At the end of last year, French photographer Tanguy Sergheraert decided to spend a month in Los Angeles, without a fixed plan—just the intention to be inspired by the city and its surrounding landscapes. He had already visited California five years earlier, and the vivid memories of that land had stuck with him so deeply that they compelled him to return with a completely renewed photographic eye.

His approach to photography has changed significantly in recent years, and this return to the United States represented an opportunity to explore familiar places through a different lens. Accompanied by his friend Andrey Tarasov, Sergheraert headed straight to one of his favorite places: Joshua Tree National Park. “It has a unique energy, a suspended atmosphere that makes it feel like time stands still,” he says.

During their days in the park, the idea was as simple as it was poetic: to photograph the landscape, but with a precise visual twist. The two were searching for a vintage car to complete their frames. After several unsuccessful attempts, luck struck in Twentynine Palms, when they randomly turned onto a side road.

There, parked on the edge of a deserted road, was an old red pickup truck. The two approached the owners to ask if they could use it for a few shots. The answer was honest: the gas tank was completely empty. And so, a spontaneous and perfect exchange was born—they would bring some fuel in exchange for a few photos taken in the back of the truck. Deal done.

With two water canisters discreetly emptied by the roadside, Tanguy and Andrey filled up the vehicle and returned to the two strangers. Shortly after, they were sitting in the truck bed, bathed in Californian light, taking photos that look like they came straight out of an American movie.

One final detail makes the story even more evocative: the road where it all happened is called Godwin Road. Fate or simple coincidence, this episode perfectly captures the spirit of Sergheraert’s project—a mix of spontaneity, beauty found by chance, and landscapes that tell stories far beyond what’s seen.