Van life: Without Rose Tinted Glasses

I n t r o d u c t i o n.
What is a Nomad?
A Nomad is a person who does not stay long in
the same place, a wanderer. The term describes
individuals who reject the way in which we
are “told’’ how to live, in favour of following a
minimalist lifestyle.
Van Life or Van-dwelling is a way of living full or
part-time in a vehicle. Van life optimises a way of
living packed full of adventure, freedom and nature
24/7.
Over the years, Van life has become more well
known. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic
during 2020, the lifestyle became more popularised
through social media, with people using the hashtag
#vanLife. When you search ‘Van life’ on Instagram
or any type of social media they only show you
what you want to see. The glamorous, romanticised
images but in reality, it’s not always as it seems.
Throughout this photobook, I have explored and
documented the true reality of living in a van.
Focusing on my own perspective of van life having
spent three weeks out in Spain and France, living with
a couple called Jess and Zak in their van and following
their day-to-day lifestyle.
Jess and Zak are known as Nomads and have lived
full-time for the past 3 years in their Vauxhall Vivaro
with their two dogs. Having had the opportunity to live
out their lifestyle with them for a few weeks, waking
up surrounded by nature and spending all of my time
outside quickly felt like a routine to me, which was a
feeling that I didn’t want to lose.