Relics 2016: Melville

Sean Gasser spotted a water tower that slid right into his minimalist approach to photography

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From friends who used to live there, Sean Gasser had heard that there just wasn’t much in Melville, Louisiana. But when a trip to Kisatchie National Forest put the small St. Landry Parish town in his path along Highway 10, the Baton Rouge-based Gasser decided to go see Melville for himself.

While the rumors weren’t wrong—a lack of industry and shuttered buildings left Melville quiet—Gasser did spot a water tower that slid right into his minimalist approach to photography. Standing on elevated train tracks nearby, he framed the tower against the clouds.

“Every little town has a water tower,” said Gasser, who prefers historic highways to the Interstate when he travels. “It signals when you’ve arrived at another town. I’ve seen a lot of colorful ones over the years.” 

While in graduate school for film, Gasser took a professor’s recommendation to pick up a still photography camera. “It helps to train your eye about composition,” said Gasser. Now he uses a Canon 6D, both for moving and still pictures. A recent work—written, directed, and starring Gasser, with co-editing and sound from Jonathan Livingston—paired an original monologue, about a night on the town turned violent, with intensifying visuals. 

Gasser cites the cult classic Two Lane Blacktop (1971) as a major influence, one that extends beyond his videography to those backroad trips he makes alone, his still photographs forming an essential chronicle along the way. “There’s a lot of Americana in the movie. All these old towns ...” said Gasser. “They did a follow-up documentary on it recently—and a lot of these towns where they shot don’t exist anymore.” 

See more of Gasser’s work at seangasser.zenfolio.com.