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| Moonset behind Ship Rock New Mexico |
I keep
thinking of a conversation the three of us had traveling the Four-Corners last month. Long driving trips are great for conversation, and this
one, at least, deserves to see the light of day.
We agreed that photography, in addition to it's obvious benefits, has been a great way to learn about things and meet people that we otherwise would not. These two great buddies are examples, and I can think of at least a half-dozen treasured friendships honed this way. You know who you are, dear ones.
Hashknife Pony Express; Passing the mail bag
There’s
more. The first thing that sprung to
mind was the Hashknife Pony Express shoot four years
ago. This classic Arizona re-enactment
has a rich tradition. I was invited to
join a small group of photographers who would exchange our time and expertise (we
gave them permission to use our best images for their publicity) for the
opportunity to meet some of the riders and see the spectacle. Sean, Wade, and
their horses were great and patient models.
A year or so later, Sean passed, and Wade was able to use some of the
images for the memorial and as gifts to the family.
Verkamp's, Grand Canyon
When there’s
a winter storm coming to the Grand Canyon, people leave the park in
droves. In fact, this is a great time to
get a big walk-in discount on a room at the lovely El Tovar Hotel. In February 2016, though, I had an
opportunity to stay through the storm in the historic apartment above Verkamp’s Visitor Center on the South
Rim. Where do I start? The view, history, artwork and journals from
a long line of GC Artists-in Residence?
I treasured this rare opportunity, and will be forever grateful for my
friend, a ranger, who invited me to stay there with her.
A couple of
ranch-based photography workshops have allowed me to meet working cowboys and
learn a lot about the life. I’m grateful
to Scott Baxter, a legend in ranch photography, for his guidance at X-Diamond Ranch near Springerville AZ, and
to Lisa Langell and her team for the fun and varied weekend at Don Donnely’s D-Spur Ranch in Gold Canyon
AZ. I’m still not much of a horsewoman, but I sure do appreciate the hard work
and the spectacle involved in what the cowboys do.
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| Navajo Code Talker Kee Etsicitty |
Travelling with Leroy DeJolie, legendary photographer of
Navajo lands, is always remarkable. There are so many stories, but the
first one that springs to mind is an experience at the Navajo Nation Fair in
Window Rock, the Nation’s capital. Leroy introduced a few of us (lucky
enough to be in the right place at the right time) to a World War 2 code talker
named Kee Etsicitty. He was kind enough to sign my code talker
book (by Kenji Kawana, who Leroy also introduced us to, and who also signed the
book) and Hosteen Etsicitty allowed my friend to record a short
video as he told stories about the war.
The Fallen, Yarnell Hill Fire
In July
2013, about a week after the devastating and deadly Yarnell Hill Fire, I staked
out a spot on the route the 19 hearses took from Phoenix to Prescott. I showed up early, they were late, and it was
July in the desert. The photo went
viral, and I had a chance to meet and make prints for a couple of the folks
driving in the procession. The
experience was powerful and tragic.
Street market, Tecpan Guatemala
Regular
readers know that I have strong ties to Guatemala. Mostly my husband and I go there to work with
an education nonprofit. In 2019 I had
the privilege of a different trip, a cultural exchange of photographers with
Through Each Other’s Eyes. I met people
and saw things that I’d not had a chance to before and had the great fortune to
share an exhibit with the others, meet The Phoenix Guatemalan Consul General,
and share visual insights into this vibrant culture.
The list
goes on. Thanks for the opportunity to share some of the stories of my favorite
photography-related blessings with you.
