Growing up in California’s Central Valley, photographer Dylan Gordon learned a thing or two about building fences, tending horses, and getting his hands dirty with whatever work needed to be done, no matter how big or small. He’s also an avid surfer, which makes living in Ventura ideal because of its proximity to both worlds. His work has taken him all over the world, from Argentina and Cuba to Russia and Thailand, but when SoCal’s Woolsey fire in 2017 burned nearly 100,000 acres from Simi Valley to the coast, he turned his focus to local communities in need.
Above: Dylan Gordon at His Home in Ventura
Help California was Dylan’s call to action; his way to help lend a hand to the hundreds of neighbors who needed fire and flood relief from the devastating disasters. One of those neighbors in need was Scarlet Walker, whose family ranch has been a fixture in the Malibu area for more than 30 years. Dylan’s story of activism caught the attention of environmentalist Erika Gilsdorf, who just this year embarked on a journey around the country to identify people who are positively impacting their communities and the world. With her Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV towing a sustainably crafted tiny house, Erika plans to stay on her electric road trip all year. While she will be interviewing a number of different change makers, Dylan’s story—along with the story of husband and wife author Trevor and Maddie Gordon—are the focus of a new series from Golden State and Mitsubishi Motors called Soul Pursuits. You can watch Dylan’s episode above, with the second episode launching on Earth Day, April 22.
