Trust, Tradition, and the Open Road: Two Years Among Travellers

A photographer’s two-year journey living alongside Traveller families has resulted in a rare and intimate portrait of a community often misunderstood and marginalized. Through patience, open conversation, and genuine connection, these projects are challenging perceptions and giving a voice to Traveller stories across the UK and Ireland.

 

Sam Wright, inspired by his own family’s Traveller roots, spent two years documenting the lives of Traveller and Romani communities in the UK. His project, “Pillar to Post,” began as a personal exploration and evolved into a collaborative cultural exchange, offering a counter-narrative to common stereotypes.

 

Wright attended eight Traveller fairs, including the iconic Appleby Horse Fair, immersing himself in both large gatherings and small family events. He was welcomed warmly, despite initial warnings about prejudice and suspicion from outsiders.

 

The work highlights the tension between tradition and modern life. Young Travellers navigate a world where hand-painted caravans sit alongside modern cars, and social media brings outside influences into a historically tight-knit culture.

 

Wright’s portraits and stories reveal both the resilience and vulnerability of the community, especially among the younger generation who often feel caught between two worlds.

 

Similarly, photographers like Sebastiaan Franco and Michele Zousmer have spent years with Irish Traveller families, documenting their daily lives, family bonds, and the challenges they face, from housing discrimination to the pressure to assimilate.

 

These long-term projects are more than just photo essays—they are acts of advocacy, aiming to foster understanding and respect for one of Europe’s last nomadic cultures.

 

Source: WePresent, VICE, Street Photography Magazine