Hunter Barnes: Tickets gives readers a glimpse into the surreal
world of the American traveling carnival, a vibrant community most had
thought lost half a century ago.
The result of documentary photographer Hunter Barnes' (born 1977) time
on the road with the World of Wonder Sideshow, Tickets captures the
people and places of the traveling circus's grittier sibling. The sword
swallowers, fire eaters and tattooed ladies are all here, defiant and
exuberant, captured in striking portraits.
Barnes has long been drawn to documenting aspects of culture and
communities ignored or misrepresented by the mainstream American
narrative. Starting with his first self-published photobook Redneck
Roundup, Barnes has always sought out tiny pockets of American
subcultural activity: he has photographed bikers, lowriders, street
gangs and inmates in California State Prison--working always on film,
matching his analogue process to his slow, intensive methodology.