minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Introduction

Between 1900 and 1930, Edward Curtis traveled deep into Indian territories and lived among dozens of Native tribes. He captured the authentic ways of life of over 80 Native cultures, producing over 40,000 glass plate negatives, 10,000 wax cylinder recordings, 4,000 pages of anthropological text, and a feature-length film. His dedication culminated in the production of  The North American Indian, the most extensive and expensive photographic project ever undertaken. His personal finances were often in crisis but he managed to recruit funding from institutions like the Smithsonian, and private philanthropists like J Piedmont Morgan.

Curtis worked with a furious frenzy because he believed he was recording “a vanishing race.” Curtis took thousands of photographs for The North American Indian—predominantly portraits but also landscapes, still lifes, scenes of everyday life, and more. In retrospect it should be obvious that such an aim was far from straightforward. Many images depict people who were actually reconstructing for the camera ways of life that had died out. Sometimes—as Curtis confessed was the case among the Navajos—the reenactment of ceremonies “broke down” traditional beliefs and led to divisiveness among the people. But in the main, despite his romanticized and sometimes incorrect vision, the pictures are profoundly respectful of Native American people, presenting them and their varied cultures with dignity and pride. 

As you consider this image, here are some questions that may help formulate your thinking.

Questions to Consider
1.Is this a successful portrait? Why or why not?
2.What do you think of the pose? The level of detail? The lighting? The toning?
3.What does the subject’s expression and posture say to you?
4.Curtis often asked his subjects to wear traditional garments and use traditional objects when being photographed. What is your opinion of this practice?
5.There is considerable controversy today about photographing people who are considered “unfortunate” In the era in which Curtis worked, no population was more unfortunate than the native tribes. Curtis fully believed they would be extinguished in his lifetime. How does that affect body of work? What is your opinion of Curtis’s ethics?
6. Here is a link to a story about a recent award winning photo. https://fstoppers.com/news/does-behind-scenes-photo-prove-120000-award-winning-picture-was-staged-353100. Is this a similar situation, or something altogether different? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever experienced a relevant ethical dilemmas in your photography? Share a story and/or image if you’d like.

Links for Further Study
http://arthistorynewsreport.blogspot.com/2012/06/master-prints-of-edward-s-curtis.html
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Edward-S-Curtis
https://www.si.edu/spotlight/edward-sheriff-curtis
https://daily.jstor.org/edward-s-curtis-romance-vs-reality/
https://edwardcurtis.com
https://www.artandobject.com/articles/reevaluating-edward-s-curtis
(biography) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006R8PH4I/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
(documentary series) http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/edward-curtis-shadow-catcher/568/
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fair use http://arthistorynewsreport.blogspot.com/2012/06/master-prints-of-edward-s-curtis.html

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Stephan G

Re: #5. In a world in which it is very common to make "unfortunate" people disappear, his desire to save the cultures for posterity in photographic records can be deemed to be a noble cause. Without his endeavor, many of the tribes would be forgotten, forever.

My own background is from many varied cultures. I would love to see samplings of these cultures. What I have are just snatches, most from lore.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Thanks for sharing!

I have a huge admiration for those who preserve evidence of the cultures we have lost/are losing, even when their methods don't seem fully politically correct.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I don't normally participate in these discussions. But this one asked questions that I found important. So I'm adding my 2-cents' worth.

1. I think this is very successful. In the modern age, a greater DOF would have been preferable, but knowing this was done on a glass plate makes it really nice.
2. The pose is nice and shows off her hair nicely. It has really good detail, even in the out of focus parts. If I were a portrait photographer, I would probably have tried to light the darker side of her face just a bit to bring out more detail.
3. There is a great deal of sadness in those eyes. I wonder if it's true or induced.
4. When I travel and photograph indigenous peoples, I do enjoy seeing them in "traditional" clothing using "traditional" objects. So I cannot fault someone else for doing the same.
5. I often think about the fact that an image I take might be a preservation of some "unfortunate" or dying practice. With that mindset, I would certainly understand his desire to capture as much as possible of the cultures.
6. I have always thought that staged subjects used as part of a public (or multiple person) photo shoot were not eligible for such competitions or awards. If the lady had been "found" naturally, it would have been a great image. The only time I was part of such a setting was a recent trip to Chiapas where we photographed Maya people. None of it was for pathos, but for beauty, though.
7. I frequently visit extremely impoverished areas of the countries I visit and doing medical missions brings me in contact with people in sad situations. I do photograph some of them. I do not usually publicize them beyond sharing with my church and those who helped send me on that mission. I do photograph beggars on the streets sometimes, not because they're begging but because I find something touching in their expression.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Thank you for such a thorough review!. I admire Curtis's work even while I recognize that he, like any of us, might have fallen short in one way or another. His dedication to that massive project was admirable, and he worked in a time with norms that might be somewhat different today.

One side note I'll add about the young lady's expression. Though Native Americans have had and still have plenty to be sad about, many Native cultures frown on eye contact, and in many the proper way to face a stranger is with a downcast gaze and little overt expression. This persists even today in many tribes and can be mistaken for sorrow or fear, when it is sometimes not that.

I agree with you about the contest. How we represent our submissions ought to be honest.

artBob Loc: Near Chicago

A valuable piece of history, even more so when and if it's discovered to have been posed or not. I admire the man and his project.

As for portrait photography, whatever is needed to reveal a truth is fine. Likewise leaving out things, physical or technical is fine for the same reason. The slightly out of focus detracts not at all for me. I "know" everything important to this portrait, from clothing and hair to expression.

Here is a portrait I did, following the principles I wrote about.

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minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Thanks for sharing. I agree with you about focus. Always secondary to impact. Tack sharp focus is not one of my priorities, and I sometimes shoot or process for soft focus intentionally.

fuminous Loc: Luling, LA... for now...

First, let us agree Curtis's portraits are first rate- irrespective of the method, equipment or process.
Second, as is stated in several of the articles, Curtis allowed his subjects their dignity. None of his images appear “artsy”; the subject is the subject, not the photographer’s gimcrackery or ego.

I note that Curtis typically photographed males from below eye-level, but females, from a superior position. I don’t know that this was typical of photographic portraiture at the time- or just his style- and so will not speculate as to his purpose.

With that in mind, I completely agree Minnie, regarding some culture’s deference to eye-contact. Some Alaska Natives respond to questions with an affirmative answer by simply raising their eyebrows.
In the portrait presented, my DSLR brain says, “Here’s a female, seated in an inferior position and making eye-contact with the viewer: This is a very strong woman”. My intellectual brain says, “She’s looking into the camera lens to watch the shutter move- ‘cause Curtis is probably standing to one side”. However, as a viewer, that lens is the eye that informs my brain… and, in this image, recognizes humanity. I believe this is a powerful portrait.

Why is there controversy photography the unfortunate? Yes, I understand about the subject’s possible embarrassment or objectification, but if the purpose is to record and document a state of existence, then that’s what must be done: It’s not personal. To do otherwise is to promote indifference- the epitome of impersonal.

I believe Curtis was sincere in his effort- given the price he paid- but I don’t have a take on his personal perspective. I suspect it was not, “Let’s record the circumstance of ‘these people’ and improve upon it (the circumstance, I mean)” but rather, “This civilization is dying. Let’s do something to prove it once existed.”

However, because he did go to the camps and reservations and did, sometimes repeatedly, interact with tribes and tribe members and they allowed him to do so, Curtis surely presented himself and his purpose as a voice, an expression… a wail, perhaps… of his subjects. If he sometimes staged events or did not depict something with complete accuracy: So what? Curtis wasn’t trying to “save” anything- he was taking inventory.

I have seen communities organize to “save” or preserve some historical structure and then, after doing so, ignore the thing until it falls apart and becomes an embarrassment… and its memory diminished.

Hospice. That may best describe Curtis’ actions: providing the best care he could manage, in the best way he knew how, with sincere dignity and respect...

I'm glad he did what he did and did it very well...

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

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I am lucky to have three original Edward Curtis print on my walls. He is one of my favorite photographer so I am probably biased.
(1) I think it is a successful portrait but not one of his best. It captures the essence of the subject in a way that is unique to the subject.
(2) The pose has the head down just slightly more than I would like. The depth of field is somewhat shallow but there is more than enough detail. I think I would have liked a slight bit more light in the right side shadows especially on the eye on the right. I would like to see just a little more eye detail on the right.
(3) I don't know that this subject was totally willing. It looks to me that she wanted to get on with her day.
(4) I think one should try to depict the subject for what they are. If the subject is often seen dressed this way, it is perfectly acceptabe to ask for them to dress that way. It also allows the subject to differentiate themselves from the rest of the world. It is that individuality and differences between the tribes that he successfully portrayed. The Cheyenne chief did not look exactly like the Piegan chief. Many people back then thought an indian was just an indian. He wanted to show that was not true before much of the culture disappeared.
(5) I find his anguishness to capture something important, that he could see was disappearing before his eyes, hardly an ethics issue. What would have been captured if he had not capture his shots? This was an "unfortunate" people and relatively ignored. Without his work, much of what the North America Indian looked like, dressed up or not, would not be known, lost totally from mankind's view.
(6) I do not find his situation similar. He was basically one on one with his subject. He asked them to dress up but really did not control what they dressed up in or their exact looks. The sited incident was an altogether different situation. It was a depiction of something is wasn't. And that in and of itself is OK if the restrictions for what the picture is to represent and whatever required rules governing the picture are not violated. But from the sounds of it, that was hardly the case for the sited incident.
(7) Any photographer eventually will be involved with pictures involving ethics. And especially to those who travel, I wish them the knowledge, the wit, and the luck for the time and place it will be needed. I have found honesty has always been the best ambassador followed up with good helping of sincerity. Even if each situation looks the same, people are all different and must be treated that way. Do not necessarily walk away without trying, using a little moxie, to ask for the shot. Sometimes the answer and shot can be phenomenal. Respect the answer with a smile and a nod of understanding even if it does not go your way. Sometime that and another five minutes will overcome reluctance. One must realize that they are putting themselves in your hands. Do not waste or dishonor the privilege.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Thanks for such a thorough consideration. I really like your use of the term "hospice" for what Curtis was trying to do. He seemed to want to preserve what he saw as a terminally bound culture for the days after its demise, and do it with respect but urgency.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

How lucky you are to actually own some of his originals! I feel lucky to have just seen them! And thank you for such a thorough response both photographically and philosophically.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

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I think it is hard to judge this photo compared to a modern portraitist. The equipment was so different that it is hard to draw meaningful comparisons. I do think that his work represents an important documentation of the North American Indian. We can consider ourselves lucky to have such a collection.

This particular portrait does illuminate the idea that she is sad and not too eager to have her photograph taken. I don't know if the question of ethics applies here as it does in our modern world. This does not feel to me like the exploitation of the unfortunate as much as it feels like the documentation of a perceived dying race. I won't shoot photos of homeless people or people begging unless I am engaged with them in conversation (that very rarely happens) Much like I won't take a photo of a street musician, unless I'm prepared to put an offering in their instrument case.

I think the fact that Curtis had them dress traditionally adds value to the photos. It might be staged; but it is something we lost along the way; and it is nice to see documentation of the real thing.
Erich

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

Thank you ERICH for your thoughtful response. I agree that we are fortunate to have his work. While he was wrong about the Native American population being totally eradicated, he was correct that their way of life was ending. He has left us a record that transcends photography itself.