Chantal Heijnen

Photographer & Educator

The Divided States of America

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Freeman Nisley, 21 years old f...Amish community two weeks ago.

1 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Freeman Nisley, 21 years old from Iowa, recently visited his first Trump rally after he left the Amish community two weeks ago.

Earl Miller, 56 years old from...pite his interest in politics.

2 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Earl Miller, 56 years old from Indiana, can’t vote because of his Amish background despite his interest in politics.

The California Zephyr passing by Moab, Utah.

3 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

The California Zephyr passing by Moab, Utah.

Jain Gunsauls from Nevada does...son because he is too liberal.

4 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Jain Gunsauls from Nevada doesn't talk politics with her stepson because he is too liberal.

The California Zephyr passing through Green River, Utah.

5 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

The California Zephyr passing through Green River, Utah.

Dalton Carty, 72 years old fro...as the '45th'.

6 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Dalton Carty, 72 years old from the US Virgin Islands, doesn't say the name Donald Trump out loud and refers to him as the '45th'.

Dalton Carty, 72 years old fro...as the '45th'.

7 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Dalton Carty, 72 years old from the US Virgin Islands, doesn't say the name Donald Trump out loud and refers to him as the '45th'.

Tracks of the California Zephy...while the sun rises in Nevada.

8 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Tracks of the California Zephyr, the transcontinental train across America, while the sun rises in Nevada.

Marcelle Palmer, 65 years old ... moment is only a puppet show.

9 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Marcelle Palmer, 65 years old from Colorado, is actually glad she can't vote because of her religious convictions. She is Jehovah witness and politics at the moment is only a puppet show.

Carlos Tranquillo, 29 years ol...to Nevada to build a new life.

10 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Carlos Tranquillo, 29 years old from Pennsylvania, can't vote because he was convicted. He's on his way to Nevada to build a new life.

Passing through Colorado

11 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Passing through Colorado

Courtney Thomas, 35 years old ...e him into this too.

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Courtney Thomas, 35 years old from Colorado, has promised his fiancée to vote. His mother and grandmother try to persuade him into this too.

View from the California Zephyr.

13 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

View from the California Zephyr.

Tray, 43 years old from Pittsb... not regain power at Congress.

14 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Tray, 43 years old from Pittsburgh, fears that her rights will be affected if Democrats do not regain power at Congress.

The transcontinental train Cal... to Emeryville, San Francisco.

15 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

The transcontinental train California Zephyr en route from Chicago, Illinois to Emeryville, San Francisco.

Susan Spencer from Nebraska tr...er once," Susan said.

16 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Susan Spencer from Nebraska travels with her husband Richard. Since 1960 they both voted for the same presidential candidate, except in 2018. Then he voted for an independent candidate from a small third party and she voted for Hillary Clinton. "I wish we'd get a woman in power once," Susan said.

View from Carman, just before ...r connecting Illinois to Iowa.

17 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

View from Carman, just before crossing the Mississippi river connecting Illinois to Iowa.

In the Sightseer Lounge passen...7 states and three time zones.

18 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

In the Sightseer Lounge passengers view the spectacular scenery along the California Zepher. In total, the train crosses 7 states and three time zones.

The Divided States of America

19 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

The Divided States of America

20 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

View outside Golden, Colorado.

21 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

View outside Golden, Colorado.

Melinda Grimm, 69 years old fr...ences in political preference.

22 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Melinda Grimm, 69 years old from Iowa, continues a friendship despite large differences in political preference.

Beautiful views of Colorado fr...ndow of the California Zephyr.

23 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Beautiful views of Colorado from the rearview window of the California Zephyr.

The Sightseer Lounge of the California Zepher.

24 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

The Sightseer Lounge of the California Zepher.

View of the Colorado River.

25 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

View of the Colorado River.

View of Denver, capitol of the state Colorado.

26 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

View of Denver, capitol of the state Colorado.

Tourist waking up in one of th...cars on the California Zephyr.

27 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Tourist waking up in one of the sleeping cars on the California Zephyr.

View of the mountains in Colorado.

28 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

View of the mountains in Colorado.

Passengers eat their dinner in dining car.

29 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Passengers eat their dinner in dining car.

Dining car on the California Zephyr.

30 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Dining car on the California Zephyr.

Night falls on the transcontinental train.

31 of 31 © 2024 Chantal Heijnen

Night falls on the transcontinental train.

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Thumbnail of Freeman Nisley, 21 years old fr_ Amish community two weeks ago.

Thumbnail of Earl Miller, 56 years old from _spite his interest in politics.

Thumbnail of The California Zephyr passing by Moab, Utah.

Thumbnail of Jain Gunsauls from Nevada doesn_pson because he is too liberal.

Thumbnail of The California Zephyr passing through Green River, Utah.

Thumbnail of Dalton Carty, 72 years old from_ as the '45th'.

Thumbnail of Dalton Carty, 72 years old from_ as the '45th'.

Thumbnail of Tracks of the California Zephyr_ while the sun rises in Nevada.

Thumbnail of Marcelle Palmer, 65 years old f_e moment is only a puppet show.

Thumbnail of Carlos Tranquillo, 29 years old_ to Nevada to build a new life.

Thumbnail of Passing through Colorado

Thumbnail of Courtney Thomas, 35 years old f_de him into this too.

Thumbnail of View from the California Zephyr.

Thumbnail of Tray, 43 years old from Pittsbu_o not regain power at Congress.

Thumbnail of The transcontinental train Cali_s to Emeryville, San Francisco.

Thumbnail of Susan Spencer from Nebraska tra_wer once," Susan said.

Thumbnail of View from Carman, just before c_er connecting Illinois to Iowa.

Thumbnail of In the Sightseer Lounge passeng_ 7 states and three time zones.

Thumbnail of The Divided States of America

Thumbnail of The Divided States of America

Thumbnail of View outside Golden, Colorado.

Thumbnail of Melinda Grimm, 69 years old fro_rences in political preference.

Thumbnail of Beautiful views of Colorado fro_indow of the California Zephyr.

Thumbnail of The Sightseer Lounge of the California Zepher.

Thumbnail of View of the Colorado River.

Thumbnail of View of Denver, capitol of the state Colorado.

Thumbnail of Tourist waking up in one of the_ cars on the California Zephyr.

Thumbnail of View of the mountains in Colorado.

Thumbnail of Passengers eat their dinner in dining car.

Thumbnail of Dining car on the California Zephyr.

Thumbnail of Night falls on the transcontinental train.

Public Project

The Divided States of America

Copyright Chantal Heijnen 2024

Date of Work Oct 2018 - Oct 2018

Updated Nov 2018

Topics Documentary, Editorial, Elections, Essays, Landscape, Media, Photography, Photojournalism, Portraiture

The Divided States of America is a photo essay on the upcoming midterm elections. How are Americans feeling about Trump’s divided America. Left and right America live in different worlds. Except on the train from Chicago to San Francisco, where the train will pass through 7 politically different States. Therefore we chose to travel on the California Zephyr - the transcontinental railroad that was once build to unite the nation after the Civil War in the 19th century. If travelers did not have to travel for months on prairies and mountains to make contact with the residents on the other side of the country, that would bring the United States literally and figuratively closer together, Abraham Lincoln thought.
In a sense, the train is fulfilling that role now.

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