Living Traditions
For this project I wanted to focus on something personal to me, so I worked with imagery connected to the Blackfeet tribe. The figure on the left is someone I photographed at Blackfeet Indian Days this past summer, and the two people on the right are from an older Library of Congress photo. They’re believed to have been storytelling, which I thought connected nicely to the idea of past and present being in conversation with each other.
My overall concept wasn’t about loss or culture being erased, it was about celebration. Powwows and Indian Days still take place today to honor traditions, so I wanted the piece to feel like it was carrying that same energy. I wanted the image to show resilience, connection, and joy from the past to present.
From the Library of Congress image, I used both the background (the tipi interior) and the two main subjects. I shifted them to the right side of the frame so they could be positioned in line with the modern Blackfeet figure on the left. This layout makes it feel like the historical image and my own photo are meeting each other, showing that these celebrations and traditions are not only from the past but still alive today.
The wet plate collodion effect adds that sense of nostalgia and history, but pairing it with a present-day subject keeps the piece forward-looking.
Library of Congress photo: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/95508629/
Megan’s “Living Traditions” depicts Native American people of different ages coming together to participate in a discussion of some sort. Upon reading the description going along with this piece the image on the left is a picture that Megan photographed while the photo on the right is from the Library of Congress. All figures seem to be placed inside of tipi, gathering around in a semi circle. The use of different textures and smudges really help to make this piece look as if it were a wet-plate collodion, especially the addition of the missing corner as if the plate was dropped and the glass shattered. From what I can see there is a shallow depth of field as the background is blurred making the figures the main focal point for the photo as they seem a bit more clear in comparison.
ReplyDeleteAs stated before at first glance this work seems to be about a discussion between multiple people from different age groups. Based on the facial expressions I would assume the discussion is about something serious or something that requires focus. It seems that no one is actively talking but because one of the figures looks like they’re looking at someone off camera. Despite what is being said in the description of this piece the crack and missing parts not only helps the image look like a wet-plate but also give a deeper meaning. The broken glass and smudges give off the idea that whatever they are discussing is being lost or actively forgotten.
The use of textures at the end really helps to elevate this piece and create something that looks like it was taken on a very old camera. Whether intentional or not, the background being more blurred that the figures create a shallow depth of field that simply makes the main subjects in the photo (the people) look as if they were standing closer to the camera and therefore gain the attention of the audience. I would suggest making shadows behind each person so that they look more ingrained in the photo. They (the figures) kind of float rather than seem as if they are all standing in the same area.
In conclusion, I could see this photo as a part of history and believed to be a wet-plate collodion. The technique used to make the texture, glass shatter, as well as the use of shallow depth of field really aids in making this piece look believable. With the addition of shadows as said before would elevate this piece more. Overall, great concept and composition.