Lost and Found

Photographer Michael Joseph points his camera at young people who have left home to roam the United States. They travel by thumbing rides and riding freight trains, living an unsettled life on the edges of conventional society.

The pull toward the road is different for each person. Some are drawn by the urge to wander, some want to get away from their circumstances, and others follow temporary work from place to place. Out on the road, these travelers form close bonds that often feel like a chosen family, yet the freedom they pursue comes with real costs.

Joseph made each black and white portrait in public streets, using only natural light. Every image stands on its own, but taken together they add up to a larger story shaped by more than a decade of work. The photographs present courage, gentleness, and resolve in people who rarely receive attention.