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Route 66 — Wet Plate Collodion on the Mother Road
Route 66 — Wet Plate Collodion on the Mother Road
A hand-crafted photographic journey across America’s most iconic highway
A hand-crafted photographic journey across America’s most iconic highway
From the neon-lit diners of Illinois to the sun-drenched piers of Santa Monica, the Mother Road is more than just a highway—it’s a piece of American history. My Route 66 photography and art collection captures the soul of the open road, preserved in high-quality, gallery-grade prints.
The Journey
The Journey
Finding authentic Route 66 wall art shouldn't be a detour. Whether you are a classic car enthusiast, a lover of vintage neon signs, or a traveler at heart, these prints bring the nostalgic charm of the 1950s into your modern space.
As an artist, I’ve traveled the historic stretches of the U.S. 66 to document the crumbling motels, the vast desert landscapes, and the vibrant roadside attractions that define the American West. Every piece in the Route 66 Prints collection is curated to ensure that the legacy of the Main Street of America lives on through fine art.
Created over thousands of miles along America’s most iconic highway, this Route 66 collection honors in its 100th anniversary year and captures the spirit of the Mother Road using the 19th-century wet plate collodion process. Traveling with a mobile darkroom in my Airstream, I poured, exposed, and developed each plate on location—often in desert heat, roadside dust, and fading neon light.
Every image began as a hand-made collodion negative, touched by the elements and shaped by the unpredictability of silver and ether. The imperfections, flow lines, and organic edges are part of the truth of the process, preserving the grit, romance, and quiet loneliness that still lives along Route 66.
From Tucumcari’s glowing motels to abandoned gas stations in the high desert—and finally to the Pacific terminus in Santa Monica—this body of work reflects a road that refuses to disappear. These limited-edition prints are archival, museum-grade reproductions of the original plates, made for collectors who feel the pull of the open road and the history beneath it.
Route 66 Print - Abandoned Gas Station — Route 66 Tucumcari NM
Route 66 Print - Abandoned Gas Station — Route 66 Tucumcari NM
Photographed in Tucumcari, New Mexico, this image depicts a long-closed gas station along Route 66 — one of the many small stops left behind when the interstate took over. Its empty pumps, cracked signage, and sun-bleached facade stand as a reminder of how quickly the rhythm of travel changed across the Southwest.
Created using the wet plate collodion process, the photograph captures the peeling paint, corroded metal, and desert light with rich tonal depth. The slow, hand-poured method mirrors the pace of decline — deliberate, patient, and honest.
Part of the NomadType Route 66 series, Abandoned Gas Station documents the transition from movement to memory, preserving the character of the roadside architecture that defined mid-century America.
Route 66 Print – Blue Swallow Motel — Route 66 Tucumcari NM
Route 66 Print – Blue Swallow Motel — Route 66 Tucumcari NM
Photographed in Tucumcari, New Mexico, this image features the iconic Blue Swallow Motel, one of the most beloved landmarks along Route 66. Built in 1939, the motel remains a living piece of American history — its pink stucco walls, turquoise trim, and neon swallow still welcoming travelers with the promise of “100% Refrigerated Air.”
In this composition, a vintage car rests beneath the sign, completing the classic roadside tableau that has come to define the highway’s golden age. The quietness of the scene contrasts with the road’s once-bustling energy — a glimpse into both past and persistence.
Created using the wet plate collodion process, the photograph captures the texture of paint, metal, and desert light with unmatched depth. Each plate’s unique imperfections mirror the patina and endurance of the place itself.
Part of the NomadType Route 66 series, Blue Swallow Motel stands as a tribute to the heart of the open road — a reminder that beauty and history still live in the small places that time forgot.
Route 66 Print – Angel's Place - The Barber of Route 66 -Seligman, Arizona
Route 66 Print – Angel's Place - The Barber of Route 66 -Seligman, Arizona
Photographed in Seligman, Arizona, this image captures the storefront of Angel’s Barber Shop, better known as Angel’s Place. Angel Delgadillo, often called The Barber of Route 66, was one of the first to fight for the preservation of the historic highway after it was bypassed in the 1970s. His shop became a gathering point for travelers, dreamers, and anyone chasing a piece of old America.
Created using the wet plate collodion process, this photograph preserves the textures and light of the small-town storefront — the hand-painted signs, the reflection in the glass, and the worn wood that has welcomed visitors from around the world.
Part of the NomadType Route 66 series, Angel’s Place — The Barber of Route 66 stands as a tribute to the people who gave the highway its heart. The photograph honors both a man and a moment — when pride, humor, and hospitality kept a town alive.
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