Looking to find a collection, or a photographer, focused on train hopping, I found a guy who seems to have garnered mild fame for his work, and for being a bit of a mystery. His portrayal reminds me of Banksy. His name is Mike Brodie and he was born in Arizona in 1985. Its funny, a lot of people I've met that hitch across country come from Arizona. The state just breeds them I guess. The guy never had formal training, and says that he never really wanted to pursue photography. He just happened to be given a Polaroid camera right before he decided to hop trains in his early 20's. The result was aggressively raw photos of the world he was living in for 4 years. He was able to document a culture most people think doesn't exist; like its out of a Dickens novel. All because he wasn't trying to make art or live up to expectations. According to one article he's really not comfortable with the small fame hes gotten now with galleries and books, and lives a modest life as a traveling diesel mechanic. I can't help but wonder if this person is just a fictional persona of a professional. I know seemingly genuine and magnificent things have turned out to be just that before in art. I hope this is all true and raw. The work really is awesomely captivating.

http://mikebrodie.net/