Photo Essay: Souvenirs

This photo essay is by Michael Hughes. It’s a very simple idea, but the execution is where it flies. You need to match the right souvenir with the right perspective. It is also a great comment on travel that combines the capturing of the memory of travel with the kitsch of tourism.

The project began in 1999 on a cold, grey November day on assignment at the Loreley cliffs near Mainz, Germany. The postcard in my pocket for my daughter looked much better than the real place, so I held it up in place and shot. Little did I know I was beginning a series that would continue to this day.

The rules are simple: Only use souvenirs that you can actually buy at the place, and you must be able to hold it with one hand.