By Suro Senen 
In the lead-up to the United States’ 250th anniversary, the American flag remains the most recognizable, and perhaps the most contested, symbol in the Western world. For award-winning photographer and filmmaker Jason Lindsey, the flag is not merely a piece of cloth—it is a mirror. His latest project, UNFINISHED, serves as a poignant, four-minute visual essay that explores the vast, complex space between the "American Dream" and the lived reality of the country’s diverse citizenry.
Through a series of evocative photographs and a cinematic narrative, Lindsey posits that the American project is, much like the nation itself, a work in progress. By documenting the flag in its many forms—pristine, tattered, commercialized, and peripheral—Lindsey offers a meditation on national identity that is as politically neutral as it is emotionally charged.
The Genesis of a 15-Year Journey
The project did not arrive as a sudden epiphany; it was the result of a decade and a half of quiet observation. Growing up in the American Midwest, Lindsey was raised on the ethos of manual labor and the dignity of a "full day’s work." This salt-of-the-earth upbringing instilled in him a do-it-yourself spirit that has defined his career in photography and filmmaking.
"I have been photographing flags for about 15 years during my travels," Lindsey tells PetaPixel. "I repeatedly remember seeing flags that held a deeper meaning than the perfect American Dream. I found those way more interesting than the ones hanging by a beautiful white picket fence. The torn flags, the old stickers on doors, the ones that told a more honest picture of America."
What began as a personal habit of capturing the flag’s presence in everyday life eventually coalesced into a formal, structured endeavor. Lindsey began actively seeking out the iconography of the red, white, and blue, not as a nationalist exercise, but as an ethnographic one. He found flags on backyard pools, attached to the blades of wind turbines, fading on the sides of industrial buildings, and tucked into the windows of local shops.
Chronology of a Vision
The transition from a collection of static images to a cohesive film took significant time and introspection. Lindsey recounts that the concept for UNFINISHED began to crystallize roughly two years ago, but the process of distilling years of visual evidence into a four-minute experience was grueling.
"It took me about a year and a half to figure it out and try to make it powerful and politically neutral," Lindsey explains. "This was probably the 15th version of the script, and as soon as I wrote the first few lines, I knew this was finally it."
The film was released on July 4, 2026, serving as a timely contribution to the national conversation surrounding the nation’s upcoming semi-quincentennial. Yet, the release did not mark the end of the project. For Lindsey, the act of recording has become an "addiction." The day following the film’s premiere, he was already in the field, documenting three additional flags, proving that the subject matter is inexhaustible as long as the country continues to evolve.
The Evidence in the Frame: An Analytical Look
The strength of UNFINISHED lies in its refusal to preach. By focusing on the "evidence"—the physical state of the flags—Lindsey allows the viewer to project their own experiences onto the screen.
The Geography of the Flag
Lindsey’s lens traverses the American landscape with a discerning eye. His work includes:
- The Weathered Flag: Often found in industrial or neglected settings, these flags represent endurance and the passage of time.
- The Commercialized Flag: Used to hawk goods, services, and storefronts, these examples illustrate the integration of patriotism into the fabric of American consumerism.
- The Peripheral Flag: Often out of focus or secondary to the main subject, these images underscore the ubiquity of the symbol in the American consciousness.
The photographer notes that his most transformative moment occurred in the Ninth Ward of New Orleans, one year after Hurricane Katrina. Capturing a flag in the background of a mundane scene, he realized that the flag was "recording history." This shifted his perspective entirely: he realized he wasn’t just photographing flags; he was photographing the country that existed beneath them.
The Dichotomy of the Symbol
In today’s highly polarized climate, the American flag has become a lightning rod for conflicting ideologies. To some, it represents a standard of unity and historical progress; to others, it is a reminder of broken promises and systemic failure. Lindsey is acutely aware of this divide.
"When I first started photographing the flag, it was less divisive and a symbol for both political parties," Lindsey observes. "I never liked it when one party started claiming the flag as their own, and that made me want to publish the photos and the film even more. It really should be a symbol for all Americans."
He posits that the flag is a "promise," the photograph is the "evidence," and the film is the "space between them." By occupying that space, UNFINISHED challenges viewers to confront the gap between the aspirational nature of the American Dream and the tangible reality of the lives of its people.
Implications for the American Future
The title UNFINISHED serves as both a literal description of the project and a philosophical statement on the state of the United States. Lindsey’s work suggests that a nation’s greatness is not found in a static, perfect image of success, but in the ongoing, often messy effort to live up to one’s ideals.
A Call to Contemplation
The implications of Lindsey’s work are manifold:
- Reclaiming Neutrality: By documenting the flag in diverse contexts, the project challenges the monopolization of national symbols by specific political factions.
- Honesty as Patriotism: The film argues that acknowledging the "torn" and "faded" aspects of the nation is a more honest form of patriotism than ignoring them.
- The Persistence of Aspiration: Despite the evidence of decay or struggle, the continued presence of the flag—in all its forms—signifies that the population remains invested in the idea of America.
"Most of us do not live up to our own ideals, but we keep striving towards those goals," Lindsey says. "I believe America should also keep striving for the ideals our flag represents. We still have lots of work to do, but I think it is worth the work."
Looking Ahead: Beyond the Screen
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the discourse surrounding national identity will likely intensify. Projects like UNFINISHED provide a necessary palate cleanser—a reminder that the country is not a monolithic entity, but a collection of communities, landscapes, and stories.
Lindsey is currently looking for opportunities to exhibit the work beyond the digital realm, hoping to bring the story to life through physical installations. His goal is to foster a space where viewers can engage with the imagery collectively, discussing not just the photos, but the history they witness.
"The whole of this project is much more interesting and creative than any single photo," Lindsey concludes. By combining the tools of filmmaking with the precision of a photojournalist, he has crafted a piece that does not provide answers, but instead asks the right questions.
As we look toward the future, the work of photographers like Jason Lindsey serves as an essential record of the American journey—a journey that is, and perhaps always will be, unfinished.
Ammar Sabilarrohman 
Raul Delapena Setiawan 
Nana Wu 