Maawanji'iding (powwow) [many thumbs warning]

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/23/2006 09:21:34 PM · #1

The 27th annual KBIC Maawanji'iding (gathering together [ie - powwow]) was July 21 - 23. These gatherings celebrate peace, honor, respect, friendship, and family.

These photos aren't that good, I was shooting long and handheld, it was BRIGHT, and dusty, and shady. What I learned photographically: buy VR. And clean that lens when it's dustier than all get out - this is something I neglected to do, it shows :( A number of these do suck photographically speaking, but it's something I thought I'd share anyway.

Dancing in native dress and regalia is the big event.

(Yes, I went native and participated in the dancing. Yes, I lived up to my Ojibwa name 'Can't Keep A Beat'.)

Anyway:

There was a Princess

and Fancy Shawl Dancers

and Traditional Dancers

and Traditional and Grass Dancers and Fancy Dancers

And others

And tots:

I have some 200 shots, hopefully I got *one* of a Jingle Dress Dancer - I'll keep looking :(

The regalia is amazing; the colors and textures will never come through my craptography though, hopefully you get the idea. The drums and singing is something else, too; it goes straight into the soul.

My suggestion to y'all: attend a powwow. And when they sing an intertribal, go dance.

Peace, my friends.

Message edited by author 2006-08-15 07:51:57.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

07/23/2006 09:25:17 PM · #2

These are really very nice - not craptography at all! Very colorful and in keeping with the purpose of the celebration, from what I can tell. Very much appreciate you sharing these!

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

07/23/2006 09:26:48 PM · #3

Great stuff, JP. Love the people watching and the dancers. I would have been in clicking-heaven!! :D

pidge

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

07/23/2006 09:46:57 PM · #4

Left some 'fresc-tastic comments :D

Message edited by author 2006-07-23 21:47:10.

ShutterPug

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

07/23/2006 09:49:40 PM · #5

Wow - terrific shots JP!

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

07/23/2006 09:53:07 PM · #6

These images are spectacular JP, and remind me so much of some of the many pow wows I had the good fortune to attend over the years. I am hoping to attend a few in the fall of this year in the Mohawk Nation territories near where I live.

I certainly hope I have the good fortune to come away with beautiful images such as yours. Very well done.

Ray

07/23/2006 10:00:13 PM · #7

Thank you ladies and gentleman :)

One of the benefits of living across the from the reservation is I don't have to travel far to powwow :)

Pidge pointed out on one photo I did some major burning of bg's:
If you think it's too much please let me know, I had a suck-time PP'ing and nearly punted on a few of them - harsh shadows and bright sun didn't make me a happy PP'er - so once I started toning down bg's I may have overdone it.

And some of the 'glow' or overall softness, when not from my sucktography, is from all the dust in the air. As the MC pointed out, there was " ... 40 tons of Indians dancing, that's a lot of Indian." 40 tons of Indians dancing around a circle sure kick up a lot of dust! :)

Message edited by author 2006-07-23 22:00:47.

pidge

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

07/23/2006 10:31:21 PM · #8

For the harsh sun/shadow pictures, have you tried contrast masking?

07/23/2006 10:42:05 PM · #9

Originally posted by pidge:

For the harsh sun/shadow pictures, have you tried contrast masking?

DOH! Didn't even think of it (I'll blame the heat, not my stoopidity) - good call!!

pidge

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

07/24/2006 12:22:07 AM · #10

Originally posted by alfresco:

Originally posted by pidge:
For the harsh sun/shadow pictures, have you tried contrast masking?

DOH! Didn't even think of it (I'll blame the heat, not my stoopidity) - good call!!

That's what fans are for!