American Photography 38 Winners

Austyn & Me

Austyn waves to a passing train en-route to Phoenix by way of Gilbert, Arizona where we first met. Austyn & Me. March 2021. This is from a self-assigned series of on-going work documenting a young man whose fascination with trains mirrors my own life-long fondness for the railroad. I first met Austyn under a small orange grove by the train tracks, before Covid. Most of the orange trees are gone now but Austyn and I still keep in touch every single day and continue to watch trains together at least once a week with his mom’s permission. Born on the Autism spectrum, Austyn is 22-years-old now and as hyper-focused on trains as ever. We both actively participate in an enthusiastic culture of train fanatics known as "Railfans."

Austyn & Me

In between trains Austyn passes the time by swinging under a canopy of trees in a park by the train tracks in Gilbert, AZ. Austyn & Me. August 2021. This is from a self-assigned series of on-going work documenting a young man whose fascination with trains mirrors my own life-long fondness for the railroad. I first met Austyn under a small orange grove by the train tracks, before Covid. Most of the orange trees are gone now but Austyn and I still keep in touch every single day and continue to watch trains together at least once a week with his mom’s permission. Born on the Autism spectrum, Austyn is 22-years-old now and as hyper-focused on trains as ever. We both actively participate in an enthusiastic culture of train fanatics known as "Railfans."