America By Another Name

Capturing American freedom and cultural diversity in our places called Columbia. Outtakes here; best will be in book.

[1francissmith-blog]

Shoshoni trio. #highplains #wyoming #smalltown #trailer #trailers #trailerlife #sunset #catcrossing (at Shoshoni, Wyoming) https://www.instagram.com/p/BodWOU_lmRj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=iw0v2qrcoiv5

[1francissmith-blog]

#brothers #siblings #sunset #gasstation #highplains #americanlife #francissmith (at Shoshoni, Wyoming) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoZeJQEF4Pj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=44gaq40yhkih

[1francissmith-blog]

Do you prefer one sky over another here? So different -- a mere 90 degrees apart! #sunset #bierstadt #wyoming #usflag #francissmith (at Wapiti, Wyoming) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoQbm0Ilg8i/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=azagnnpkqvst

[1francissmith-blog]

Two views of sunset. #francissmith #sunset #wyoming #sublime #orangesky (at Wapiti, Wyoming) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoQbHTQlbCt/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1loj9f2pyopv3

[1francissmith-blog]

My hat is catawampus from being folded in the trunk all summer, but winter does come early to Montana! #vanlifediaries #vanlife #francissmith #glamping #portraitoftheartist #breakfast (at Warm Springs, Montana) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoPPuW5FA_P/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1jdltuj8bidcw

[1francissmith-blog]

#gasstation #easternoregon #columbia #basalt #americabyanothername #francissmith #aban (at Boardman, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoMrU59lRoG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=u0b2rzj6t03c

[1francissmith-blog]

My neighbors this morning. #cattle #goodmorningpost #Columbiariver #easternwashington #vanlifediaries #francissmith #americabyanothername #aban (at Boardman Safety Rest Area) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoMoFc4FJre/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=6aasups3ayiq

[1francissmith-blog]

Two Nez Pierce men flank a Yakama man looking down into the Klickitat River Gorge. The salmon run is poor this year. One of the gentleman I spoke with here said it may be a tough winter for many of the tribal fishermen who depend on the salmon for part of their income. In the Pacific Northwest, salmon is a very political issue. #yakamanation #nativeamerican #salmon #klikitatriver #fishermen #AmericanIndian #americabyanothername #francissmith #basalt #mentalking (at Klickitat, Washington) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoKRt7kFqy5/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1iiuh2ip0pulz

[1francissmith-blog]

Today I start driving east, finishing a road trip that I started in May. My vehicle here is named after the evening star, sometimes called Hesperus, but now always known as Venus in the evening sky. Venus in the Western sky was one of the things that called Americans to build their empire out over the continent. The Columbia River here was a big part of that. #hesperus #hesperus #hesper #Columbiariver https://www.instagram.com/p/BoA0eVSl-I_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1sirv8r19wtrb

[1francissmith-blog]

#Houseboats on a bay by the ColumbiaRiver. #sunset #reflections #reflectedsunset #twilight #dusk #americabyanothername #francissmith #aban (at Svensen, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn7nUlFF6A-/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tvvkh1pz1th3

[1francissmith-blog]

#sunset #Columbiariver #americabyanothername #astoriaoregon #francissmith #aban (at Astoria, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bn5XsfbFHsU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1mdclawfdtx9n

[1francissmith-blog]

Two views of the railroad yards between the Willamette River and US 30 on the way to Astoria. One clouds, the other showing some sun. I delivered to storage to the magazine yesterday, and have to send a third later in the week. Otherwise all my time is for Columbia! #portlandoregon #us30 #francissmith #columbia #railyard #americabyanothername #aban (at Portland, Oregon) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnzP-b0HUok/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=bd7ipv5q1l3f

[1francissmith-blog]

To #homeless women and five homeless cats live here. #carliving #columbia #americabyanothername #aban #francissmith https://www.instagram.com/p/BntyS-hlBSv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12dhhds6ym111

[1francissmith-blog]

So as I was leaving this Walmart I saw this young woman wearing this blanket as a wrap. What an amazing blanket we both agreed: Its black and white simplicity, trains, and antique trains to boot! Then I saw that her brother-in-law was wearing a t-shirt at the Divine Mercy, which is a favorite of my stepfather's. He said he prays the Chaplet every afternoon at 3. I had spent many nights in the parking lot of this particular Walmart when I spent My Summer here 3 years ago. This trip it's my first time here. I read that they now forbid overnight parking, but my goodness are plenty of people about. A lot of the information that I have in my book's short little essay about sleeping in Walmart parking lots came from this particular location. #portlandoregon #Columbiariver #railfan #francissmith #americabyanothername #aban #columbia @alejandraperezn https://www.instagram.com/p/BndGdFHF4aW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1pbrhx1y2135h

[1francissmith-blog]

A lost city by the #ColumbiaRiver ! #francissmith #americabyanothername #aban #sandcastle #sandcity #sandart #roosterrockstatepark (at Columbia River Gorge) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnZ5Z8nFf8E/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=yeo5xazymt0a

[1francissmith-blog]

I met this wonderful trio when I was getting ready to leave the rest area where I spent last night. Sommer here has been traveling the rails and hitchhiking around the United States for the last year. She's also an artist. Her cat named Lou, and dog named Bemis, are just delightful and are wonderful friends with each other. While the first image is good in a conventional way, I prefer aspects of second image: the light on her face, the openness and optimism of her expression, the close in cropping. Alas, the animals aren't looking at the camera! @macawbre @macawbre_arts #francissmith #aban #columbia #americabyanothername #ridingtherails (at Gee Creek Rest Area) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnXVocgFDkP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2372me7g2v8i

[1francissmith-blog]

The second photo shows my van in my campsite for two nights just yards from this exquisite beach on the Pacific Ocean, right at the mouth of the Columbia River. Because I have photographed 21 homes filled with art collections since May, and have delivered a whole bunch of stories to the magazines as well, my goal is to hang out, read a book, and go for walks. Oh yes, and of course yes, I will get some video and sound for the second phase of the Columbia project. (at Cape Disappointment State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnDHu11Fw6H/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mu29b9dmphnn