Where We Go: In Native American culture, the powwow is a time for people to honor traditions as they preserve their heritage. Amid song, dance and a dynamic display of colors, people come together to celebrate old and to create new friendships. In Arlee, Montana, hundreds of participants dressed in traditional regalia—and equally as many spectators—gather to experience this lively and cherished Native American tradition.
What You Learn: For nearly 50 years, William Albert Allard has served as a photographer and writer for National Geographic magazine. Tony Rizzuto opened a photo studio upon graduating from RMSP’s Summer Intensive in 2001. Together, their energy and ability to work with people translates into an amazing and insightful workshop for you. Knowing that stories often occur away from the spotlight, Bill encourages you to photograph on the edges of the powwow in order to find special moments that capture a story. Additionally, he speaks about the importance of respecting the cultural traditions and sensitivities of your subjects. Tony leads classroom discussions on composition, capturing motion and methods for dealing with complex lighting situations. At the powwow, both instructors are available to answer questions, provide technical assistance and offer pointers. Daily assignments allow you to practice classroom topics, while critiques allow you to reflect on your work, learn from the accomplishments of others and identify ways you can improve.
Who Should Attend: You should be comfortable with the manual exposure operation of your camera. Both film and digital cameras are welcome, however only digital images will be critiqued.