this is dispatch 8 of

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The ever changing road ahead. As nice as the Olympus Digital camera was, it was missing some flexibility. © KEITH MORISON/1999

Now it’s here

There I was at the border …

This isn’t my car, or my stuff, I said in an attempt to explain what I had been up to.

"Are you bringing anything back with you?" the customs officer asked.

"Twenty bucks worth of incidentals."

"Any tobacco or alcohol?"

"None of mine, don’t know about the rest of the stuff."

"Any repairs to the vehicle?"

"Sorry," I said, "I have no Idea on that one."

"None to your knowledge … " she prompted

"None that I know of…"

"Phoenix to here in five days?"

"Yes."

"That’s a lot of driving."

"Yes."

"Have a safe drive home."

With that … the foreign journalist has left the country.


Jack and Bunny Mattieu share a tender moment in front of two strangers. The couple was looking after the stranded Volvo until I picked it up. © KEITH MORISON/1999

For all the friendliness and hospitality I can only say Thank you, thank you very much.

I really didn’t know what to expect. The Southwest States is an area that I would never have decided to go to. If I had full control, there are other places I would have wanted to go, and I would have missed out. The whole experience was interesting, enjoyable, and informative. I learned many things.
After the extremely foreign scenery of Arizona and Utah the road through Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota became a bit of a blur. This is just south of Sioux Falls; there is at least a bit of snow on the ground. © KEITH MORISON/1999

The cost of a hotel has no relation to the ability to transmit from the room.

  • Most desk clerks don’t know what a data line is.
  • After driving for several one-tank days, blasting across the prairies makes you think you have a leak in the gas tank.
  • NO matter where you are, if you approach people with a smile and a friendly attitude you only get a few funny looks.
  • I enjoy driving the secondary roads more than the interstates.
  • Five days of driving across country is hard on the throat, and the car speakers.

So the adventure is over, and it is back to shooting the average assignment, and digging up new work. I have people to talk to, negs to scan and friends and family to be with. The time alone was good. It gave me time to think and time to not think. I showed me things about myself I didn’t know, and confirmed a few things I did. I am thankful for the opportunity.

The week is done, and we don’t have to worry about getting the Volvo from Phoenix to Winnipeg …because it’s here.


I didn't know what to expect, but the trees lining the edge of the Grand Canyon and the vivid colours of the rock both took me by surprise. © KEITH MORISON/1999

What started out as an overcast day at the Grand Canyon yielded some wild clouds to work with. © KEITH MORISON/1999
Volvo's headquarters are in Goteborg Sweden ... but this will do for now.S© KEITH MORISON/1999

Keith Morison – Freelance editorial photographer

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Behind the Viewfinder - A Year in the Life of Photojournalism
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