These photos were taken this Sunday near I-60 in Clovis, New Mexico. After grabbing a bite at the Coffee Bistro, Jordan was anxious to capture this old factory; while I was more drawn to this open lot and building near the local Salvation Army. Jordan was wearing black and red sneakers so I thought the color blocking of the building would be a perfect backdrop to photograph him against. The lot felt and looked abandoned; and the wear of the wood contrasted with the rusted metal shingling aided that notion. The only thing I was hoping to capture with most of these shots were we are really “small town living” now: and I think that I did that.

Driving along I-60 towards Texico, there are houses and old cars that appear rundown. Occasionally, the smell of cows and fertilizer reaches you when you least expect it such as the drive-thru of Sonic on Prince Street, walking through Green Acres Park, or on the two-hour long drive to east Texas. Five weeks ago, our initial impressions of this place could not be put into coherent sentences or words. The music playing from our van’s speakers served as ambient noise rather than the soundtrack of our journey across two states to get to a place we never thought that we’d live in. I couldn’t make sense of my surroundings or my feelings, but after the shock wore off: I decided that a photo project would be the perfect way to commemorate this experience.

This place has forced me to slow down and look. No one is rushing through intersections or quick to turn corners or afraid to greet you with a smile, a “hello,” or even offer some help. I haven’t been here long, but my optimism is helping me see the bright spots in a place that most would write off as a black hole.

I moved back to the states to transition out of the military later this year. It’s something that I’ve been seriously planning for since 2015. While I still have my obligations at work and finishing my degree to worry about, I cannot help but think that there is somethin’ in the water that’s keeping me calm and pushin’ on. Maybe it’s because this place is so small that there isn’t even a Target here, but my eyes are open and I’m eager to see what awaits me in the nooks and crannies of Clovis and the surrounding cities. I can’t wait to see how it will influence my creative process and to share it.

(Photographs by myself and Jordan Mathews)