Travel Notes

Travel Notes is a non-narrative film directed by Walker Evans in 1932. Assembled from footage Evans shot on a sailing ship voyage from New York to Tahiti, Travel Notes showcases Evans' innovative use of 35mm motion picture film. Eschewing traditional documentary or narrative conventions, Evans creates a richly layered visual tapestry composed of abstract images of ocean, sky, sails, rigging, and crew. Travel Notes is an important work of early American avant-garde cinema and a model of lyrical, observational filmmaking.