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The New Way, the Old Way – Review of “Northern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective” by Shane Balkowitsch

Imagine a project of 1000 portraits. Now imagine the project in a way that you only get one try for each image. No multiple exposures. No Lightroom for corrections. Everything in-camera. Imagine a process that’s nearly as old as photography itself.

More importantly, imagine your project’s intent is to create a cultural, historical, international, permanent record.


Northern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective”, by Shane Balkowitsch
Published by Glitterati Editions, 2019
review by W. Scott Olsen


That’s exactly what Shane Balkowitsch has set out to do. From his studio in Bismarck, North Dakota, USA, Balkowitsch hopes to create an archive of wet plate collodion process ambrotypes, images of contemporary Native Americans from the northern Great Plains, from tribes named Lakota, Hidatsa, Assiniboine, Arikara, Dakota, Ojibwa, Yanktonai, Oglala, Chippewa and more.   

One of the results of his efforts so far is a remarkable book called Northern Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective. 

Dakota Goodhouse / © Shane Balkowitsch

In the book’s Introduction, Herbert Ascherman writes, “Shane’s stated goal is to create over 1000 portraits of Northern Plains Indians. For us, the casual viewer, the relevant question being Why? What motivates someone, a photographer in this instance, to commit his time and resources to a project that will literally take a lifetime to complete? And why through such an arcane and ancient process?”

Ambrotypes (the word comes from the Greek for Immortal and Impression) evolved shortly after the daguerreotype. In this process, Ascherman explains, “collodion was poured onto a sheet of finely polished glass, immersed in a bath of silver nitrate, exposed in the camera and developed all within ten minutes before the chemistry dried.”

Devin Frances Dragswolf – Remembering Zitkala / © Shane Balkowitsch

Ambrotypes often take 10 seconds of lens exposure. The subject has to stay very still. (Daguerreotypes often took 60 seconds and the subject’s head was often clamped in a hidden brace to keep it still.) The result is a black and white image with a very shallow depth of field. The result is also timeless.

Perhaps because of the process, or perhaps more because of the idea of the process, the images appear formal. The men and women are in traditional costumes and clearly posing. They are speaking from now to the future. They seem aware that their image will have historical importance.

Arvol Wilfred Looking Horse / © Shane Balkowitsch

Balkowitsch’s choice of photographing Native Americans is timely and profound. In the book’s Preface, Margaret Yellowbird-Landin, “Evening Star Woman,” of the Sahnish, Hidatsa and Assiniboine tribes, writes, “These images show that we are a people that could not be erased from the earth. They are for our future generations to see we are still here, we are strong, we are humble, we are pitiful, we are honored, we are grateful, we are indigenous, we are unified. It is critical to our survival that we preserve our culture, traditions, and language. With this work we are doing just that.”

Genevieve Rae Iron Lightning / © Shane Balkowitsch

It would be easy, and wrong, to think the choice of process here is a way to romanticize Native American identity. The ambrotypes do not create a false feeling of nearly mythological weight. Instead, the effect of these images is to project a kind of permanence and strength. 

“This is more than nostalgia,” Balkowitsch writes. “This is purpose and intent to capture history of a heritage and legacy that is so very deserving.”

Floris White Bull – Ina / © Shane Balkowitsch

There is a version of the wet plate process that uses clear glass and creates, essentially, a negative that can be endlessly reproduced. However, there is also a method that creates one of a kind artifacts. “I am an ambrotypist,” Balkowitsch says. “That means I capture my silver images on glass. The images on my glass plates are made of pure silver and they will not degrade over time. They will be here 1000 years from now. I am making positive ambrotypes, that is to say for viewing, so I use black glass. Historically, an ambrotypist would use clear glass, and with the clear glass silver negative they could do numerous contact prints. However, I am only interested in the final viewable image and prints and paper have never been my end game. That means that each of my plates is a unique item that can never be duplicated.”

Ernie LaPointe / © Shane Balkowitsch

In a Foreword, Dakota Goodhouse writes about his experience watching the process in Balkowitsch’s studio. “Gradually an image emerged. It was like watching the Northern Lights dance in the sky. It was like watching someone emerge from a morning fog. It was like watching smoke rise and dissipate I n the sky.”

“Why did so many native people call these wet plate photographers… Shadow Catchers?” Goodhouse continues. “I don’t know the ways of other first nations, but I think I can explain a little of mine. The Lakȟóta people regard one’s shadow as one’s naǧí, as one’s spirit. Reflection is also one’s naǧí. It was as though for one moment I was somehow standing where relatives stood before as the wet plate process was explained to them.”

Synsir and Jayceon Fog in the morning / © Shane Balkowitsch

North Plains Native Americans: A Modern Wet Plate Perspective is the best kind of photography book. The images are beautiful and compelling. The subjects are important. The reason for the project is essential. The process is intriguing. All of these elements combine into an extraordinary collection.

Joe Dunn / © Shane Balkowitsch

There are two versions of Volume 1 for this project. There were 1000 copies of a Limited, signed and numbered edition. That version is sold out.  There were 2000 copies of a trade edition and some of those are still available. The entire series is being archived at the State Historical Society of North Dakota and Balkowitsch reports thirty-one museums around the globe are curating his work. Balkowitsch says he is 18 portraits away from 500 and he expects Volume 2 will be out in 2021.

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Comments (8):

  1. Shane Balkowitsch

    June 8, 2021 at 15:21

    It is an honor to have my book and my work reviewed by you, thank you so much.

    Reply
  2. toni jo syring

    June 8, 2021 at 16:46

    beautiful

    Reply
  3. Tamara

    June 8, 2021 at 21:11

    These are absolutely gorgeous images. Wow. And such incredibly important work. I’m in awe.

    Reply
  4. Elizabeth Klanac

    June 9, 2021 at 09:59

    Gorgeous and committed work. The partnership is so important. The consensual process of picture taking. And the interaction of the subjects with this project is very important. It becomes their project as much as it is Shane’s. I especially appreciate Dakota Goodhouse’s reference to spirit catching and his impressions as he watched the development process.

    Reply
  5. Lynn

    June 9, 2021 at 17:10

    I purchase 2 of the first volume, cannot wait to see volume 2

    Reply
  6. Julie A. Gross

    June 10, 2021 at 22:39

    Wonderful to see these! Thank you!

    Reply
  7. Peach

    June 13, 2021 at 06:05

    It’s a deep, almost otherworldly experience, gazing at these reflections of a people I honor so dearly. Yes, timeless! Exquisite collection, thank you Shane Balkowitsch. I am touched by the art, it feels as if you did indeed capture the spirit or soul of each human being with this process. Bravo!

    Reply
  8. Donna Carlin

    June 14, 2021 at 00:50

    The photos give me a good feeling….something important being remembered.

    Reply

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