About this project

“On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again” – Willie Nelson

For the past two years I’ve been creating my favorite work using my 4x5 (large format) camera. I’ve been photographing both intriguing people and abandoned places (over-grown roadside motels, rest stops, etc) located in the Midwest. My series, “In Transition,” has become a powerful visual journey and I want to take the show on the road.

Where to? I’ll be biking, with 4x5 in tow, from Minneapolis, MN to Winona (located in the SE part of the state). I’ll travel along scenic 61S for much of the journey. There are many fascinating places along the way (and more to find, I'm sure). Among the spots of interest already are: the secret community of Old Frontenac, the once bustling town of Weaver, and the older motels outside of Winona. On the return trip, I’ll bike along the Great River Road and old Highway 35 on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi. Maiden Rock Bluff, origin of the Princess Winona legend, is one of my certain destinations. The trip should be 6-7 days round trip and I'm making Mon, August 23rd my departure date.

What exactly am I doing? I'm taking lush photographs of people and places, while hearing the stories of times past along the Mississippi. I'll share what I see and learn with you.

Donations will be used for: 4x5 film, film processing, building a specialized bike trailer, food (hey- it's 250+ miles of biking), and emergency hotel stay (if storms are too great for my tent). I will also use donated funds to purchase photo paper, make fine art prints of 10-15 of the strongest images, and to frame the work (the most expensive part). The Rogue Buddha Gallery, located in NE Minneapolis, is already excited to make a show. I'll take the completed works on the road of course. Also- any extra funds will be used to make more images (and for spare tires).

*Please note that while I’m going old school with film, all images will be online and available for viewing /purchase by supporters. Trip journal entries and flip video updates will also be online.

Thanks much!!

Cheers – Ted

Here's a bit more about my philosophy and road trip interest origin:

Why 4x5 film? The world has gone digital, I know. I shoot digital images for most of my commercial clients, but in my personal work film still wins. Beautiful 4x5 film (Tri-X), captures both amazing detail and the broadest, most subtle range of tones. The camera (Calumet 4050) is very cumbersome to use. It is large, bulky, and incredibly fickle to focus; in this regard it is the opposite of a digital medium. This is what I like most. It takes time to operate. Alec Soth, Minnesota’s reknowned large format photographer, described the concept of “cumbersome as good,” in this way, “that when shooting a portrait, the time consuming futzing of camera set-up does away with pretense.” I’ve found that by the time you’re ready to shoot, the poses and smiles common for picture taking are gone, replaced with the real person existing as they are. The same seems true for places as well: the 4x5 does not flatter, it reveals.

Why bike? I got into biking seriously three years ago. I want to do a road trip that challenges me (a little suffering for art you know?) and one that has little environmental impact. The other element is that my bike, like my old camera, forces me to slow down and look. It allows me to take time with the interesting places and people that otherwise pass by in a glance at 60 miles per hour. And yes, I’m building a custom rack to bring the 4x5, a tripod, film holders, etc along. It’s a bit of madness.

Why a road trip? When I was a kid, my dad and I were the road-rambling duo. I grew fond of the world flitting by outside the window: crumbling roadside attractions overgrown with vines and brush, rusted out campers, tiny ma and pa pie shops, and old parched billboards (signage pointing to destinations long forgotten). To me, it’s all beauty discarded, and that is what I like to find.

Thanks-- Ted

Project location: Minneapolis, MN

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Project By

Ted Hall

Minneapolis, MN

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Ted Hall is a 38 yr old freelance photographer based in Minneapolis. He enjoys finding the "small story," meeting people, and creating images. Ted has worked as a primary shooter, an assistant, and a digi-tech for the last ten years. Though aware that the digital age is upon us, Ted still loves film. His personal work is shot with a vintage Calumet 4x5 camera. He's also an accomplished b/w darkroom printer.
Educational info: Ted teaches classes at IFP North. He spent many years helping teach beginning photography and darkroom techniques with U of MN professor, Jeff Milliken. He holds a BFA from the U of MN.
Ted's other interests include: cycling and basketball (coached 4-5th grader team to Championship-yes!). Ted also enjoys other forms of storytelling: writing, acting, and film making. He hopes to do more coaching and teach photography to kids in the next school year.

1. tedhallphotography.com