An eerie, film-shot exploration of femininity and isolation.
A Desert-Born Collaboration
Nadia Lee Cohen and Scarlett Carlos Clarke have come together for Podunk, a new photo book published by IDEA Books. Shot in Lancaster, California, deep in the Mojave Desert, the project captures a strange, isolated world shaped by themes of womanhood, motherhood and surreal domestic life. The title itself nods to the idea of a remote, almost forgotten place, which sets the tone for the entire series.
Shot on Super 8, Stripped of Perfection
The book features 128 black-and-white stills pulled directly from Super 8 film, marking a shift away from the polished, high-definition look that dominates contemporary photography. The choice to shoot on film — with a minimal crew and unpredictable conditions — brings a raw, almost cinematic quality to the images. The result feels closer to a fragmented art film than a traditional photo series, with a strong matriarchal energy running throughout.
A Story Rooted in Friendship and Film
Having worked together for years, Cohen and Carlos Clarke leaned into their creative trust to make something more instinctive and less controlled. The project’s tone draws comparisons to films like Onibaba, with its focus on women navigating an isolated world. That connection also influenced the book’s launch at Dover Street Market Ginza in Tokyo, where Podunk officially debuted.
