What I learned about Photography Projects from Edward S. Curtis

Edward S. Curtis is by far one of the most important documentary photographs in the history of the medium. The sheer volume of his work, his dedication, and willpower to overcome all the unimaginable hardships needed to make these images come to life is rivaled by few. If not for his work, an important part of history of the North American Indians would have vanished. Feeling you commenting his work felt like a breeze of optimism pushing us to embrace and face all difficulties. Thank you for the beautiful video.

Beautiful video Sean

Just finished these books it's an amazing and tragic story for both Curtis and the native Americans. Definitely worth a read. Thanks for introducing me to this Sean.

Was not aware of Mr Curtis. Have not experienced the bias myself but my ancestors lived with it as did many others.

Wow!! Thank you for sharing this photographer. Wealth of information and true honor of a man to do the right thing.. where are the great men of yesterday…

Dear Mr. Sean Tucker,
Of all the videos that I have seen so far, this one seems to be what my heart was longing for, thanks a million to create and share this wonderful video, I got to know about Edward Curtis, his lighting techniques, and more importantly about the Native Americans.
On one side I am super charged and on the other hand I am so deeply pained. I have more to write endlessly appreciating your video. Since I am so overwhelmed, l just like to say a Million Namaste🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏...from karunakaran

Thanks for this. I have been a Curtis fan for years and appreciate the respect and sensitivity you devote to him in this video. He is a true hero who was able to devote his life to his true passion at great personal sacrifice. Thank you for all your great work and dedication, Sean.

I'd be interested in a follow up video discussing a way to replicate his look in terms of dof, focal length, lighting, compo, maybe even adding the sepia and grain in post. Understanding it can never made to look 100% the same, it would be fun. I had heard you mention Curtis in a previous video and purchased the photo volume shortly after that, and I look at it almost daily. Incredible stuff and now with this video I'd like to learn more about him and his journey. Great vid thank you

Thanks for this, Sean. I had unknowingly admired a couple of Curtis' images for many years. I ordered the Taschen book immediately. Thank you.

Thank you!

I’m finding this long after you released it. A remarkable story that you’ve helped share with ourselves. Thank you!

Thank you! This was really interesting story. I enjoyed it very much.

Thanks for sharing. Very interesting.

Thank you! This is particularly relevant today, on the first Native Indigenous Americans day! I discovered Curtis' work many years ago and it left a huge impression on me. A unique, wonderful and invaluable body of work.

I am an ethnographer and photographer as well. Thank you for this video!

I’m African American but beyond that I don’t know what I am. I thank you for your videos, I am one of your students. This video touched me deeply, as I search for that thing that will send me on my journey in photography. Thanks again for what you do and for your humanity especially in times like these.

I'm from Argentina. I knew Curtis's work due to some of Curtis's pictures on one exposition over 15 years ago, also I was able to buy on photo book with several of his bests works.
I love these photos, watching them is like going back in time.
It is so sad that no one made the same that Curtis did with south american indians.

When I started my photographic journey over 50 years ago, one of the first images I bought for inspiration was an Edward Curtis reproduction. As Sean states so well, always be alert as a photographer to new avenues of inspiration and creativity. More recently, after seeing the great work of Joel Sartore and the Photo Ark Project, I visited every zoological park in Arizona to create my own series of animal portraits. Now I see every animal as a unique creature just as Curtis did in capturing images of Native Americans and their individuality.

excellent story, excellent words of wisdom thank you

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

wow... I'm blown away, sad I didn't know any of this sooner but glad I picked this subject to study now in college. A huge eyes opener to say the least. Thank you for this great content and very inspirational video.

There’s a lot to take from this one. 🙏🏽

really good video, thank you

Fabulous video on Edward S. Curtis. Thank you. . My husband and I went to the Western Spirit Scottsdale’s Museum of the West in Scottsdale, Arizona. There is an incredible display of Edward S. Curtis’ photographs. We could not believe we had not heard of him before. Most of the museum is dedicated to him.

Ignore the fools who look at people from the past and measure them through a modern lens, almost quite literally. It's absurdity and mental slavery.

Edward Curtis was an amazing visionary and his work is historical. However he never did not ever publish his findings about Custard, I believe it wasn’t just fear of harming his own work but also harming Native Americans he cared so deeply about. It was found years later his writings in the matter. There is a author who published many years later the knowledge we know now, he did however credit Edward Curtis for this information.
I am obsessed with works of Edward Curtis and his family who is continuing his legacy

Instead of telling folks to learn about white colonialists who manipulated Indigenous peoples to pose for him, how about having a discussion on how to work with BIPOC communities as a photographer.

Barry Goldwater also took a lot of excellent and historically important photos of Native Americans.

Thank you!

Great video Sean, thanks for profiling this important man.

Thanks for turning me on to a very interesting photographer that has preserved a culture through his photography.. These are turely great video's Sean and hope you continue to make them..

Almost exactly one year ago I watched this, and 3 months ago I was gifted an Edward Curtis photo book. Interesting I'm reccomend this video again.

Thanks!

Great video, I love how you have used the same light on yourself as is used in Curtis's book, super touch.

You got me to read Shadowcatcher and I will always be grateful

Very important video. Thank you

Inspiring episode. I've been struggling to find what my next photo series will be. When you said "pay attention to every photo you take, every detail as you don't know where it could lead," that was a gem. I am someone who appreciates the small details of the world, so this resonated with me. Thank you for your work, if you ever feel any type of video you make lacks value, you are immensely wrong.

Thanks!

Excellent Thank You

Like the vast majority of people, I didn’t know about the trouble Curtis faced following his reporting of the American Native story of Big Horn battle. Thanks for letting us know the truth.

I hadn't realised that it was his photo on the front cover of "Bury My Heart At Wounded Know", one of the saddest books I have ever read, about the genocide of the Native American people by the whites.
Great video, as always Sean.

The work of Edward S. Curtis is monumental and inspirational. Undoubtedly deserve to be better recognized.

Nice video!!!

Curtis took a picture of my Grandmother. The Sioux Maiden her picture is The North America Indian by Taschen Volume 111 Page 157.

Thank You Sean

When I first saw his photographs,they almost knocked me down.The humanity and dignity of a vanishing beautiful people

I came across the book, short nights of the shadow hunter. And fell in love after reading he had went to my home land, whiteriver. Reading how he they treated him made me sad and a little disappointed. I love that I came across your video. Thank you for the amazing video about Edward Curtis

Edward Curtis' work changed the way I look at life. I'm forever in debt.

Great video but for some reason Gemini Pro Ai can not watch this video. I do a lot of research with Ai and every so often Ai will ask for videos it should watch and I recommend yours

Dear Sean, JIMMY NELSON a great Photographer from English heritage living now for thirty years in The Netherlands, had Edward Curtis as his inspiration for his own Humanity projects...
His first book 'Before they Pass Away' was the start of three more books for indigenous people...traveled many years all over the world to do the same as Curtis did. Make the world more aware of the vulnerability of these indigenous people...My hopes are that you know him, if not, please look to his magnificent work, greets Guus