Cathy Short

I take candid fine art photographs designed to help tell the story of how Natives interact with each other and with the non-Native world. I usually use a Nikon D7000 camera with a variable telephoto so that I can remain non-intrusive. The DSL camera I use allows multiple quick photos with a large photo storage capacity. I often concentrate on portraiture so that I can emphasize an individual's personality and emotional response to a situation. One of my primary photography goals is to encourage non-Natives to rethink their view of history and their perspective about Indigenous people so that existing stereotypes can be challenged and changed. My work is rooted in my cultural heritage and my desire to use photography to illustrate the diverse and evolving realities of Indigenous life. I consider documentary photography to continue to be critical to the longevity and appreciation of Tribal cultural traditions.