Photo books that make me smile are rare. Sandy Carson's I've Always Been a Cowboy in My Heart is one of them for this Scotsman has an eye for the absurdities of daily American life. - F-Stop Magazine
I've Always Been a Cowboy in My Heart is Carson's outsider's observations of the weird happenstances that present themselves on the great American road trip, as seen through the wide eyes of a Scotsman. After relocating from his native homeland of Scotland in the 90's, he has now spent half his life in Texas. This 12-year project chronicles his fascination with everyday occurrences in the social landscape and explores the spaces between clarity and imperfection, composing a personal slice of America. When put into a photographic context, the aesthetics convey recurring visions of scrutiny, Scottish humor, absurdity and empathy, transforming the most banal scenarios into a nostalgic connection for Carson to his background.
"The first image in I've Always Been a Cowboy in My Heart, the new book by photographer and veteran Chronicle contributor Sandy Carson, is a pretty good indicator of the kind of work you'll see throughout its pages: firmly rooted in place - unquestionably the U.S., and most of the time pretty obviously the western half; marked by the unexpected or surprising; keenly observed; artfully composed; wry. -The Austin Chronicle
The American West may be fundamentally ineffable, but Carson has managed to impose his own order upon it. To him, it's a visual playground of long roads, arid spaces, and cultural incongruities. Each photo captures a minor absurdity. A tree advertised with a "Free" sign. A store called "Die Mart". A formal chair set in the river shallows. A deserted sedan is full of currency. And so on. Fans of David Graham, Phil Bergerson, and Zoe Strauss will find a lot to like here. - photo-eye
About the Author: Sandy Carson is a self-taught documentary and commercial art photographer, film maker, musician and cyclist who grew up in Scotland, now based in Austin, Texas. He studied communications at University before dropping out to tour the UK and Europe playing in punk bands and making fanzines. After moving to the States in the '90s to pursue cycling, he travelled the world for 20 years as a professional BMX rider, where he honed his skills a photographer. His work is an intersection of two careers that have been the recipient of numerous awards. His work is published and exhibited nationally and internationally. Sandy's long-term photography projects and documentary works are represented by INSTITUTE.
