Michelle Swanson

Image © Michelle Swanson

Artist Statement

Several years ago, while browsing the shelves of a Goodwill, I stumbled upon an old photography book titled, Drive-By Shooting, Photography by a New York Taxi Driver; David Bradford. I was immediately struck with the genius of the project - taking photographs from his taxi cab while he traversed the streets of New York City. I started paying more attention to the interesting world around me, noting how even when I drive the same roads everyday, mostly through the suburbs of Portland, things are always changing; the lighting, the seasons, the people, everything. Hence my own The Windshield Wanderlust project was born. Over the course of the last four years I've captured thousands of images with my small Canon Powershot, and have amassed a beautiful collection of photographs taken from the front seat of a car. Some are blurred by motion, some are as sharp as a pin, but all are moments of beauty captured as I go about my daily life.

As we come to the end of another year, I tend to reflect on the previous year, which is why I chose these 10 photographs taken of things behind me. As long as we're looking at the world around us, I don't think it matters if we're looking forward or backwards.

On a side note; all of the photographs in this project are in color because as an artist with synesthesia, bright and colorful photos sound so beautiful to me.

Michelle Swanson | Beaverton, OR