edited by kelly vaughn photographs by hawkeye huey AARON HUEY

WAS HERE

At age 5, Hawkeye Huey has more Instagram followers than the entire staff of Highways combined. It’s no sur- prise, either. As the son of National Geographic photographer Aaron Huey and a National Geographic Creative contribu- tor himself, Hawkeye travels the country with his parents, shooting photos of the people and places he encounters with his Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 camera. Here, we talk to his dad about what it’s like to take family road trips — one of which

AARON HUEY AARON included Northern Arizona — with his tiny protégé.

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“Hawkeye” seems a fitting name hands and see what happens” A bit crooked; centered. I How long were you on the road of the camera and develop, drive from there to Page was for a child with a passion for moment? think he’s just trying to get for that trip? not to hand him an iPhone to filled with great stops. photography. How did it come It definitely came from me. He the subject in the box he’s Nineteen days. make more digital images that to be? was 4 and did not differenti- looking through! never leave a hard drive. Do you find that people come I’ve always known I’d have ate between crayons, mud or How does he stay occupied up to you to ask questions a son named Hawkeye. It photos. He gravitates toward Other than his extraordinary in the car while you’re on the Talk a little bit about your about Hawkeye and his cam- likely planted itself in my anything and everything you hobby, is he a typical road? experiences in Arizona. Where era? subconscious when I watched put in front of him. He also 5-year-old? Just watching scenery out the did you travel? Was there one People are always surprised M.A.S.H. every day in high likes rock-climbing and paint- Definitely. He likes to draw, window, drawing, watching a destination or person or experi- to see such a small child with school, but I don’t think of ing. He’s now old enough, at have tantrums and demand movie on an iPad and asking ence that stood out? such a huge camera, but they pictures made, but, like in the are too many polished images Alan Alda when I hear his 5 and a half, to tell me what dessert every night. how much longer. We traveled through twice. usually end up asking if it’s adult world, some people say — too predictable, too shiny, name. I think I gave him the he wants. [His interests are] Once on our 19-day trip, we “a real Polaroid” when they see no. But I tell him that’s OK — too perfectly balanced. I think name because you can’t be a way more engineering- and During your adventure What type of camera does went briefly through the Four the picture come out. People it’s good to meet new people. we all like seeing the imper- half-assed Hawkeye. You kind builder-based, so we’ll likely across the American West, Hawkeye use, and why? Corners area, but then we aren’t used to seeing real, fection in his images — the of have to own the name. retire him at 6 from his photo were there any subjects that Fujifilm Instax Wide 300 came back specifically to go to physical photos anymore. What’s it like for you to see the little tilt sometimes, the fact career. Maybe he’ll pick it up seemed particularly interest- now. His backup is the Instax the , the Navajo world through your son’s eyes that you can’t see everything Did Hawkeye come to you with again someday. ing to Hawkeye? 210. It’s the most reliable Nation and the Page area. The What are his subjects’ reactions and lens? you want sometimes. Analog, an interest in photography He likes landscapes, stone and affordable instant film. Tuba City Friday market was to him? I find it much more interesting and analog in the hands of a 4- first, or did you have an “I’m How would you describe Hawk- towers and animals (coyotes, I wanted him to shoot real, a big standout — great people Highly varied. Most people than the “perfect” photos we or 5-year-old, is very powerful going to put a camera in his eye’s eye or photographic style? eagles, etc.). physical images that come out and great photos — and the are really happy to have their see everywhere. I think there because it’s beyond influence.

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I can get him to beautiful Talk about the book project paying for costs, we’ll put all necting as a father and son. me to shatter that comfort How has having him with you I love that they’re physical places, so that’s an influence you’re working on. the rest into an account for zone, to be reminded every changed how you shoot? objects, not just digital files he doesn’t know about. But Even though Hawkeye may Hawkeye’s future education What do you hope to achieve day I venture out with my When Hawkeye is with me, in an iPhone. That part is how he frames those subjects retire for a while at 6, we and adventures. with it? camera that there are infinite it’s about Hawkeye, not about important for me, and worth has no creative influence, and really want to share what has Hawkeye is already a very worlds to explore — that my photos. I have to keep a spending the money on real that’s a rare thing for us to see. been made over the past year. What led to this project? social little dude, but I think I am not the center of the very close eye on him, so I’m film. It turns each photo into I love the perfect imperfection I mean, we share through It started because I thought photographing people in this universe, and that my ideas not as focused on my own a genuine interaction, into of his images. his Instagram account, but it would be fun to see if we way opens him up to a life- are among the many perspec- images. We sometimes start a conversation. Everyone is the whole idea is that we’re could both do something on time of communicating with tives and manifestations of to photograph the same peo- smiling when Hawkeye walks Hawkeye is the youngest making physical things you a road trip that I would also people who are very different life that make up this world. ple and environments, but I’ll away. When we were at the AARON HUEY National Geographic Creative can hold. We want to share enjoy. I wanted it to be art- than him and different than I hope for nothing less for let him take the lead. open-mic night at Slab City [a contributor. How do you that part of it, to collect our based, and since I’m looking our local community. I think my son, whether it’s through campsite in the Des- explain to him the significance favorites into a book. We’ll be through a camera so often, so many people get locked photography or another Is there a story from your trav- forth for it to develop, so now ert in ], I sat on the of that? And what was it like preselling the book through that seemed a good vehicle into a comfort zone with how medium of communication. els with him that really sticks in he does it with every shot ground and watched Hawk- for you to watch him sign his a Kickstarter campaign, with for collaborative exploration. we see the world and whom It’s all really about a way of your memory? right before he hands it to the eye go around meeting people contract? the book coming out in Our trip into the desert with we interact with, and we do seeing and experiencing the The first time he shot, I told person to see. I love to watch and making pictures, and by It was hilarious! He has no November. We want to make cameras was not about pho- that by limiting our exposure. world, and the camera is just Hawkeye that he needed to him run around showing the end of the night, everyone idea what it means. it really affordable, and after tography; it was about con- Photography is one way for one exercise. flap the Polaroid back and people his photographs, and knew his name.

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