YOU KNOW IT WHEN YOU SEE IT: whether it’s the symmetrical lines, pastel hues, immaculate composition, or something idiosyncratic and beautiful that you can and cannot describe at once, the director Wes Anderson has an immediately identifiable style to his films. How fantastic, then, to discover real places around the world that look like accidental captures from one of his films?
AccidentallyWesAnderson is now a global community of more than one million Adventurers who seek the most beautiful, idiosyncratic, and interesting places on earth—perhaps places they may have passed by, or others they have always wanted to explore—to find the unique and unexpected stories behind the facades.
I started this project as a personal travel bucket list for my wife, Amanda, and me back in 2017, after happening upon a series of photos of places that shared a resemblance to the look of a Wes Anderson film. As a fan of the director’s work and an avid, curious traveler, I was intrigued by these places that seemed “just so,” and I wanted to learn more about them. So, I set out to find where the photos had been taken. Slowly a community grew around this idea; we began sharing our own adventures, and soon thousands of submissions were pouring in from all around the world. The photos were beautiful, the narratives were intriguing, and the community was the positive, engaging, curious cherry on top.
My life has been immeasurably enriched by the opportunity to travel and experience other parts of the world, other cultures, and other people. And while we may think we need to venture far from home to find something extraordinary, there are so many amazing things in our own backyard waiting to be found.
Growing up in Delaware, I went to the Grand Opera House (here) on school field trips and for performances. I have been there countless times—but never knew the intriguing story of its past until this project drove me to discover it. I urge you not just to use this book as inspiration for where you might travel next, but to look at your own hometown with a new perspective. There’s surely something fascinating to discover once you start looking for it.
I am so inspired by the vibrant, active community of photographers, designers, artists, historians, and friends who have come together to share their discoveries. We are each Adventurers, joined together by a similar interest in learning more about the world we share. Think of this book as a source of visual and intellectual inspiration, and an invitation to look for the story behind every facade.
Get ready to explore!