Vince Lupo Photography is proud to present “Mapping the West“, an ongoing photography project by our photographer, Vince Lupo.   Vince has been traveling throughout the American West for the past 11 years to capture the region through his unique vision:

“‘Spirit of the West’ is a term mentioned whenever discussions of the western United States arise. Until I began to venture out there, I didn’t quite understand what it meant.

“Through this work, I am discovering what ‘Spirit of the West’ means to me.  As a Canadian living in the United States and as someone who has spent most of his life in urban East Coast environments, the American West is far removed from my overall life experience.  At times it’s a beautiful, vast nothingness. Other times I see evidence of a fading past that I do not know, yet appearing more ‘authentic’ to me than the present. Oftentimes I’m confronted with religious symbols which serve as reminders of an adherence to tradition – but not without visible conflict.

“Currently, my primary sources of creative inspiration are New Mexico and Montana. Both possess that special quality of light that has attracted artists for centuries. I find personal renewal with each journey there, and am particularly drawn to the people, the landscape and the backroads. 

“Some of this work has been compared to the ‘New Topographics’ movement of the 1970’s, yet as a renewed interpretation almost 50 years later.

“None of the images are planned or staged. Oftentimes, the juxtaposition of seemingly disconnected elements within a scene can create tension and contrast, reveal a subtle metaphor, a striking irony, or a conversation among them. Although humans may not always be included in my photos, their impact is apparent. My role is to catch these threads that bind these elements together to present a compelling narrative – sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant, other times evoking the old West.

“The creative path is neither orderly nor routine, and these images chart my personal mapping of the West – never knowing what’s around the corner or where I’ll end up.”