A visual journey through Texas during lockdown
- Text by Niall Flynn
- Photography by Sandy Carson
During the series of lockdowns that defined much of the past two years, many of us were forced to explore more intimate relationships with our immediate spaces.
For Sandy Carson, who left his native Scotland for the US aged 19, this meant viewing his adopted hometown of Austin, Texas, through a slightly different lens.
“It made me study the city in greater detail, I suppose – and not take it for granted,” he says. “To look up, around and on the ground for change and clues, because of the immediacy of everything changing before our eyes.”
The subsequent project, Pretty Much, charts this visual journey through a series of witty, curious shots. Charging around Austin on his bike (he was a pro BMX-er when he first moved to the States), Carson was able to truly get into its “nooks and crannies”, capturing fleeting moments he might otherwise have missed.
“I ride my bike most days with a camera on me, so it always plays a part in most of my projects as my vehicle of choice. “I was more glad than ever to ride during the pandemic, for my sanity – when essential exercise was permitted or it felt safe to do masked-up.”
“It’s just an easy mode to keep your distance as well. There’s just something about velocity and movement on a bike that sparks creativity with me and [my] work. That might sound super corny, but it’s true. That, and being nosy and curious.”
Pretty Much was born from the realisation that the world, as we previously knew it, was about to change beyond comprehension. Today, Carson views the project as a record of sorts: a document of the unprecedented.
That said, when he thinks about looking back on the book in 10, 20 years time, he is met with cautious optimism.
“I think I’ll feel relief, hope – I hope,” he says. “Hoping that we’ve made a dent in, or moved on, from this mess. Maybe [we will] even have a giggle if [we] are lucky.”
Pretty Much is out now on Aint—Bad.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
Director Steve McQueen explores life under occupation
Steven McQueen provides a haunting examination of Amsterdam under Nazi occupation in contrast to its present in his documentary adapted from Bianca Stigter's book of the same name.
Why Katy Perry’s space flight was one giant flop for mankind
Galactic girlbossing — In a widely-panned, 11-minute trip to the edge of the earth’s atmosphere, the ‘Women’s World’ singer joined an all-female space crew in an expensive vanity advert for Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Newsletter columnist Emma Garland explains its apocalypse indicating signs.
Written by: Emma Garland
Katie Goh: “I want people to engage with the politics of oranges”
Foreign Fruit — In her new book, the Edinburgh-based writer traces her personal history through the citrus fruit’s global spread, from a village in China to Californian groves. Angela Hui caught up with her to find out more.
Written by: Angela Hui
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
The rebellious roots of Cornwall’s surfing scene
100 years of waveriding — Despite past attempts to ban the sport from beaches, surfers have remained as integral, conservationist presences in England’s southwestern tip. A new exhibition in Falmouth traces its long history in the area.
Written by: Ella Glossop
We are all Mia Khalifa
How humour, therapy and community help Huck's latest cover star control her narrative.
Written by: Alya Mooro
