At first glance you might expect Joe Stevens’ collection of van photos — Vans and the places they were — to be another nostalgic overdose of 70’s camp, but on closer inspection you’ll find some beautiful photos that transcend the limited scope of the series. I love the color composition and processing; I almost feel like I’m looking at some hyperrealist version of a Kevin Cyr painting. This is probably also the only other time you could get away with hanging a picture of a van conversion on your wall and convincing all your friends that it’s art. The best part of it all is that they don’t seem to be staged at all; they all seem to be random finds which makes the quality of the shots all the more incredible.
Sidenote: Looks like Joe’s site was built on Arlo Sites, a portfolio platform that looks pretty interesting. Not sure how it stacks up to Cargo or Squarespace though, this is the first I’ve seen of it.
Third from the bottom is awesome (in terms of van and location). Love the burgundy, orange and yellow!
VANDURA! Here’s mine…
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonmutch/3685390187/sizes/l/
wow it is amazing how fitting each van is to its environment.
After looking at the website, it makes me wonder how i can break in to van graphics… doesnt seem like it would be that hard to compete with the four pattern variations of stripes, rounded corner rectangles, and back to back c shapes. Every time I see a cool van I catch myself comparing it to the A-team van.
It’s a cool project and his idea that he’ll someday shoot the last van on the last roll of film is interesting.
Vantastic!
vans are pure funk. i miss seeing these sorts of things driving around.
Wow, look at the crazy dome on the top image. That is so strange looking, but awesome at the same time. I want something like that on my car.
Great find.
Arlo looks pretty cool. Inexhibit gives similar results with free platform. http://www.indexhibit.org/
P.S. the photos are fantastic.
Love the orange van with the rock beneith it! I’d also like to get this past the picture sensor that is my wife and hang a bunch in frames. Unlikely!
Haha! @ Kieran, that’s not a Rock, it’s a Bag FULL of Rock’s. Or Kilo’s… Or $$$… That’s the drop spot for the local street deals! Notice the bars on the window?? Actually, upon further inspection, I notice that most of the windows have bars on them! They must go hand-in-hand, haha.
I think i see Uncle Rico in there. No doubt in my mind!
Dude, my Dad just bought a 64 Chevy like the one in the last pic. Joe has done a great job of capturing the essence of the van. Of course, it’s hard to find an angle without groove on that van.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark64/4342169765/in/set-72157623260793613/
8th van down needs a landing pad on top for T.C.’s chopper: http://magnum-mania.com/images/opening_credits_low_flying_chopper_full.jpg
The orange van with the bag beneath pwnz.
This is amazing.
Carryology.com had a post a little while back with some cool van images as well: http://carryology.com/2009/12/07/achieving-liberation-through-your-ride…/
Vans capture so much mood and emotion. Maybe it’s that you think of not just where they are, but where the have been and are going?
We had a van similar to these when I was little.
It’s too bad vans & cars today will never look this cool.