The Year in Wildsam Photography: 2024
Kovi Konowiecki
Wildsam hit the road in 2024. Here's what made us look.
2024 marked the launch of Wildsam Magazine. In it, we paid homage to roads of lore. We sought out pillars of communities and culture and asked them to step in front of the lens. Our work saw us navigating off-grid adventures and putting the awe of classic American wonders to the test. Over here, imagination runs deep—we even dreamt up what the future of the road might look like.
As I’ve pored over nearly 70 commissions and thousands of images from the last year to reflect on what this collection of work means—I see a vibrant and layered picture of America. From country music stars, to pie judges to SanO’s sacred waters, to the faces and places you’ll spot along the Mother Road.
The open road is magical—a grand overture that’s a ticket to anywhere and everything. Notably, it’s lured photographers for decades, where the discovery of what lies ahead continues to push their eye, intentions and process. On the road, there are no dead ends, only endless possibilities.
To celebrate a remarkable year in visual storytelling, I asked some of the photographers of these images to reflect on what inspired them to capture these moments in time.
"Being on a ranch, or on the back of a horse, gives you the same feeling as being in a national park. In a national park, nothing else outside the park exists. Your phone typically doesn’t work. There’s beauty at every turn, music playing in the car, hikes through the woods. Those memories just seem more core than others. The crud and responsibilities of the world and life just don’t seem to exist. That’s the feeling I get with Western and ranch life."
— Wes Walker on meditative moments that call him to the ranch life
"I was parked on the side of a road, photographing the Cape May Lighthouse, when I saw the girls biking back from the beach. This is a pretty timeless classic summer image in itself, but then it was contrasted by the extremely modern and rare Cybertruck parked in the driveway. I suppose the girls felt the car was such an unfamiliar sight as well, because they stopped biking to examine it.
The whole scene had such a "Twilight Zone" feel to it - I'm so happy I was there to capture it. It's one of my favorites I've taken this year. "
— Chris Bernabeo on finding a sign of the times amidst the Jersey Shore's colorful characters and culture
“My personal aesthetic was very influenced by my childhood in the desert, seeing how the subtleties of color changes with light. All the different shades of reds and orange and tans. The desert is ruled by erosion- and erosion and time are the core aspects of my practice.”
— Photographer and sculptor Frankie Carino on coming home to Arizona to capture the other-wordly rock forms of Vermillion Cliffs and other Southwest hidden gems.
"There's like a beauty to the timelessness of a place like Route 66. So many travelled along this road, 40-50 years ago, and I'm doing it today. My goal was to capture this feeling, making images that transcend time."
— Kovi Konowiecki on the Mother Road's allure
“The most special part about this trip was that it brought me to a corner of the West I knew a bit, but you don’t usually hit unless you really want to get there. It’s the definition of a hidden gem.”
— Grant Hindsley on his off-road adventure through Eastern Oregon's most underrated range
"Every time I paddle out at SanO—no matter my mood, no matter how tired I am—I think about the history of the place. I remind myself that it’s sacred land, that its vibes are literally protected. And that’s how most people treat the beach—like they know it too. It’s a place where I can just be, enjoying the ocean and my friends."
— Gabriella Angotti-Jones on finding community at her hometown beach, San Onofre
“Fish fries are a pretty definitive form of Wisconsin culture. Growing up in the northern part of the state, every Friday, no matter where you are...everyone's got a fish fry. And in small towns, it's the start of the weekend. It's kind of like the first time that people get together.
As an adult, it's interesting to visit these places that are centered around this familiar meal, harvested from our land and waters. At a certain point in my life, I didn't even know how unique this tradition was. Now I can see it with fresh eyes and perspective.”
— Erinn Springer on documenting Wisconsin's fish fry tradition as a connecting force
