In 1979 Roger Minick embarked on a road trip with his wife Joyce Perrin around the western United States in their VW Camper. Inspired by time spent teaching at Yosemite National Park where he became fascinated by the unique nature of tourist behaviour, Roger set out with the sole purpose of photographing sightseers.

"I began to feel I was witnessing something uniquely American, something that I suddenly very much wanted to photograph".

Minick originally photographed in black and white, however realised the photos were missing out on the stark contrast between the tourist's vibrant outfits and the landscapes they had come to visit. 

Roger would go on to photograph families, couples and solo travellers in exchange for a free portrait photo with the Polaroid camera he had strapped around his neck.

"I hoped the project would have cultural value and might be seen in years to come as a kind of time capsule of what Americans looked like at the end of the Twentieth Century".

Source: Roger Minick