John Waters
Jonathan Hanson photographed cult filmmaker and cultural icon John Waters for The Observer, capturing the subversive spirit behind Waters’ unforgettable cross-country hitchhiking journey, a story the director recounted from Baltimore to San Francisco that became his memoir Carsick. Waters, known as the “Pope of Trash” for his boundary-pushing films like Hairspray, Pink Flamingos, and Female Trouble, embraced spontaneity and adventure as he thumbed rides across America, meeting strangers and defying expectations along the way. Hanson's editorial portrait session for The Observer reflects Waters’ irreverent persona through expressive composition and cinematic lighting, showcasing the filmmaker’s wit, originality, and enduring influence on independent cinema and American culture.
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