The show, "Remote Roads," defines the concept of distance through black and white photographs of desolate roads and villages, and old farms, buildings and signs taken by Sefton, a history professor at CSUN.

"The exhibit is based around the idea of the road leading someplace and the question, where does it lead?" Sefton said. "It may lead nowhere, or to a small village or a hamlet in the middle of a cornfield."

More than 30 images captured throughout Iowa, Nebraska, Montana, Nevada, California and West Virginia between 1998 and 2004 depicts geographical, historical, visual, cultural and emotional remoteness in space and time.

"Remote Roads" will be on display in CSUN's West Gallery on the north side of campus at 18111 Nordhoff Street off Plummer Street and Etiwanda Avenue. The public is invited to join Sefton as he discusses the nature of his work on Monday, Jan. 24, at 10 a.m. and the exhibition's free reception will be held Friday, Feb. 4, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Sefton, a U.S. history professor at Northridge since 1965, has been taking photographs since 1957, when he documented Southern California railroads and trolleys. His work has appeared in publications on the history of electric transit in Los Angeles and has been displayed at the Scott Nichols Gallery in San Francisco. He is an unofficial historical photographer of Cal State Northridge.

Sefton is currently conducting a study of small towns in the Salinas Valley and also is archiving images of San Francisco between 1930 and 1960 to document change in the city's urban landscape.