DonSmith Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Nashville-based photographer Ron Modra and I teach a workshop in Monument Valley in December where the native local Navajos go into full Navajo traditional wear and pose in front of the amazing Mittens and Buttes. We also get invited into a traditional Hogan at the base of the Monument. Here is an example where I tried to make the image look old-fashioned:Do you like this type of photography? I find it invigorating combining the two mediums! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monicasigmon Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Fantastic portrait, Don! I absolutely LOVE environmental portraits! I'm always trying to think of how everyone else would shoot it, and then come up with something different. You definitely did that here! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonygale Posted October 4, 2022 Share Posted October 4, 2022 Environmental portraits are my favorite to make! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IraBlock Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 Really beautiful effect, it really has mood . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarolineJensen Posted October 5, 2022 Share Posted October 5, 2022 I love the mood and feel of this, Don! I like environmental portraiture when I like the environment, haha! I get lost in cityscapes, I love rural settings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonSmith Posted October 6, 2022 Author Share Posted October 6, 2022 Fantastic portrait, Don! I absolutely LOVE environmental portraits! I'm always trying to think of how everyone else would shoot it, and then come up with something different. You definitely did that here!This was part of a workshop Ron Modra and I run each December in Monument Valley Monica. These were locals and not professional models... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonSmith Posted October 6, 2022 Author Share Posted October 6, 2022 Environmental portraits are my favorite to make!Same here Tony... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonSmith Posted October 6, 2022 Author Share Posted October 6, 2022 Really beautiful effect, it really has mood .I wanted my processing to have the feel of an old-west image. Took me a lot of experimenting to get there but I think I got as close as I was going to Ira. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonSmith Posted October 6, 2022 Author Share Posted October 6, 2022 I love the mood and feel of this, Don! I like environmental portraiture when I like the environment, haha! I get lost in cityscapes, I love rural settings. Thanks Caroline. I am way out of my lane when it comes to portraits but even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJoycie Posted October 7, 2022 Share Posted October 7, 2022 Honestly, I’m pretty surprised you found Navajo Nation members willing to do such “portraits”! Straight out of Edward Curtis. I live in AZ, and the native people I know would not do such a cheap act. for more information: https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/WrUTGh8AACAA1FH8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonSmith Posted October 7, 2022 Author Share Posted October 7, 2022 Honestly, I’m pretty surprised you found Navajo Nation members willing to do such “portraits”! Straight out of Edward Curtis. I live in AZ, and the native people I know would not do such a cheap act. for more information: https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/WrUTGh8AACAA1FH8It was a part of a workshop we do... They were paid for posing... they made the offer to us and everything was cleared by the Park and we had paid for a permit. So not something sinister DrJoycie - I don't operate my business that way (pardon the pun) 🙂 We will be doing two workshops with them this upcoming December if you'd like to join us - we have one spot remaining! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrJoycie Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 Thanks Don. It’s a pretty touchy subject here; there are 22 different tribal nations in AZ, so I’m careful to respect their requirements. I appreciate the invite! I’ll pass this time, but thanks.my best for the remainder of 2022! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonSmith Posted October 11, 2022 Author Share Posted October 11, 2022 Honestly, I’m pretty surprised you found Navajo Nation members willing to do such “portraits”! Straight out of Edward Curtis. I live in AZ, and the native people I know would not do such a cheap act. for more information: https://wellcomecollection.org/articles/WrUTGh8AACAA1FH8This is part of a workshop we do each December out at MV. Many of these people have become our friends and they are paid - we do not expect this for free - all legal and permitted by Monument Valley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonSmith Posted November 20, 2022 Author Share Posted November 20, 2022 Fantastic portrait, Don! I absolutely LOVE environmental portraits! I'm always trying to think of how everyone else would shoot it, and then come up with something different. You definitely did that here!Thanks Monica - I am currently working my way home from teaching a Patagonia workshop with my partner Ron Modra - waiting at DFW for my final leg. We will be out in Monument Valley in less than two weeks as we will host two back-to-back workshops featuring the fabulous landscape and these environmental portraits - we have a blast with this workshop and still a few spots open if you are interested. Ron is well-versed in teaching this part of the workshop as he was a 26 year staff photographer with Sports Illustrated with nearly 80 covers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LensBrew Posted November 20, 2022 Share Posted November 20, 2022 I love the analog styling, it fits perfectly here.I too love the environmental portraits, usually pat of a set to tell some story, especially during travels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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