Remembering America - Jeff Dunas on Life and the Blues
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In this intimate episode of Over Here, Over There, host Claudia welcomes renowned American photographer Jeff Dunas to the America House in Munich, Germany, to discuss his deeply personal photographic explorations of small-town America and the blues. Dunas reflects on his long-form projects—American Pictures and State of the Blues—revealing how his work stems from childhood memories, a longing for authenticity, and a profound respect for individual expression. Through black-and-white images rooted in nostalgia and vibrant color portraits capturing everyday American life, Dunas presents a humanistic vision of identity, resilience, and freedom. His portraits of blues legends like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and Buddy Guy are not just documentation but acts of reverence, preserving the dignity and legacy of musicians who shaped global music. Dunas emphasizes that his work is apolitical, driven by emotional truth and the belief that photography can freeze time and reveal the soul beneath the surface. He shares how his approach—intense, fleeting, and deeply empathetic—creates powerful connections with subjects, and how audiences worldwide, from Americans to Europeans, respond to the universal humanity in his images.
Photography is a way to freeze time and capture the soul of a moment, not just a face or place.
True American identity is found in individual expression, freedom, and authenticity—especially in small towns and rural life.
The blues is the foundational architecture of rock and roll, born from struggle and resilience, and deserves reverence as 'the only true American music'.
Dunas' process relies on brief, intense interactions with subjects, creating a sense of intimacy and authenticity in every photograph.
His work serves as a bridge between cultures, inviting global audiences to see shared humanity in American stories.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome to America House: A Cross-Cultural Encounter
Claudia introduces the episode and the setting—America House in Munich—welcoming Jeff Dunas as a guest to explore American identity through photography and music.
The Birth of American Pictures: Memory and Nostalgia
“Each one of these photographs that I made was because that thing, that place or that person struck a memory in my childhood. And so you're looking at pictures of my childhood that I found again somewhere else.”
The Color of Freedom: American Individualism in the Landscape
“They're very individual. They express themselves in their own unique ways and including their environment. This is my place. This is how I dress. This is who I am.”
The State of the Blues: Capturing Legends and Legacy
“The blues had a baby and they called it rock and roll. But it was the architecture for rock and roll.”
Photography as Time Travel and Human Connection
Dunas shares his philosophy of photography as a brief, intense, loving interaction—'I'm completely in love with you for 48 seconds'—and how this approach captures authenticity.
“The blues had a baby and they called it rock and roll. But it was the architecture for rock and roll.”
“What if the German public that goes to the opera were given a chance to actually hear Mozart play? Can you imagine that?”
“This is the only true American music. It didn't come from anywhere else. It came from here in America.”
Host
Guest
Jeff Dunas
person
Claudia
person
America House
organization
Europe
other
Germany
place
Rock and Roll
media
Muddy Waters
person
John Lee Hooker
person
Clarksdale, Mississippi
place
Chicago
place
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