Photos from California’s countercultural heyday

Alien days — Back in print for the first time since 1970, Dennis Stock’s California Trip serves as a radical visual history, depicting the Sunshine State at its heady peak.

In 1968, with America on the cusp of sweeping social change, photographer Dennis Stock took off on a five-week road trip up and down California. Camera in hand, he captured the final days of counterculture across the Golden State – from the flower children nestled away in hippie communes, to the rock ‘n’ roll kids of Venice Beach. 

Upon its publication in 1970, the body of work (simply titled California Trip) swiftly garnered a cult following. For Stock, best known for his portraits of the actor James Dean, the project represented a change of pace. Over the years, the moments he captured during that short period of time have come to serve as a reminder of California’s evocative peak: wild, sun-drenched and free-wheeling.  

Brucemas Day, Venice

Now, through Anthology Editions, the book is back in print for the first time since 1970. A faithful reproduction of Stock’s original work, there’s an interesting paradox at play: while the images clearly depict a very specific moment in Californian – and, more broadly, American – history, there’s a timelessness to them, too. It’s an interaction that has defined much of the American photographer’s work.  

“Starting a conversation around Dennis’ entire career as a photographer is probably a different, much longer conversation,” says Jesse Pollock, Director of Project Development at Anthology Editions. “However, speaking specifically for California Trip, the way that he shot the images gave the project a lovely spin towards dark humour and subtle commentary.” 

Culver City

San Diego

For Stock – who died in 2010, aged 81 – California represented something of the great unknown. In that sense, while there are numerous photo projects depicting the state during that period, his work remains wholly unique. Made with the same kind of intimacy he employed for his portraiture, the images serve as a reminder of America’s radical peak – something, now, that’s never felt further away.

“As he mentions in [the book’s] preface, he was always a bit frightened of California. In being so, he was able to shoot it from a slightly outside perspective,” adds Pollock. “There are plenty of books and photographs that encapsulate this time in California, but this book brings into focus a smaller slice of time of about three years – one that rounded the corner of 1969 and brought a new realism to the changing decades.” 

Novato

Mars Station, Goldstone

Lake Tahoe

Playa del Ray

California Trip is available now from Anthology Editions

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter


Ad

Latest on Huck

Two young women making silly facial expressions, one with a grey coat and the other in a black coat, in front of a white building.
Culture

Tender, carefree portraits of young Ukrainians before the war

Diary of a Stolen Youth — On the day that a temporary ceasefire is announced, a new series from photographer Nastya Platinova looks back at Kyiv’s bubbling youth culture before Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion. It presents a visual window for young people into a possible future, as well as the past.

Four people posing for a portrait, wearing black outfits against a bright red background. The text "Hush presents Analogue Appreciation" is overlaid in yellow and green lettering.
Music

Analogue Appreciation: 47SOUL

Dualism — In an ever more digital, online world, we ask our favourite artists about their most cherished pieces of physical culture. Today, it’s Palestinian shamstep pioneers 47SOUL.

Written by: 47SOUL

A punk rock band performing on stage, with a female lead singer belting into a microphone. Behind them, a colourful mural with graffiti-style text.
Music

Meet the hair-raised radicals of Berlin’s noise punk scene

Powertool — In his new zine, George Nebieridze captures moments of loud rage and quiet intimacy of the German capital’s bands, while exploring the intersections between music, community and anti-establishment politics.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Group of people dancing at a live music performance, with a large "Spaces Beats" sign in the background.
Music

Amid tensions in Eastern Europe, young Latvians are reviving their country’s folk rhythms

Spaces Between the Beats — The Baltic nation’s ancient melodies have long been a symbol of resistance, but as Russia’s war with Ukraine rages on, new generations of singers and dancers are taking them to the mainstream.

Written by: Jack Styler

A person's face surrounded by colourful flowers. The flowers include orange, red, and yellow dahlias, as well as smaller yellow blooms. The person's expression is serious.
Music

Uwade: “I was determined to transcend popular opinion”

What Made Me — In this series, we ask artists and rebels about the about the forces and experiences that shaped who they are. Today, it’s Nigerian-born, South Carolina-raised indie-soul singer Uwade.

Written by: Uwade

Taxidermy alligator with a small monkey sitting on its head, displayed on a wooden shelf with other items.
Culture

Inside the obscured, closeted habitats of Britain’s exotic pets

“I have a few animals...” — For his new series, photographer Jonty Clark went behind closed doors to meet rare animal owners, finding ethical grey areas and close bonds.

Written by: Hannah Bentley

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.