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Ajo, Arizona

There was no better place that could rekindle this project.

The first copper mine in Arizona, you know what happens next.

Just south of this mining town, are remnants of Chico Suni: the last Hia C-ed O’odham village and temporal in the US. The Hia C-ed O’odham (meaning Sand People), along with the Tohono O’odham (Desert People), are the indigenous inhabitants of these lands. The last inhabitant of Chico Suni died in 1999. However, there are still Hia C-ed O’odham who reside in Ajo and the neighboring Tohono O’odham Nation.

Disturbing but Fascinating

The mine is inactive. It’s been a scar of extraction since 1983.

Just over 3000 residents as of 2020.

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

click here to view all posts

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New York, New York

I didn't think these images lived up to the hype of the first big apple blog post… so I am posting them. This blog is not supposed to compliment a place.

Life Lessons

You have to wonder, if the flowers get confused, as to why it is 70 degrees in November.

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

click here to view all posts

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Charleston, SC

This project has inevitably extended to the east coast. Does it fit in?

Sometimes you’re just the orange house.

It is a remarkable time to be just about anywhere in this country.

Breezing to the Edge

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

click here to view all posts

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Tucson, AZ

The overwhelming improbability of this event must have meant it was time to slow down and wander.

In this empire, the least desirable piece of the street is left for the dirt, the glass, the screws, and the bicyclists. Ride on.

Solidarity

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

click here to view all posts

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San Francisco Bay Area, CA

The imprint of a bay and lush slopes paired with anthropogenic tendencies makes for something exhilarating.

The roots of these hills will always break through.

an unintentional color palette

Across the Bay…

Trying to make sense of it all

…and back again.

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

click here to view all posts

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Palm Springs, CA

There is nothing better than midcentury modern, but there's nothing worse than a fine cut, over-watered lawn.

Are you impressed or bothered?

These mountains are to the west.

This place has never seen a real sunset.

Just a reminder before you go!

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

click here to view all posts

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Tucson, AZ

Welcome back. Good to know you are still here.

These posts hopefully will return each month as originally intended, but with less frequency. I may begin to compile multiple sessions of wandering into a single post. But as promised, I will wander somewhere, but nowhere in particular. -JR

The broken roads are still being paved along these broken places, because people are being told they have places they need to be.

Imperial healthcare is what has gotten us onto year three. It will not be what gets us out.

Nice Things

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

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Truth or Consequences, NM

Truth or Consequences

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

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tucson, az

Another Barrio

I found myself drawn to boundaries, walls, fence.

but does it run?

this is a highway

OR...

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

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bisbee, az

Thriving Remnants

Gentrify

I could have cropped out the satellite dish and took a trip back in time.

etched in stone

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

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tucson, az

Off-Gridiron

every city needs (manufactured) green space

Greetings from... the picturesque

functional frontyard

the network

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

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tucson, az

Vintage Sprawl

interconnected roads, rail, power: division

the only acceptable non-biker in the bike lane

immortalized

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

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tucson, az

encouraging

Vine St.

aspirations for control

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

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tucson, az

things are going to change soon, but for who?

extended property

I didn't stick around to find out why this is here, so it just is

Nuevo

discontinued property

nothing to see here...

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

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tucson, arizona

for a very brief moment I thought these were smoke stacks…

this site made me genuinely sad and just moments after I wondered why I even took the photo.

the 6 am cage

the street was dead so I walked down the middle, and then I looked down

and then I looked up

ice caps from yesterday have mostly melted

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

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tucson, arizona

space exploration is aggressive.

friday, you made it.

not a single lawn mower, so far so good

baby blue and cream

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.

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tucson

cherry red

car is dead

“Only 48 more hours... what more destruction can he do?...”

I wonder how this compares to an oak tree back home

nothing worth taking

These guys on the fence are called Kokopelli. I recognized them from the rug I put in my college dorm for 3 years. After researching the name, I now know they represent a fertility deity specific to the native Hopi people of the Southwest. It must be fate.

What do you see?

Roaming Empire is an ongoing photography study of the built environment and its people within the United States. Each post documents a session of wandering somewhere, but nowhere in particular.