Skip to main content

Ocmulgee National Monument, 20th Indian Celebration | Georgia Photographer

 A few years ago, I went back home to Kansas for a wedding. At the reception, I was dancing with my dad's father, my Papa Jack, whose life remains to be more of a mystery to me than anything. He's not much of a talker, so I was surprised and thrilled that as we danced together that night, that I found him in the mood to chat. I've never heard anything about my great grandmother, his mother. I'm someone who wants to hear endless stories about my grandparents. I love hearing about how life used to be, so different- it fascinates me. As the music played, our hands intertwined, he told me about my great grandmother, a Blackfoot Indian. I remember a feeling of pride and honor hitting me as I learned my great grandmother, who I never knew was an Indian. I also remember my grandfather making a point that back then, it was something shameful to be married to an Indian and that he didn't grow up proud to have a mother who was an Indian. I made these pictures for my great grandmother, whose story I may never know, but somehow I feel very connected to. 

From Native American culture and history flows such beauty and a deep peace with nature. I was so excited to attend the 20th Indian Celebration at the Ocmulgee National Monument this past Saturday. In the greater scheme of time flying by, it was just a few short moments of my day, yet it was still such a wonderful experience. Such a reminder- to find ways to divest myself of daily distractions and emerge more fully into the pockets of this world that make me feel alive. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do


Comments

  1. Haley SheffieldSeptember 26, 2011 at 6:43 PM

    SO GOOD. That second picture is INCREDIBLE! The light, color, capture! SO good, Jessica!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Finger Painting Shoot

I've been wanting to take advantage of the pretty weather, so I decided to get some work done out on my porch today. Blue skies, plenty of trees, birds chirping, and my puppy sunbathing next to me is a nice place to hang out. This is my first blog, first post, first go at this. So even if I turn out to be a miserable blogger, the morning will not have been spent in vain because I spent it outdoors.  A couple days ago, I had the privilege to do a shoot with two cutie pies, Elisa and Gavin. I approached Paula to see if she would let me do an experimental shoot with her sweet little ones! She had told me that her children were comfortable and used to being in front of the camera, so I was excited to play a little with ideas that a lot of parents would be a little hesistant towards. I'm glad she was brave and trusting when I told her my idea was to have her kids finger paint.  Lots and lots of colorful paint, smiley kids, a beautiful backyard full of a bounty of trees and...
2 comments
Read more

Sneak Peek, Seven Year Old Spunk

A good friend/client of mine sent me a design idea that she wanted me to do for each of her children. I tried it out on my niece first today, and this is what turned out <3 I hope everyone had a great weekend!
2 comments
Read more

My Summer Goals List

One of my favorite things to do is look forward to fun things, especially summer events! For the past six or seven years, my friends and I have made summer goals lists of things we want to do before summer ends. In the beginning, some of our's were: night swim in the ocean and swim out to the sand bar as much as possible. My goals on this year's list are a little more safe, but just as fun ;) 1. Tube down the Ichetucknee River in Florida and swim in the cold springs 2. Buy rocking chairs for our front porch 3. Watch the fireworks on the 4th of July with my toes in the sand in Jax Beach 4. Read the whole collection of Harry Potter books (only one read so far) 5. Scan, print, frame, and hang collection of old photographs I've found of my family and my husband's in my office 6. Give my very difficult and stubborn pup a short summer hair cut 7. Write and finish a new poem 8. Make a cheesecake, for the very first time 9. Have a tea party, most likely with my lit...
1 comment
Read more