An
American
Journey

Into the Heartland - In a salute to America’s heartland and the renaissance of appreciation for traditional community values, Richard Olsenius’ images from the book “In Search of Lake Wobegon” showcase the most famous fictional small town in America, “where the women are strong, the men are good-looking and the children are all above average.” Click here> “In Search of Lake Wobegon.”

Waiting for his parents to hook up the wagon for their Sunday ride, St. Rosa, Minnesota

A Photographer’s Search for Small Town Values

An American Journey is a visual poem to rural America, the values that once grounded it and the changes in those values brought on by the Make America Great Again movement.

As a photographer who spent years covering rural America, I never saw it coming, the “great divide,” that chasm between urban and rural, liberal and conservative, the loss of civility and social norms that we all grew up with.

I was shocked when I heard Donald Trump insult John McCain, a veteran who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for over five years. It seems that we should have one norm we can all agree upon, respect for our men and women who serve in the armed forces.

Surely we should not disparage them or turn them into political jokes. With this video, I hope that viewers will see how much we have to be thankful for, how much still brings us together and unites this country rather than divides it.

SEE & READ MORE

Into The Heartland
Review

“Images etched into our consciousness that define America without becoming cliches, are not easy to come by. Although many photographers pursue that place, few find it. Richard Olsenius captures that location, arriving at a place called Lake Wobegon.”
Lily Faust, New York Art World Magazine
PURCHASE BOOK HERE

Much of my photographic work has focused on the essence of small-town life in Minnesota and the Midwest where I grew up. “In Search of Lake Wobegon,” although a book about a mythical place, imbues traditional values, close-knit communities, and a slower pace of life. Today there seems to be a sense of nostalgia which provides me the perfect canvas to explore community, family, pride, and human fallibility with images and stories that resonate with a broad audience, and transcend regional boundaries.

Explore The Work

Journey with National Geographic photographer, Richard Olsenius — JOURNEYS

A collection of videos and stories by Richard Olsenius. Some are 4k video to stream to Apple or smart TV.

Collections of Richard Olsenius's photography in Museums and Books — COLLECTIONS

A compendium of Richard Olsenius’s photography that has been shown in museums or published in books.

Fine art prints & music created by Richard Olsenius and Marion Warren signed proofs. — PRINTS

Fine art prints by Richard Olsenius along with Marion Warren signed proofs.

Featured

Explore the American West with National Geographic photographer Richard Olsenius — THE AMERICAN WEST

EXPLORE THE AMERICAN WEST AND THE PEOPLE THAT CALL THIS HOME

EXPLORE

As a photojournalist for over 50 years, I was always drawn to the American West, to the rolling prairies beyond the Missouri River, to a land that slowly rose to meet the continental divide.

NOVA SCOTIA

A LAND OF WIND-SWEPT COASTS & SMALL FISHING VILLAGES

11 MIN VIDEO

Nova Scotia boasts breathtaking coastal landscapes, characterized by rugged cliffs, picturesque lighthouses, and charming fishing villages. Join me as I explore in narration, images and music, this rich maritime culture.

Remembrance

American Landscape Gallery is committed to telling the stories created by many different landscapes and to remembering those events that have impacted our world.

CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE

Cambodian Genocide - Story of the late 1970’s genocide and exodus of millions of Cambodia Refugees.

THE STORY

My photographic career has centered on interpreting landscapes; social and political, as well as geographical. Landscapes have multiple stories to tell. While I have photographed the American West and Canadian parks, I have also covered the anti-war demonstrations of the 1960’s and the white flight from our urban communities during the Civil Rights struggle. And in the late 1970’s I covered the impacts of social and political upheaval in Cambodia that resulted in one of the 20th Century’s worst instances of genocide. Shadows in the Sun is the photographic story of that landscape of tragedy and the international humanitarian effort to address it.

An
American
Journey

A Photographer’s Search for Small Town Values

Explore The Work

Featured

Remembrance

American Landscape Gallery is committed to telling the stories created by many different landscapes and to remembering those events that have impacted our world.

New Music Releases

by Richard Olsenius

Video Overview of Richard Olsenius’ Work (1:30)