Joe Stevens: Vans And The Places Where They Were

Orange Tradesman with Stripes, Venice Beach, California Winter 2007 © Joe Stevens Orange Chevy, Santa Monica, CA, Spring 2004 © Joe Stevens

I have a bit of a soft spot for old American vans; odd, I know. Perhaps it can be traced back to watching the A-Team during my youth, or perhaps it's the classic body shapes and styling that concede far less to utility than today's work vehicles are able to.

Black Econoline with Blue Mural, Castro District, San Francisco, Summer 1997 © Joe Stevens

Reasons aside, imagine my delight when today I discovered Joe Stevens' Vans And The Places Where They Were, a documentary project dedicated to finding classic vans across the US and capturing them on 120 film stock.

Silver Chevy on Jacks, South of Temple Street, Los Angeles CA, Winter 2008 © Joe Stevens

“Over the course of the project the vans themselves have become more and more of a rarity. The reasons are as simple as rust and changing tastes; and as complex as government “cash for clunkers” initiatives encouraging more fuel-efficient transportation. Notably, at the same time these vans have been disappearing from our roads, film photography as a visual medium has also begun its slow death. Consequently the goal of the project is to one day shoot the last remaining van on the final frame of photographic film in existence. Then the project will be finished.”

Red Chevy, Garment District, Los Angeles, Winter 2009 © Joe Stevens

The project certainly has the potential to become a poignant record of a period in automotive history that will never come again: check out the images here.