We stopped for seafood on the way back to medan from leuser national park. This is a picture of the servers at the restaurant as business wound down for the night. I couldn't help but to think about the park cafe in montana where I was working at the beginning of the summer to support my blackfeet youth project. Winding through the rocky mountain foothills on my way to St. Mary I was charged with excitement--about the freedom of summer, pursuing my own project and big sky country--but most of all because I had no idea what was in store for the coming months. What people would I meet/photograph? What experiences would I have and how would they effect me? The uncertainty of what would happen next--thats what had me going.
Three months later, and its funny to think just how little certainty I did have. I feel a lot like I've been living someone else's life for the last few months. Or due to the fragmented nature of our trip, more like I've been living many other people's lives. haha.
The airport pictures and the road series that I've been working on have sort of been a way to express that feeling of being 'all over the place', but in no particular place. There's a sense of mutual anonymity I feel between myself and the people I'm photographing, since I'm decidedly an observer, rather than a participant in this culture.
I don't really have any conclusions to draw or particular lessons I've learned, but for certain, this trip has changed me. I'm looking forward to returning to the states in a couple of days and I have a feeling that the US is going to look a lot different.
I've posted two sumatra galleries on my website. So far, they are more like first drafts, so I'd love to hear suggestions.
sergegiachetti.com
