the dailypic 5750 yr16 271 Anouncing The Middle Ground

I’ve always been drawn to the middle. Not just politically — but as a place where people meet, talk, and share. These days, it feels like we’ve all picked sides, with less room to simply be curious about each other.

That’s what sparked “Middle Ground: A TRP Photographic Journey.” This idea has lived in my head for nearly a decade. I’ve told countless people about it, tried to kick it off a few times, came close during C*VID, but it never quite clicked — until now. I think we need it more than ever.

So I’m finally doing it. A year from now, in mid-June 2026, I’ll be hitting the road solo, driving across the country to the literal middle — Lebanon, Kansas — and back again over about two plus weeks. Along the way, I’ll meet people, see their towns, hear their stories, and photograph it all. Not to debate or change minds, just to learn what shapes us beyond the colors on a map.

I’ve long been inspired by photographers like Robert Frank and Todd Webb, who each traveled across America with a camera, documenting who we really are. A current spin on that work, in a very different world — hoping to prove, through photos and stories, that we’re not as divided as the headlines make us seem.

I’m sharing this now because planning starts here. I’d love to start connecting with people ahead of time — to find folks I can meet up with, take photos with, maybe even who’d offer a yard for my tent or a spot to park the 4Runner. I also hope you’ll suggest people I should meet or places I shouldn’t miss along the way.

The end goal isn’t just the trip. I want to share Middle Ground far and wide — through photos, a book, interviews, maybe a podcast, gallery shows, even speaking about what I find along the way. Photography has always been how I connect with the world. For nearly 16 years, I’ve taken a photo every single day in my dailypic project, holding life still one frame at a time. This feels like the next step.

I’ll be adding links below to a Facebook group where we can all talk about this, a page on my website that’s easy to share, and a map of my route so you can see where I’m headed. Again, this is the planning phase.

Down the road, I’ll likely look for ways folks can back the project — whether that’s grabbing a print, helping fund the trip, or simply spreading the word. I’m grateful to already have support from my good friend Ray Auger and his 24/7 internet radio station, Raydio (www.localraydio.com), who’s on board to help share the story as it grows.

Who knows what we’ll find — maybe just some photos, honest conversations, new friends, and Middle Ground. That alone would make it all worth it.

tr/trp

Website: https://timricephoto.com/middleground

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1444724830033522

The Route: Starting in Medway, MA, then on to Albany, NY, Syracuse, NY, Cleveland, OH, Chicago, IL, Des Moines, IA, Omaha, NE, Lincoln, NE, Lebanon, KS, Kansas City, MO, Wichita, KS, Oklahoma City, OK, Tulsa, OK, Ozark, AR, St. Louis, MO, Louisville, KY, the Midland Trail Scenic Byway in WV, Washington, DC, New York, NY, and finally back home to Medway, MA.

The Map: