A series inspired by the open roads in the United States, pursuing memories of places Sydney-born Vancouver-born photographer Poppy Steer has never been to. Steer is a trans photographer who has always been deeply fascinated by the United States and the movies they watched with their father. For Steer, Wim Wenders’ book is the 1984 film Paris, Texas, about a purposeless wanderer who wanders in the desert, and the “Brother, Art The You?” soundtrack is the core memory that reflects not only the desire to connect with his father, but also the desire to connect with himself in the Wrangler and cowboy hat. In his 30s, Steer began searching for America for these films, chasing memories of the only places they imagined existed. From Canada to California, Steer is no longer a young girl in Sydney, but someone with the “autonomy to move the world in my own way”:
“When I drive along the I-5, the landscape doesn’t always match the landscape in my mind. The road feels lonely and more exhausted. Diners welcome me, calling me “sir” from across the room, but I never had enough time for anyone to see me in the car. I drive and shoot a lot, and I pass by a small town like I do in the town. Twisted and dystopian, I quickly realize that the nostalgia I come is impossible to achieve.
Poppy Steer participated in our 2025 Boooooom Art & Photo Book Awards and was included in our shortlist.
