Life for Diné people is a day-to-day, hour-to-hour experience, as it is with all peoples. As many Native photographers have pointed out, images from the dominant, colonizing culture that represents Indigenous peoples resorts to essentialist tropes and crude stereotyping.
In these series of images, I try to document and demonstrate Diné life beyond posing, portraiture, and essentialist tropes.
Rez Ball (2024), shot on Hasselblad SWC on Iford Delta 3200 film, medium format negative.
Dancing at Santa Fe Indian Market (2024). Hasselblad Xpan, Cinestill 50D.
Staying warm during a wedding (2024). In this picture, many of us attending a wedding on the western side of the reservation had to bundle up to stay warm. It had rained recently and you can see the reflection of the teepee in the puddle. The picture was taken on a Hasselblad Xpan using Kodak Ektar100 35mm film.
Dancer Deejay (2024). I don't remember what this guy's name was, but I asked him if I could take a picture of him deejaying since he looked really interesting dressed in this attire while on a computer and turntable. It's obviously meant to be jarring. This picture was taken on a Nikon FA using Kodak 3200 film.
Santa Fe Tourist (2024). One of the central contradictions of Indian Market is the pandering to white, wealthy buyers. Here I got a picture of a white attendee (I don't know if they are wealthy, or whatever) taking a picture of powwow dancers. She isn't doing anything wrong. This is a big feature of Indian Market. I took this on a Hasselblad Xpan on Kodak Ektar 100 color negative film.
Ganado Gas Station (2024), shot on Hasselblad SWC on Iford Delta 3200, medium format
Waiting to dance (2024) Argus C3 (1950s camera), Kodak Portra 400
Eating Mutton (2022), medium format color negative, taken on vintage Rolleiflex.
Santa Fe Scene (2023), medium format B&W negative, shot with a vintage Rolleiflex. I took this at the Santa Fe Indian Market as I was waiting for people to come to my booth. Sunday morning the light was really nice and the people were more interesting.
Double-Exposure of Delegate (2023), medium format B&W negative of Council Delegate Amber Crotty with constituents outside of council chambers.
Dancing Feet (2024). This 35mm photograph was taken at the Red Mountain Eagle Powwow. The footwork is difficult and impressive. I wanted to focus on the feet in this picture. This was taken with a Nikon FA on Cinestill 800t film. I had to get a second hand Dietz 135mm 1:2.8 lens to get this shot.
Friday night football (2024). Using Kodak 400 B&W film at Brophy football game.
Native Resilience (2024). After a fashion show, models and other participants posed for the cameras in the room from the stage. I wanted to capture the posing and the photographing at the same time. It's where image is presented and produced. This was taken on 35 mm Kodak Ektar film on a Hasselblad Xpan.
A serious conversation (2024) Hasselblad Xpan, Kodak Ektar 100.
Inside the council chambers (2024) Nikon FA
Finishing Narbona Pass (2024). Pentax Spotmatic
