Overview

Unseen for over fifty years, these photographs capture 1970s Texas, revealing the tenor of American life in its most quirky and telling moments. Shot on a 35mm Leica, they offer an early glimpse into the practice of a filmmaker who would go on to become a pioneer of observational documentary.

The images sometimes resemble movie stills, marked by a constant interplay between stillness and movement, between formal composition and an inquisitive, roving eye. MacDougall brought a fresh perspective to the lives of horse-fanciers, promoters, cowhands, diner workers, bodybuilders, conventioneers, and car enthusiasts across the state.