Peter Kayafas: The Way West

A beautifully produced exploration of America’s plains states—their histories, traditions and people—from Peter Kayafas

The latest book from New York–based photographer Peter Kayafas (born 1971) presents photographs from ten years and thousands of miles of travel in the plains states. A continuation of his 30 years of work along America’s backroads, Kayafas uses his camera to explore the present state of the histories and ritualized traditions of the people who live in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Colorado.

Their way of life, their connection to the land and the animals that are their lifeblood, are enduring themes in this body of work. So too is the passage of young people from childhood into the adult world of hard work and knowledge about the struggles and challenges of life in the west. The backdrop for this subtle narrative is the beautiful, rugged and wide-open landscape of the west with all its layers and ironies.

A brilliant essay by the celebrated writer Rick Bass accompanies the photographs.