a FSA Roy Stryker photographer.

About Captions and Getting Names

While it would be preferable to have names in the captions, if getting names is not possible or would interrupt the scene, a description of the people is permitted.  Some scenes are more important to the look of the people today, than having their names. Like this one. This is an example where I didn't...