Whether photographing Hollywood celebrities or immigrants newly arrived in New York, photographer Dennis Stock had an extraordinary ability to capture the essence of the American experience. His most famous portraits of Hollywood stars – most notably James Dean – are icons of modern American culture, while other notable projects include his work on the jazz scene and on the counterculture of the 1960s. Stock’s own restlessness drew him to the highways in the 60s, when he drove through California, taking in the unique, heady spirit of the place, and photographing the curious characters he met along the way, from cult leaders, to hippies, off-duty actors, nudists and countless other free spirits that are drawn to the state. The project, “California Trip”, captured the Golden State at the apex of its freewheeling heyday.
