Beautiful America

Photograph by Shawn Penny

During a family road trip through Nevada in June 2025, my son convinced us to stay at the famous Clown Motel in Tonopah. That evening, we joined a ghost tour through the historic cemetery next door. It was bitterly cold and windy as our guide led us through the darkness, recounting the stories of the old silver mining town.

Amidst the spooky backdrop and heavy desert wind, I was instantly pulled toward a single American flag illuminated under a spotlight. As the flag whipped against the dark desert expanse and weathered headstones, I stepped away from the group to frame the scene. I wanted to capture that surreal, quiet moment where the flag stood out like a beacon in the freezing Nevada night.