This photo by Stephen Shore is of the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona. It sits right off the old Route 66, and is a classic landmark on a classic route. It shows four of the kitchy rooms clearly located in an agricultural/light commercial zoned area. They are out of place, but a fundamental part of the overall road trip experience. This was from a series on the 'new' American west, and clearly moved color photography into the world of art photography.

This is typical of many of his images - crisp, clear photos documenting mid-century America, in all it's banality and simplicity. Colors are muted, little is staged, and the images are just captivating in their simplicity. They document a time and place that is fading into franchises and strip malls, never to be seen again.

Of his many images, this one jumped out at me for one particular reason. My parents married in Kansas, and immediately moved to California. One of the stops on their honeymoon road trip was this very motel. Way cool to find it here!