A Taos photographer, Jessica Roybal, embarked on a 19-day road trip to document the Route 66 centennial caravan, which spanned eight states and celebrated the historic highway.

The Journey

Roybal, who has a passion for preservation and revitalization, began her interest in photography while studying architecture. She described her approach to photography as intuitive, never having been trained as a professional photographer.

The caravan began in California, with participants traveling through Beverly Hills under police escort. The journey included encounters with other travelers in the Mojave Desert, navigating the switchbacks near Oatman, Arizona, and capturing vintage cars along the original Route 66 in Missouri.

For Roybal, the journey was about more than just the drive. She reflected on the experience, saying it was therapeutic and transformative, and that road trips can clear one’s mind and change their environment.

Reflections

Roybal’s passion for Route 66 grew as she explored its unique features, from neon signs to classic cars. She said she would gladly do the journey again, and that it sparked new ideas for her work back home.

Original reporting: KOAT Albuquerque — read the source article.