A deserted highway in the middle of the night, a neon sign in the distance; ghostly figures on the sidewalk, empty corridors, rusty old Cadillacs lying in the woods. Evan William Plunkett’s photographs could be set anywhere and anytime in small-town America. Eerily, they evoke stories and voices of people who once inhabited these half-desolate spaces. Plunkett gathers material locally and during his travels across the country, capturing American themes and historically or culturally relevant places and objects symbolic of Americana. The atmospheric quality of Plunkett’s photography is achieved through a combination of long-exposure techniques and intentional camera movement, forging a style which Plunkett describes as “photo impressionism.” Inspired by films, Plunkett develops a sense of narrative flow, recreating nostalgic scenes “to illustrate the fluidity and essence of the perpetual movement of time.” His photographs offer a unique perspective on the nature of reality, as seen through the eyes of a millennial facing the complexities and challenges of today’s America.

Currently residing in Putney, Vermont, Plunkett grew up in New Jersey and completed his studies in Political Science at the University of Miami. His work appeared in several juried exhibitions and was featured on the cover of Shots Magazine in 2021. Plunkett published two photography monographs and is working on a third one on long exposure and impressionistic images. A social justice and environmental advocate, he sits on the board of the Doris Wilderness Foundation, a wildlife preserve in Belize dedicated to the protection of the local rainforest.