Jayna Powers
Travel has a certain flow about it, a groove develops as you move through these experiences. A flight is missed, the bus is delayed, all plans blow up in your face, and then you meet someone. Someone is generous, another lends a smile. Connections are made between strangers. Lives touch and go, leaving impressions otherwise missed when our blinders are on in the daily grind of life. Travel changes people. Whether someone journeys across the world or to a new trail outside their home, changing perspectives gives people the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and changes them a little inside.
At first, the creation of this project took on a feeling of commercialism, but as I began to travel to new places with new people, the feeling started to change. I met a father and son traveling from the midwest on a birthday trip for the young boy. We began to converse and soon became deeply involved in a discussion about life. A couple weeks later, I crossed paths with a young woman from Australia who was traveling through the states before she had to return home to continue in her education. We slipped easily into conversation and felt we were long lost friends bound to meet only once in our lives.
As the project progressed, I began to notice a theme among my images. It was no longer about the places visited, but about the memories people made there. As humans, our souls are uncomfortable with the fact that memories fade with time, but a picture can capture a moment otherwise forgotten.
My only hope is that these images will tell a story enticing more people to travel, change their perspective and make connections with strangers.
