CNN Photos

Always moving: A transient way of life

By Allison Love, CNN
4 minute read
Updated 9:03 AM EDT, Fri July 3, 2015
Dickie, now known as Knuckles, was the first traveler who Michael Joseph photographed for his "Lost and Found" series. Joseph noticed Knuckles, he said, because "he had an interesting anchor tattoo on his face and a very distinct look about him for a hitchhiker." The two first met in Las Vegas in 2011, and by chance they crossed paths three years later in Chicago.
Dickie, now known as Knuckles, was the first traveler who Michael Joseph photographed for his "Lost and Found" series. Joseph noticed Knuckles, he said, because "he had an interesting anchor tattoo on his face and a very distinct look about him for a hitchhiker." The two first met in Las Vegas in 2011, and by chance they crossed paths three years later in Chicago.
Michael Joseph
Joseph said he met Molly in New Orleans. "Molly, along with many travelers, rides the rails in search of work as did the hobos of the 1930s," Joseph said. Joseph also learned that escapism is common among travelers. "Many travelers have a past that hurts so badly but also in a sense makes them so beautiful. Their pasts and open souls allow them to form bonds with one another like a family."
Joseph said he met Molly in New Orleans. "Molly, along with many travelers, rides the rails in search of work as did the hobos of the 1930s," Joseph said. Joseph also learned that escapism is common among travelers. "Many travelers have a past that hurts so badly but also in a sense makes them so beautiful. Their pasts and open souls allow them to form bonds with one another like a family."
Michael Joseph
Joseph met Parker in Austin, Texas. "She is an example of how someone can physically look timeworn yet still so beautiful at the same time," he said. "She rides trains but also stops to work for periods of time."
Joseph met Parker in Austin, Texas. "She is an example of how someone can physically look timeworn yet still so beautiful at the same time," he said. "She rides trains but also stops to work for periods of time."
Michael Joseph
"I met and photographed this traveler in New Orleans," Joseph said. "Travelers often have face tattoos. Some are common, such as the symbol for 'squatter's rights,' while others are personal. The jug with the XXX is a moonshine jug, and the triple X means that the shine has been run through the still three times so it's almost pure alcohol."
"I met and photographed this traveler in New Orleans," Joseph said. "Travelers often have face tattoos. Some are common, such as the symbol for 'squatter's rights,' while others are personal. The jug with the XXX is a moonshine jug, and the triple X means that the shine has been run through the still three times so it's almost pure alcohol."
Michael Joseph
"I met Morgan on the street in Boston," Joseph said. "She hopped trains in a different decade than those who are currently riding. She has since settled and takes care of two children. Morgan pointed out that when she was riding, no one had cell phones to communicate or figure out where to go the way modern travelers can."
"I met Morgan on the street in Boston," Joseph said. "She hopped trains in a different decade than those who are currently riding. She has since settled and takes care of two children. Morgan pointed out that when she was riding, no one had cell phones to communicate or figure out where to go the way modern travelers can."
Michael Joseph
"I had heard about Dice, a very well-known traveler, from many other travelers," Joseph said. "I walked past him on the streets of New Orleans and stopped him. He gave me just five frames and we talked. Traveling was his addiction in life. Even after losing an arm and a leg from hopping trains, he was back hopping six months later. He was the nicest guy."
"I had heard about Dice, a very well-known traveler, from many other travelers," Joseph said. "I walked past him on the streets of New Orleans and stopped him. He gave me just five frames and we talked. Traveling was his addiction in life. Even after losing an arm and a leg from hopping trains, he was back hopping six months later. He was the nicest guy."
Michael Joseph
"I met Wreka in Austin, Texas," Joseph said. "She was part of a street band and was on a short break from performing. I was drawn to her eyes. She only gave me a few minutes to make a portrait. "
"I met Wreka in Austin, Texas," Joseph said. "She was part of a street band and was on a short break from performing. I was drawn to her eyes. She only gave me a few minutes to make a portrait. "
Michael Joseph
"Ekasah is one of the most well-known and well-loved travelers in New Orleans," Joseph said. "I met him and we chatted for a bit. He is Native American Indian (from five generations) and grew up on a reservation. He left at the age of 18 to explore this subculture -- more for the adventure aspect at first."
"Ekasah is one of the most well-known and well-loved travelers in New Orleans," Joseph said. "I met him and we chatted for a bit. He is Native American Indian (from five generations) and grew up on a reservation. He left at the age of 18 to explore this subculture -- more for the adventure aspect at first."
Michael Joseph
"I met and photographed Bubbles in Harvard Square, which is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts," Joseph said. She told him that riding trains sort of feels like being on a roller coaster: You're scared, but it provides an adrenaline rush that makes you want to do it again.
"I met and photographed Bubbles in Harvard Square, which is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts," Joseph said. She told him that riding trains sort of feels like being on a roller coaster: You're scared, but it provides an adrenaline rush that makes you want to do it again.
Michael Joseph
"I first met 'Shameless' in Austin, Texas." Joseph said. "This image was taken on the side of a parking garage. It is one of my favorites. I have photographed Shamus twice since we first met. He gets his name from his quick-witted, shameless personality. As soon as I lifted the camera, he lets down his guard."
"I first met 'Shameless' in Austin, Texas." Joseph said. "This image was taken on the side of a parking garage. It is one of my favorites. I have photographed Shamus twice since we first met. He gets his name from his quick-witted, shameless personality. As soon as I lifted the camera, he lets down his guard."
Michael Joseph
"I met Ireen in New Orleans this past October just before Halloween," Joseph said. "She was new to traveling, and I asked her a bit about what it is like to be a female traveler. She told me, 'I travel by myself so I worry about sleeping alone. You never know if there going to be someone who tries to take advantage of your situation.' "
"I met Ireen in New Orleans this past October just before Halloween," Joseph said. "She was new to traveling, and I asked her a bit about what it is like to be a female traveler. She told me, 'I travel by myself so I worry about sleeping alone. You never know if there going to be someone who tries to take advantage of your situation.' "
Michael Joseph
"I photographed 'Puke' in New Orleans," Joseph said. "It took me a few attempts to get this photograph, and she only gave me five minutes or so. Her appearance is an example of riders who might be into the punk-music scene, which is really how much of the late '80s and '90s travelers were. Her 'skank' or handkerchief is commonly worn as an identifier and also used wet to avoid suffocation while traveling through tunnels."
"I photographed 'Puke' in New Orleans," Joseph said. "It took me a few attempts to get this photograph, and she only gave me five minutes or so. Her appearance is an example of riders who might be into the punk-music scene, which is really how much of the late '80s and '90s travelers were. Her 'skank' or handkerchief is commonly worn as an identifier and also used wet to avoid suffocation while traveling through tunnels."
Michael Joseph
"I met Tony on the streets of Austin, Texas," Joseph said. "He had only been traveling for a year and half at this time." Tony told Joseph that his experience so far had been good. "I've been able to meet a lot of good people and play a lot of good music." But he's seen some bad as well: "I agree that it's about freedom, but a lot of (travelers) are depressed." Joseph found out that "drugs and alcohol can often be an inescapable trap."
"I met Tony on the streets of Austin, Texas," Joseph said. "He had only been traveling for a year and half at this time." Tony told Joseph that his experience so far had been good. "I've been able to meet a lot of good people and play a lot of good music." But he's seen some bad as well: "I agree that it's about freedom, but a lot of (travelers) are depressed." Joseph found out that "drugs and alcohol can often be an inescapable trap."
Michael Joseph
Always moving: A transient way of life

Story highlights

Photographer Michael Joseph has met many people who choose to live a transient lifestyle

They hop trains, hitch rides and form friendships around the country

CNN  — 

Tattoos cover their faces and bodies – marks of permanence to contrast their transient lifestyle. Some wear their hair in dreadlocks; others wear worn bandanas around their necks.

They are travelers – hopping freight trains, hitching rides, always in motion.

Michael Joseph first photographed a traveler while in Las Vegas working on a street project in 2011. He spotted a man trying to hitch a ride, and he asked his cabdriver to pull over so he could take the man’s picture.

“He had an interesting anchor tattoo on his face and he had a very distinct look about him for a hitchhiker,” Joseph said. “He gave me 20 to 30 minutes but I never got his story.”

After returning home from his trip, the photo of the hitchhiker stood out among Joseph’s other images. He continued his street photography, and in Portland, Maine, he met a traveler who recognized the man with the anchor tattoo.

Photographer Michael Joseph
Photographer Michael Joseph
Michael Joseph

“I thought, ‘How is it possible that you know this guy,’ ” Joseph said. “He told me that (the man’s) name was Dickie and that he was on Facebook.”

In New Orleans, Joseph met another traveler who knew Dickie, who by then had started going by Knuckles.

It was in New Orleans that Joseph learned about this culture of travelers who ride trains, form friendships, separate, and find each other again. It prompted his portrait series “Lost and Found.”

Three years after Joseph first met Knuckles, the two ran into each other again at a train station in Chicago. Joseph instantly recognized Knuckles by his anchor tattoo. He then learned more about Knuckles’ life, and when they saw each other again in New York, Joseph was introduced to more travelers.

A sort of wanderlust, Joseph said, drives all of the travelers he has photographed. Yet their stories vary. Some are running away from painful pasts, while others are just looking to find people they fit in with. And though some might look rough, Joseph said, they are some of the kindest and most intelligent people he has ever met.

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    “One girl was a valedictorian,” Joseph said. “She told me: ‘I had no friends until I started traveling. No one understood me. I was always bored with everything everybody else wanted to do. I didn’t want to go shopping. I wanted to go out into the woods and hike, and nobody understood that.’ She thinks she’ll go to college eventually and become a teacher.”

    Freight-train hopping is illegal and very dangerous. Many of the travelers Joseph has met describe it as a high and life on the road as an addiction. One traveler likened the experience to “magic.”

    “They’re discovering new places all the time,” Joseph said. “They’ve seen parts of the country that we’ll never see. Going to new places and meeting new people is like a high for them. There’s a freedom attached to it.”

    Joseph said the travelers live very much by an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. “If you treat everyone with kindness, they’ll treat you exactly the same,” he said.

    Because Joseph has built up a vast network of travelers, and because they all know one another, meeting new travelers is easier.

    “They know they can be comfortable with me,” he said. “In general, they’re very open people. It’s unexpected.”

    Joseph’s portraits feel timeless. They are shot in black and white with the traveler standing before a simple background.

    “There’s something about it that doesn’t distract the eye and makes it more about the person,” he said. “I want the viewer to see the face and the person. They have this aged look, this worn look, and black and white accentuates that a little more.”

    Life on the road comes with a cost. With the freedom it allows, there is the opportunity to experiment with drugs and alcohol. Many travelers are young and leaving home for the first time. Traveling becomes so entwined with their identity that some feel lost when they finally stop.

    “There are some people who weren’t lost in the beginning (of their journey) who might be lost at the end,” Joseph said.

    Others, however, are much happier away from the conventions of modern society.

    “They are not to be pitied nor romanticized by the viewer,” Joseph said. “You want to see and feel the person who lies somewhere in between.”

    Michael Joseph is a photographer based in Boston. You can follow him on Facebook and Instagram.