The pow-wow photos

If you've been hanging around these parts for a while, you know about my annual pow-wow pics. Every year I have to go to the Pow-Wow in the Pines on the Apache Indian Reservation. Every year I have to take pics. This year I passed on a photography workshop in the CA bay area to go. Okay every year but last year that is, seeing as how I was sweating up a storm here and couldn't make it. That's why it was even more important that I got to the pow-wow this year. And let me tell you that it did not disappoint!

At first I was disheartened when we got there. It was the most crowded I had ever seen it and finding any seat, much less a good seat to take photographs in was looking pretty impossible.
Full sun.
Windy.
Crowded.
I know those of you reading this who are photographers understand and are feeling my pain. I just didn't think it was going to happen. I wandered around aimlessly for a while, wondering if I should just forget about taking pics, eat fry bread instead and go home. But then I had a revelation that I had a little secret weapon with me, Mimi. Like any other soccer mom trying to get their child a good view, I worked up some courage and made my way past the bleachers, past the folding chairs all the way to the very front. And I plopped my bum down on the dirt with Mimi on my lap. I motioned for a couple other random moms who were also looking for a better view, to let their kiddos come join us right there in the very front, and they did. Mimi and her new friends sat with me, watched the dancers, listened to the drums and drew in the dirt for a couple hours. Papa came and got Mimi when she got bored. And I snapped away the whole time. My legs fell asleep. I'm not sure I had ever been more uncomfortable. I was sun burnt and incredibly filthy 4 hours later.
And it was so so very good.

I'm going to post 1 image a day for as long as I keep editing.
I just happened to be there when there were lots of children dancing so you're going to see lots of the little ones. And they were so so good. There is something magical that happens at a pow-wow, deep down in your soul. (And I'm not talking about the fry bread although I'm not going to lie. That doesn't hurt!) It was truly an honor to be there.

I hope you enjoy the pics as much as I enjoyed being there!

PS- If anyone ever wants to hire me to shoot a pow-wow, any pow-wow, this 1/32nd Choctaw woman is happy to go anywhere, any time.